If you prefer the vintage, rustic appearance of an older home, you might find the builder-grade doors and stainless steel fixtures in new construction to be chilly and dull. Most new homes, unless they are custom-built, have clean lines and muted colours, giving them a fresh appearance. Additionally, it’s possible that your historical furnishings and decor items won’t fit or look good in a home that was recently constructed.
Finding ways to combine classic goods like furniture or antique decorations with modern trends like a minimalist layout or contemporary furnishings is the essence of vintage style. Vintage-style living is doable in any home with a little imagination and attention to detail.
In this post, we’ll share with you some suggestions for giving your house a vintage look:
1. Use antique furniture
Utilising antique or vintage furniture in your living room, dining room, and bedrooms can also help you create a distinctive look. Look for furniture like sideboards, cabinets, and tables with fine carvings, as well as cushions with frills or tassels. Additionally, you may get mattresses, dressers, closets, workstations, dining tables, and chairs in a vintage style.
Use furniture with personality or visible indications of wear and tear for the greatest results. However, adopting slipcovers or coverings with geometric shapes will give them a more contemporary appearance.
2. Purchase vintage accessories
Finding vintage-inspired accessories is the ideal place to start. Choose antique-style furnishings like chandeliers and candelabra sconces, elaborate wall mirrors, oil lamps, buffet cabinets, and coffee tables with finely carved legs to create this appearance. Small decorative items like candlesticks, figurines, and vases in retro style are also available.
Avoid purchasing products that look overly new. Look for strong metals or wooden components that show symptoms of deterioration. Chinese antiquities are fantastic choices to take into account. Don’t be afraid to combine various styles. It’s not necessary to keep vintage accessories together.
3. Combining various styles
If you mix and match styles, it’s quite simple to make your house look retro. By using this technique, you’ll be able to stylishly and effectively blend the old and the modern. For instance, if you have a modern sofa, add an antique coffee table or an elaborate side table to change things up. To bind the space together, you should also think about incorporating rugs, drapes, or wall art.
Don’t forget that antique décor should be unique to you and reflect your particular tastes, so combine your favourites with sentimental items. Take risks without hesitation, but make sure you are comfortable with what you are doing.
Many individuals find the idea of vintage style scary, but if you take the time to comprehend the fundamentals and concentrate on what you like, it’s feasible to develop a unique look. To create a unique design, try pairing modern desk furniture with seats in a retro style.
4. Wood panelling will accentuate plain walls
Any space is improved with shiplap; it’s a time-honoured, simple technique to give your house a country feel. All home improvement stores and lumber yards sell shiplap, which is inexpensive and easy to install.
The horizontal wood planks are fastened to the wall with nails and interlock. Before installation, Harvey suggests painting or staining the wood. Shiplap that has been stained or distressed will give a space a cabin-like vibe, especially when combined with wrought iron accents or rustic furniture. If you need help installing a wood panel, a custom home builder can help you pick the right type for your home.
5. Replace the lighting
Replace the bland, contractor-grade light fixtures with something more distinctive. To get the old aesthetic, historic fixtures like traditional crystal chandeliers and sconces are fantastic and are once again quite popular. To achieve a rustic aesthetic, choose a wrought iron fixture.
Additionally, select lighting fixtures that provide a nod to the period you’re attempting to recreate, such as an art deco chandelier or a Victorian sconce made of antique brass.
6. Window treatments using curtains
Although cloth shades and blinds are common modern window treatments, they can look “off” if you’re looking for a vintage or rustic vibe. Additionally, although curtains may be considered an antiquated fashion, with careful selection, they can softly soften contemporary windows.
Use a large plaid or buffalo check for a homely, rustic appearance. Here is a reliable supplier of vintage curtains and window treatment hardware.
7. Remodel the stairs
Stair rods earned popularity in Victorian homes with hardwood staircases covered in stair runner rugs in the late 18th century. A turn-of-the-century vintage appeal can be added to your modern-looking home by adding a stair runner and brass stair rods. Furthermore, you have the option of more ornate newel posts, balusters, railings, and hardware, like these brackets for the handrail made of wrought iron.
8. Hang mirrors on your walls
Mirrors have been used since the early Roman era. Selecting large mirrors with elaborate frames can instantly change an uninteresting space. Sconces placed on either side of a mirror also assist in making the mirror the room’s focal point.
Mirrors can give a room a glamorous feel in addition to making it appear lighter and bigger. A mirror should be hung behind antique furniture to enhance the space’s traditional appearance.
9. Builder-grade doors must be replaced with panel doors
Since hollow-core doors are less expensive and heavier than solid-wood doors, they are now used inside the majority of new homes. Panel doors made of solid wood have been used for ages. A property will look more classic if those basic doors are replaced with solid-wood panel doors. Panel doors are also tougher and more soundproof, despite the fact that they are typically more expensive.
10. Use organic hues and textures
Utilising naturalistic colours and textures is also crucial. Furniture made of light-coloured wood or other organic materials like clay or ceramic is preferable. Additionally, keep an eye out for items with a distressed appearance, as these may appear to have aged.
Consider using natural colours for your walls, such as mild browns and creams. Using textured materials like lace or wallpaper with floral patterns is another option. Instead of having a modern-looking finish, the décor should be organic and natural-looking.
Just keep in mind that you can still get a vintage vibe even if you like more contemporary hues and textures. Furniture with an organic appearance is still an option, but you can also go with more contemporary pieces. For instance, you may add a nostalgic touch without detracting from your modern motif by selecting geometric-patterned rugs. You may also create a retro vibe by using armchair coverings made of crochet or curtains made of raw cotton cloth.
Retro design is not limited to furniture. By combining various styles, using organic materials like wood or clay in your décor, and employing natural colours and textures, you may give your house a vintage appeal.
