Interior decor: how to mix vintage and antique furniture in your home

There are any number of ways of styling and decorating your home; some people prefer one continuous theme throughout but for others, the ideal way to fill a room is with an eclectic mix of furnishings that fit together to create a space that’s wholly unique. In our opinion, vintage and antique pieces can bring far more personality to a modern home than a certain Scandinavian build-your-own furniture chain ever could — though obviously these products do have their place and should never be snubbed completely! But for the most part, investing in period furniture guarantees both character and history, not something you could say you get with a Billy bookcase from Ikea.

Here are a few tips to help you to incorporate vintage and antique furniture into your home…

Keep it neutral

Period furniture tends to be the standout piece of any interior no matter what the decor, however sticking with a more neutral colour palette is a great way of keeping the feature antique as the focal point. Warm tones mixed with crisp whites allow natural woods, glass and plastics to take the limelight. Accent colours can be brought in through accessories such as cushions, artwork and rugs.

A touch of colour

If you have chosen to stick with a neutral colour scheme throughout your home and wish to add in some colour, choose accessories and accents in similar colours in order to add structure and help the interior to flow. Using smaller pieces allows for changes and updates to be made quickly and easily by simply replacing a cushion here or a vase there.

Textures and patterns

Patterns and textures are a wonderful way of adding interest and depth to a room and can be layered together to create warmth and contrast. Mixing patterns can be daunting for some and we would recommend using the “less is more” approach when it comes to bright, busy patterns — space them throughout the room in order to ensure that the area doesn’t feel too cluttered and chaotic. Textures are easier to incorporate without becoming overbearing, try combining knitted throws with plain block colours or adding in a rustic wooden coffee table — remember, textures don’t just have to be fabrics and textiles!

Spacing

Some people prefer a minimalist approach with just one or two key focus points in a room; others like a visually stimulating room with lots of feature points to be drawn towards. Whatever style is your preference, spacing and positioning is incredibly important — try not to just bung everything together and hope for the best, planning is key! Grouping lots of dark wood can make a space feel heavy and cramped, though you don’t want to lean to far the other way and end up with a bare empty feeling room. Play around with the space until you find a layout that feels comfortable and right for you.

Antique furniture can be incorporated into any interior and we would encourage anyone to explore and cultivate their own style — once you have found an era or a period that you really love, you can work this into your home in order to create your own personal space. So take a look on Intique — you are sure to find something enchanting and quirky to spark your interest and to ignite your own passion all things vintage.