Vintage Style Home Decor Ideas

Picking vintage furniture is always fun, and when you shop online or go and visit your local antique stores or markets you will probably be spoilt for choice. However, you need to be careful what you buy to avoid overdoing the look you are going for.

Remember that heavy traffic areas and items that get used frequently should be sturdy enough to withstand the wear and tear. You want to pick some key accent pieces that have the vintage look you want.

This could be in the form of a beautiful writing desk, an occasional table, a bookshelf, or a dresser. Make sure that the items you choose all blend in with the color scheme you choose and also match the other pieces of furniture in some way. This should either be in the color, the lines, or that they are made of the same material.

With your furniture in place, you can start adding decor items. With so many stunning vintage items available, it can very easy turn your room into a thrift store. So you need to make sure that you really pick out the best of the best and think about what your favorite vintage pieces might be.

One thing that we have found, in part through trial and error is to try to stick to similar items from the same era, or that all blend together well.

Think about decor items that are bold and can help to accentuate the vintage theme without being overpowering and too old fashioned.

One of the best items that you can find pretty easily is a large, ornately framed vintage mirror which also enables you to add light to rooms. Another, that we use extensively is drapes or curtains.

Many people forget about these as decor elements, but they add an immediate ambiance to the room, and with lots of modern furniture, a simple bit of vintage drapery can transform the space.

Another absolute must have is a vintage chandelier. I cannot tell you how many admiring comments we have had about our chandeliers and they don't have to be too expensive either!

When you think about colors, it can also be easy to have too many in the space. To create a harmonious vintage feel, pick one bold color for the modern aspect, and then blend with a series of neutral tones.

If you have a specific vintage item that happens to be blue then go with that as the main bold color and work in modern twists around that so for instance you could combine the blue colors with grays and then add hints of yellow just to brighten up the room. You could go wild and pick orange as your main color with the vintage pieces containing mostly white, beige, and other neutral shades around that.

What’s great about vintage style furniture is that they combine traditional lines with unique patterns and textures that make the furniture look antique without actually having to be a hundred years old. And if you prefer furniture with a little more character then the modular, minimalistic modern alternatives of today then vintage is your solution.

Below are some examples of different kinds of vintage style furniture you might want to incorporate into your home’s décor.   

This unique demilune console will bring character and intrigue to any room it’s in. It’s made with amaretto croc and chestnut alligator PU finish for a rich and supple look.

Metal nail head accents and patchwork layout give the console a more tailored appearance. It features a spacious tabletop and wide shelf which is perfect for displaying knick knacks and figurines. There are also three drawers and two doors for additional concealed storage.

This piece comes fully assembled and is both stylish and functional.

If you don’t have space for big bulky office furniture and prefer something lighter in structure and design then this secretary writing desk and chair is just what you’re look for.

This beautiful set is made from solid wood and is finished in an attractive cherry stain. The desk also includes decorate brass pulls and a functional middle drawers, great for storing small items and writing supplies.

The desk measures 42 inches long by 22 inches wide by 30 inches high.

From many years of experience of creating a vintage stryle in our home here are some key tips that really can make a difference to the overall look and feel of your home.

Lines and Symmetry

When putting different pieces of furniture together it is easy to get a mish-mash of styles and designs that just end up looking messy.

The trick is to pick items that have similar lines or at least one completely contrasting piece. So for instance, to make your room look complete, go for a straight, very modern lounge suit and then add in 2 vintage occasional chairs. What you are doing is creating symmetry and using similar and contrasting lines in a way that works.

Contrasts

Contrasting colors and designs work well together as long as you do this in a clever way. So what you do with modern and vintage is that aside from contrasting the colors or styles among similar pieces, you actually contrast them in the same pieces.

In other words, you could use a vintage cushion on a modern chair or the other way around. You can hang very modern picture frames together with vintage ones on the same wall. Combine a modern lamp base with a very vintage shade. Utilize modern chairs with bold prints or colors with an old vintage dining room table.

Refurbish Old Pieces

A clever way to combine vintage with modern is to refurbish old pieces in an interesting way. Obviously you don't want to ruin very valuable antiques, but to get a cheap knock-off or very worn vintage item will do perfectly.

You can paint a chest of drawers white or blue and even change the handles. You can reupholster chairs in a modern fabric. You can apply whitewash or crackling effects to cabinets, and much more.

Eclectic Vintage Style

Of course there are those really badly worn items that you think are un-salvageable. Well, think again! If you browse through a thrift store or market and find a broken vintage door, think about how you can reuse it, but as something else.

You could add modern legs to it to create the most unique coffee table! How about a broken dresser? Repaint and attach the drawers to the wall to use as a shelf unit. There are plenty of other great ideas you can come up with when out shopping at the markets and yard sales.

There are many other ways to combine and blend your favorite Victorian pieces with modern decor to create a fluid and exquisite room. The main thing to remember is that you need to create a balance in the room.

Don't use too much modern otherwise the little vintage in there will look out of place, and don't use too much vintage for the same reason, plus that fact that it will look dated and like you are trying to recreate your Great Grandmother's house!