Here’s our guide to creating the perfect home décor by embracing the beauty of vintage additions
The right vintage furniture is a work of art, and knowing how best to introduce it into your home is an artform in itself. Going vintage with your furniture choices never goes out of style. Art deco elements, luxury mid-century pieces and retro bohemian flair are all seen as trendy and quirky options in home design, and that doesn’t look to be changing any time soon. Incorporating vintage designs into your home is a sure fire way to make even the simplest room feel full of character.
But in order to make the most of vintage furniture, you need to know how to find the best additions out there. There is a lot to unpack, but the end result is always worth it. In this guide, we’re going to share our top tips for choosing the perfect vintage furniture, décor and colour palette for your home. This will help you create a quaint, quirky and quintessentially vintage space which will be both exciting and inviting for you, your family and your friends. Let’s take a look at how you can improve your space with vintage furniture.
How to choose vintage furniture for your home
Vintage furniture is furniture from a time gone by. Technically speaking, furniture which classes as ‘vintage’ is usually between 30 and 100 years old, as anything older is usually considered antique. However, there are always exceptions to the rule and each piece should be judged individually.
There are also no set rules when it comes to filling your home with vintage additions. Most people will try to find pieces which all hark back to a similar era to create a sense of harmony in your home, such as the sixties or seventies, but it can be equally effective to mix and match your eras and bring a more daring level of interest to the space.
There are a few precautions you can take to ensure you choose the right vintage furniture for your home, including:
- If you want a harmonious effect from your home design, it’s important to have an idea of the era you’re looking to recreate and what style you’re shopping for before you commit to any specific items of furniture. The art deco style is synonymous with vintage furniture designs, so if you’re taking your inspiration from the 1930s then this is a great style to consider. For a more bohemian sixties vibe, think pod chairs and bold patterned upholstery.
- A lot of people might be tempted to buy new items of furniture with a vintage design. This can be a suitable option for some people, but for those wanting an authentic vintage effect it is always best to go with the real thing. It’s often easy to tell the difference, as faux-vintage pieces will look too new and too pristine. Part of the charm of vintage furniture comes from the signs that it has had a previous life before you – something which never fails to add character and charm to a room.
- Vintage furniture has a reputation for having an air of sophistication and elegance, and rightly so. Whether it’s a sofa, a sideboard or a dining room table, it’s likely to be abstract, one-of-a-kind and visually striking. So when you consider vintage pieces, imagine them as the focal point of the room.
- Some people write off vintage furniture as too expensive, but in actual fact it’s a great opportunity to find some fantastic bargains. Finding the hidden potential in pieces which may have seen better days could help you gain a truly unique addition to your home with a little TLC.
- Go online. Gone are the days when you had to traipse around local flea markets, as now the most appealing marketplaces can be found on the web. Vintage furniture providers like Vinterior are home to a huge number of stunning vintage solutions for your home.
The rules of designing with vintage furniture
As we said earlier, there are no strict rules to follow when it comes to choosing vintage furniture. However, in order to get the most out of your new additions, here are the most important guidelines you might want to consider. These will help you create the perfect vintage interior design layout.
- The first thing to bear in mind is that guidelines can change from era to era. What may work for a mid-century inspired room may not work for a glamourous seventies space, so do your research about colour palettes and accessories that fit with the feel you’re trying to create. For a truly eye-catching space, don’t be afraid to pair your vintage furniture items with bold patterns and bright colours.
- Speaking of colour, there are some shades with pop up quite often in vintage-inspired spaces. These include tones like avocado green, red, yellow, black and white. Some of these are tones you may not see in more modern spaces, but they can have a dramatic effect in a vintage room. Also, don’t be afraid to try more vibrant hues like purples and oranges, as long as they reflect the style you’re trying to create.
- As well as considering colour, you should also put some thought into the textures you add to the space. Depending on the style and time period you’re trying to imitate, you could introduce items like velvet tapestries or shag rugs for a look that’s both bold and luxurious.
- Turn your attention downwards when designing a vintage look. Wood and tile are both popular kinds of vintage flooring, particularly chequered tile, but again it all depends on the style you want to create. Shag carpeting can create a bohemian vibe, while a simple hardwood floor is luxurious and gives you the option of introducing a vintage rug.
Ideas for vintage home decorating
With you the right furniture ready to leave its mark in your home, here are some décor ideas you can implement to really make the most of your rejuvenated interior design.
- Decorating with vintage pieces is all about careful creativity. The patterns, colours and flair you’ll find when shopping for vintage furniture allows you to let your inner designer run wild. However, make sure every item has space to breathe and shine. Too much excitement in a single space will ruin the effect and only make it feel chaotic.
- Wall art is a powerful tool which you should put to use, especially if you’re trying to reflect a particular time period in your design. Prints or paintings from a certain era really helps to amplify the authenticity of the look you’re creating.
- Don’t just assume that colour is for the walls. Throws, pillows and curtains can all be used to introduce bright tones and quirky patterns that accentuate the vintage feel of the room.
- Every room in your home should have a focal point, and ideally this should be a luxury piece of vintage furniture. An art deco sofa or an elegant dining table can help transport friends and family to a different time when they enter.
- Not every item has to be used for its intended purpose. Vintage furniture is ideal for repurposing, so an old pitcher can become a stunning vase, or a trunk can be used as a quirky coffee table.
By taking these guidelines and tips into account, you can guarantee a luxury vintage setting in your home.