Whether you love the clean look of midcentury modern design or Victorian florals and frills, vintage decor is a great way to express your unique design sense in your home. Decorating with antiques and vintage-inspired designs is a balancing act, though. The trick is finding the sweet spot that lets you celebrate your favorite period without feeling like you're living in a museum.
Try these tips to breathe new life into your home with some old design favorites.
1. Embrace Wallpaper
Retro wallpaper is on-trend, and you can find a pattern that will evoke nearly any decade. For a more livable, modern take on the look, use it for a single accent wall instead of the whole room.
2. Consider the Curtains
If covering a wall feels like adding too much pattern, shop for vintage curtains instead.
Flocked fabrics and lace are perfect for Victorian and Edwardian looks, while
elegant silks evoke the glamour of the 1920s.
3. Let There Be Light
An antique table lamp can go along way toward evoking a specific time period in your room. You can also
replace hardwired wall sconces and overhead fixtures with models that reflect the style of your favorite decade.
4. Don’t Forget the Details
Little things mean a lot in home decor, but they often go overlooked. Get rid of those boring white plastic light switch and outlet plate covers and replace them with vintage models. Early 20th century Bakelite is a great choice that you can find in salvage yards and antique shops. If you love the 80s, shiny
brass is back in a big way.
5. Get Real With Antiques
It’s easy to find retro styling in many home decor stores, but for something truly unique — and authentic — hit your local antique shops for interesting finds. This is a great way to collect one-of-a-kind finds for a display on your mantel or coffee table. Consider old books, vases, dishes and more. Anything that you love can be turned into vintage decor!
When it comes to vintage decor, it’s a good idea to start with a few pieces first. Feel free to mix contemporary furniture with retro patterns on the walls and windows, or place antiques on a modern floating wall shelf. When you work in a selected color palette, you’ll be able to freely blend vintage and modern pieces into an eclectic style that’s all your own.
