How to add vintage charm to your interior
Fusing the old and the new is a great way to bring warmth, charm, and personality to your home. Whether you love going to flea markets or you have some family heirlooms, there are plenty of ways to add vintage charm to your interior design.
Adding vintage style to your home can look and be many things; in this blog, we’ll share with you some of our favorite ways to bring vintage into your home on both a large and small scale. Vintage pieces not only add a sense of storytelling to your home, but they also add the all-important personality factor. The pieces you choose to collect, both big and small, bring story and depth to a space. These elements are a way to bring individual and unique touches to your home.
Credit: SRID
What is vintage?
Vintage interior design can be defined as using furniture and decor styles from previous generations in your home. It is a highly popular trend due to the fact that the 60s/70s/80s were considered the most influential eras in terms of music, fashion, style, and influence.
Patterns and colors
There are certain patterns and color schemes that we instantly link to certain eras and generations. If we say 1960s florals, you probably can already see in your mind what that is, or maybe neon colors you instantly associate with the 80s. Fusing color and pattern is a great starting point to begin bringing a vintage feel to your home.
First, it's important to be clear on what your desires are with your design, are you simply want to add something to a pre-existing space, or start from scratch? These are two different pathways that an interior designer can help you with. When it comes to bringing in the vintage charm into your home, you can consider the following aspects:
What is the function of the room? This may define the furniture for example which can influence the patterns you may choose.
How do you want the room to feel? This may define the colors you choose.
From here you can start the design process! Of course, things always tend to change along the way but having clarity at the beginning is important.
Pick your vintage design style
There are many different design styles that can be classified as vintage, far too many to name here. However, here are some of our favorites:
Mid-century vintage
Mid-century modern interior design is characterized by its sleek lines, classic shapes, and the use of color. Many designers are credited for their pioneering influences on the mid-century modern movement, an original pieces from the era are often desirable collectibles. The simplicity of the designs and accessibility that they offer can complement any space.
Credit: SRID, Moraga
French Vintage
French vintage interior design was extremely popular last year and continues to be so as it features lots of soft and muted colors. It is elegant, natural, and cozy. This style usually incorporates floaty and whimsical, elements featuring ruffles, frills, and natural shades of white, grey, and beige. It can also be very romantic in nature and fresh, involving florals and brighter colors such as reds and greens.
To get the vintage French interior design look, purchase pots of duck egg grey paint and test it out on your walls! This style is all about neutral color schemes with cozy and cute accessories. Think calming country cottage with a touch of Parisian luxury.
Credit: Emilie Bonaventure
Industrial vintage
Industrial vintage interior design features darker, polished woods and exposed metals. Even a little artistic ‘rust’ here and there. Moody and royal mahogany woods and burgundy color schemes help to create the industrial look. You can even bring leather into the mix through furniture and accessories. Industrial vintage design is a very sophisticated style, great for both large homes and smaller apartments in the city.
Credit: Ettienne Louis Boullee
How can I make my house look vintage?
There are various ways to incorporate a vintage feel into your space. The first step you could be to head to your local second-hand, antique, or thrift store to search for second-hand furniture and/or pieces of artwork that match your desired style. When going to a second-hand store, patience and a keen eye for quality are both important attributes to bring. Oftentimes there will be many things in there that you like but that doesn't particularly suit your chosen style. Remember why you are there and have a sense of what sort of things you’re hoping to find.
How to fuse the old and the new
If your goal is to weave together a vintage interior design and more of a modern feel into your home, you can absolutely do this. There are no rules when it comes to design. You can still show off your great vintage interior design pieces and keep the subtlety of a modern home. One way to do this is by using mixed textiles. This is a wonderful way to show your love of multiple interior design styles.
Creating a vintage look and feel and bringing in the vintage charm can range from a small furniture addition to a space or a full home refurbishment.
Credit: SRID
No matter where you are in the journey, hiring an interior designer can help you find the perfect vintage pieces to create a space that is perfect for you. Contact us today to discuss the vintage touches we can bring to your space.