Sit Back In time: 7 Tips For Decorating Your Home With Vintage Style Furniture

Vintage style furniture isn’t going anytime soon, but it’s no secret that there has been a drop in interest over the years. The main reason is that people’s tastes are changing and spaces are getting smaller.

Still, the demand for it is there, especially for homeowners with a lot of space to spare. Not all people like the starkness of minimalism with the lack of colors and the abundance of harsh lines; some people want their rooms to have some personality, color, and fun. What better way to do that than mixing retro pieces with modern furniture?

There’s a way to do that right, though; we’ll show you how below.

1. Learn About That Time Period

First, you have to do your research; learn more about the time period you want to revisit. Do you like furniture from the ‘30s to the ‘60s? Perhaps, you’d rather decorate your home with retro style furniture from the ‘70s and ‘80s?

The furniture styles in these eras may become confusing, so you’ll need to do your research well to get a sense of the designs, colors, and so on that were popular back then.

You want to focus on one era; getting inspiration from various years could turn your décor into a mess. Take this timeline of antique furniture by English Georgian America to help you.

You might also want to take into account the architecture of your home. If it’s in a certain style, you might want your furniture to suit the era that inspired your house’s style.

2. Invest in Upholstered Furniture

Don’t be afraid to invest in upholstered pieces if you like the style. Some people even upholster the piece themselves to update it or make it more suitable for their home’s décor. This way, your options are wider since there are a lot of vintage pieces that might not suit your taste.

The one thing you have to make sure of, though, is its durability. Check the material; scuff marks are okay, but structural damage is a red flag. Check also if there are any replaced or repaired hardware and parts.

There’s nothing wrong with repaired furniture as long as it still has high quality.

3. Spend Time in Looking for the Right Piece

Looking for vintage furniture will take time and effort, but don’t get discouraged. Finding the right piece for your home is always worth it, even if that takes you months. You might also have to go to lesser-known places to hunt for vintage style furniture.

Look at garage and yard sales, flea markets, and thrift shops. These are great places since people often offload genuine vintage pieces without knowing their real value. You might even score great deals on a high-quality item in these places, but expect to refurbish them a bit.

You can also look at auction websites, live auctions, estate sales, and more. If your grandma’s house has furniture she doesn’t use anymore, try asking for it next time you visit.

4. Inspect the Vintage Style Furniture Before Buying

It’s the quality that contributes most to the vintage feel of a piece of furniture. In that sense, vintage-inspired furniture from Ikea might not be able to give you the vibes you’re looking for.

That’s why you should inspect each furniture, especially if it’s attached to a high price tag. Avoid replicas not made with 100% wood; these might not last you as long as a piece of genuine vintage furniture. Casegood items are better than today’s furniture made of pressed wood or chipboard, in general.

Don’t let a few marks deter you from buying it, though. A good refurbishing and refinishing can make the furniture look fresh again.

5. Make It the Focal Point of the Room

When you find the right one, make it stand out so it becomes the focal point of the room. A piece of vintage furniture is unique. It’s a waste to let it stand in the sidelines while your modern pieces take center stage.

By making it the focal point, you also set the tone for the rest of your furniture and design choices. Your choices will revolve around accentuating it and matching with it.

With that said, don’t choose other furniture styles that may overpower the vintage style. A modern sofa would accompany a retro living room furniture, for example. This way, you don’t fill the room with vintage pieces, which might make it look a step backward in time, but you don’t make it look out of place, either.

6. Match It with Vintage Style Accents

You don’t have to let the vintage furniture be the only retro piece in the room, though. You can accentuate the tone of the room further by adding vintage-style accents, as well.

Your choice of wallpaper, rugs, and lighting would help you get that vintage feel without looking out-of-date. You can also choose modern pieces with vintage-inspired details. A modern dresser with clean lines, for example, can look more vintage by having a weathered finish.

In a kitchen, modern drawers and cabinets can look vintage in an instant by using vintage hardware. Using bright, retro colors can take you back in time without it looking like your ancestor’s house.

7. Get Ready to Repaint Some Pieces

You may have to do some refurbishing to the retro pieces you find to make it more presentable. In some cases, some cleaning and re-varnishing would do, but if it calls for it, don’t hesitate to repaint it.

You may also repaint some modern pieces with vintage colors to make it more suitable for the room.

You Can Have the Home of Your Dreams

With these tips, you can make your vintage style furniture fit in with more modern pieces. Now you can enjoy the luxury of both styles fused in one.

But why stop here? We have a lot more for you to discover.

Why not check out our guide on designing your kitchen to help you get started to making it the kitchen of your dreams? If you need more tips on your homes, visit our website today.