Decorating with Vintage Finds

With the abundance of sleek, state-of-the-art and the latest furniture and décor styles, there are still some who would prefer using their vintage finds. Decorating with vintage finds in modern homes has actually been a trend lately. Many who joined the trend probably enjoy being surrounded by vintage or antique pieces since it makes them feel more at home. Some may have been passionate about the old movies or old design styles and aesthetics and preferred to fill their homes with beautiful vintage finds. Some just love its effect and how it looks, even if an item is a faux antique.

If you are one of them, go with your instincts and don’t stop yourself from going for antiques. However, you need to be careful and create a balance with your design style, because sometimes, a piece just won’t look right in a specific area. Here are some helpful tips for decorating with vintage finds in your modern home:

1. Start small.

In trying to mix traditional with the contemporary, start with decorative pieces or with your finishing touches. Add just a few antique pieces in your home if you don’t want the old to overpower the new and cause a change in your original design style. Try having small details to blend harmoniously before going for big antique furniture, if you plan to. Here are some suggestions on what to combine:

  • Vintage artwork or photographs + new couch – You can never go wrong with starting with an antique painting or photos. They are timeless pieces that are meant to be displayed throughout time, especially if they are pretty. Find lovely art pieces from a flea market or display your inherited antique wall artworks from your grandparents. You may also create a gallery of memories in vintage frames. Then, display them on the wall behind your modern couch to decorate and create a unique look for your living room.
  • Vintage lamps + new side table or nightstand – An easy way to introduce a new style and design to space is by using a funky lampshade. In a modern home, you can add a contrasting point of interest by adding a couple of vintage lamps. Use an antique lamp and place it in a clean and modern nightstand in your bedroom or a side table in the living room.
  • Vintage pillowcases + new bed linens – Choose an antique or vintage textile pattern and form pillowcases out of them. But if you can find old-style pillowcases in shops and stores, much better. Pair them with clean and beautiful white bed linens to let the vintage pillows take all the attention.
  • Vintage planters + fresh plants + new shelves – Using antique pots for planting fresh indoor plants will surely make a space gorgeous. Placing them on a no-frills, straight and basic shelving brings the focal point to the vintage pots and fresh plants.

2. Measure the area first.

If you plan on going for vintage furnishings, measure your area first. It is always advised to take space measurements before going to the furniture store or flea market. Know exactly the amount of room you can spare to streamline your choices when you’re already in the shop. Of course, it will help you avoid buying something you would later regret.

3. Distribute your vintage finds to more than one room.

If you want to buy several antique pieces, please don’t think of putting all of them in the same room. Antique pieces give off a unique visual impact, and placing them all in one place will just lessen their grandness. That room will look off compared to the rest of the house, and your children and guests might refer to it as an “antique room.” Make sure you have a piece of furniture or décor going to the living room, bedroom, kitchen and so on.

Also, if you own a type of antique item that has been around in one room for years, try moving them to other rooms and shuffling them with other furniture around. For instance, a vintage dresser in the bedroom can be moved to the dining room and serve a different purpose. This can give your space a whole new look, but you just moved them.

4. Work through a common pattern or color scheme.

One way to pull off using antique pieces is to create a cohesive look through a common pattern or color scheme. Choose a common color for the items you will be choosing, or decorate with a vintage find that has a complementary color with your current furniture. You may also repeat a fabric’s pattern throughout the room, or you may use an accent color that can draw the attention to the vintage furniture or piece.

5. Repaint beautiful but mismatched antique finds.

If you found an antique piece of furniture you really love but its color looks poorly jaded or it doesn’t suit the color theme of the room you want to put it in, then paint it to suit your room. By using the right paint and proper painting techniques, you can mimic trendy pieces of furniture and décor.

6. Give new life to old items by using them for another purpose.

Ask your mom or grandma for items you can reuse for your home. Look for some treasures you can find at junk shops and flea markets. Find them something new to do to give them a new life. Here are some suggestions:

  • Reuse old, large basins as a pot for creating a succulent arrangement that can serve as a centerpiece.
  • Salvage an old trunk and use it as a coffee table.
  • Use old, galvanized water sprinkler as flower pots.
  • Repurpose crates as cute side tables or as flower pot stands.
  • Use old board games as wall art – no one would wonder where the missing parts are.
  • Let an old door lean against your wall. It is a versatile vintage find that can serve as a spot where you can drill and hook your wall hangings up, act as a family command center by hanging a mini chalkboard, or just let it stand there as plain wall décor.
  • Salvage an old porch railing, let it stand vertically on a wall, and tie up old galvanized pots on them. This can make a vertical garden with an irresistible vintage charm.
  • Repurpose salvaged shutters to add texture to the walls. It makes a great backdrop for furniture or an accent chair. You may also hang shutters horizontally and make it a mail stop. Sort correspondence by slats.
  • Collect an assortment of Toleware trays and treat them as artwork. Display them on a blank wall on your hallway, kitchen or dining area.
  • Use vintage wooden toolbox as a container for small herb plants.