Vintage interior design style is cozy, romantic, and elegant. It creates a pleasant atmosphere of antiquity, as if familiar for a long time. However, this style can be tricky. Striking the right balance is crucial. In this article, we will provide some tips on how to achieve a vintage interior design that still feels appropriate for today.
Characteristics of Vintage Interior Design Style
• Low-key colors: primary colors – beige, sand, gray, and cream. Some shades of light pink, pale lilac or pale blue will be appropriate.
• Vintage interior design is old-fashioned and elegant. It involves the use of old/artificially aged furniture and decor.
• It welcomes natural materials: wood, more rarely stone, forged elements, and natural fabrics. The interior should look as if designed several decades ago. The most common option is things older than 30 but younger than 60 years.
• Vintage style is romantic: soft, flowing lines, elegant colors, furniture and décor look as if inherited from grandparents. It is not junk; instead, it represents a legacy.
• Vintage style rooms look simple yet graceful. Abrasion, cracks, and chips provide a lived-in look, creating an atmosphere of relaxation, peace, and nostalgia.
How to Pull Off a Vintage Interior Design
Choose Well-made Antiques
Antiques are the backbone of a vintage home. Their unique sense of history transports you back in time in such a way that newer pieces simply cannot match. However, just because a piece is old doesn’t mean it is worthy of being included in your design. If you are going to include an antique, it should be in decent condition. If you don’t think a piece will stand up to wear and tear, look for a sturdier option.
When evaluating condition, there are signs that will let you know that a piece was built to stand the test of time:
• Weight – Heaviness is an indicator that a piece was made from natural materials rather than a modern, mass-produced variation.
• Sturdy joints – Check if the joints feel secure. If they feel shaky, find the cause. A nail can be replaced, but wood rot isn’t as easy to fix.
• Rust or discoloration – While a little rust or fading can be dealt with, too much might not be worth the restoration.
Make Them Your Focal Point
If you do find well-made antiques, make them the focal point of the room. A focal point will catch the attention of guests when they enter the space. Putting a real antique will help set the tone for the rest of the design.
For this purpose, furniture is the perfect candidate. Consider allowing a vintage dining table, bed frame, or accent chair to take center stage. You can also opt for decorative items such as a large mirror or a piece of wall art to carry the room. Well-kept rugs are also another option.
Add in Vintage-inspired Details
A great vintage design style is one that is inspired by tradition, yet still, feels appropriately tied to the present day. To pull this off, round out the room with modern day acquisitions that showcase vintage-inspired details. For example, you can look for pieces with contemporary, clean lines that have a weathered finish. Alternatively, you can look for an item with a trendy color or finish, yet more ornate.
When mixing and matching traditional and modern design elements, consistency is key. Unless you are a fan of eclectic styles, you want the vintage and the vintage-inspired items to blend well together. Remember to carry similar detailing throughout the room, so that the space feels cohesive and intentional.
Copy Vintage Patterns and Colors
Color and pattern are great ways to drive home that vintage aesthetic. There is nothing like some polka dots to transport you back to the 1950s or rich, saturated reds to go back to the Victorian era. Including these elements often has a large payoff for a relatively minimal effort.
That said, you may want to research your desired time period to get a sense of the styles which were popular back then. Try to find an image from that era to serve as design inspiration so you can see how these trends were used at the time.
Conclusion
It’s easy to see why people like vintage interior design style. It is such a nice feeling to pay homage to the aesthetics of the past. But there’s a fine line between paying homage and creating a time warp. With the help of the tips mentioned above, you can create interiors reminiscent of the past without appearing frozen in time.
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