It's a design that almost everyone can recognize.

However, it's probably one of the most misunderstood styles despite its popularity.

What is vintage interior design, exactly? Is it something that is no longer relevant or appreciated by homeowners? It's far from that.

When it comes to design and home décor, a vintage design pays homage to a specific era from the past. It relies on antique furniture, particular fabrics, and color pallets that closely resemble the original concept.

A vintage interior can welcome everything from natural materials to flashy pieces. You can combine themes to achieve a retro feel or stick to a theme for a more elegant, old-fashioned design.

Such an approach in interior design allows your creativity to run wild when redecorating or renovating a home. In fact, it may be challenging to settle on a particular design or theme due to the overwhelming number of options.

For a more clever approach, the following design ideas and décor combinations might help.

Design Ideas

Textiles

You'll typically see long curtains in vintage-style homes. Cords and graceful drapes along with floral patterns can decorate the curtains and complement the wall.

Usually, vintage designs combine either plain curtains with vibrant bright walls or the other way around. But the clever use of textiles doesn't start and end with curtains and drapes. For instance, the upholstery can have a significant impact too, by brightening up the place.

Consider using lace napkins to enhance the appeal of bedside tables, accent tables, or even dining tables.

When going for a more retro vibe, designers often choose discreet carpeting and an assortment of decorative throw pillows. Note that you don't have to clutter the furniture with such accessories to achieve a vintage look.

Colors

There's a lot of debate around what color patterns fit a vintage-style home. But there isn't really a right or wrong answer here. Sure, popular choices include white, beige, or even lilac. However, the era you're going for should dictate the color scheme.

For example, a ‘70s-style home can feature checkered walls or curtain patterns with various combinations of white, black, mustard yellow, or even avocado green.

In other cases, pink, peach, or soft blue can help bring everything together in a vintage interior design. Needless to say that a majority of vintage decors tend to have more feminine notes, and playing with colors is more acceptable than in modern-style minimalist homes.

Nevertheless, there is such a thing as too much color. It depends on how you choose to combine design elements. A general rule of thumb dictates that using more design elements calls for dialling down on the use of color.

Materials

What's a great way to redo a floor in a vintage style? Always go with natural wood, including in the kitchen. It creates a comforting mood and gives the interior design a certain charm, preferably in tune with the original concept and era.

The '30s or ‘40s style room may call for leather upholstery and dark wood that adds a tone of elegance to a room. But fast-forward to the '60s and ‘70s vintage decors, and you'll notice increased use of fabrics, metallic accents on furniture, and other very different elements.

It's important to remember that combinations matter. For instance, it's not uncommon to have monochromatic walls to create a contrast with the bright curtains. But a vintage-style home may also feature patterned wallpapers, as they were popular for decades.

Whichever the choice, you have to strike a balance. Again, vintage isn't about having a cluttered or congested theme. However, it's essential to stay away from plastic panels and other modern choices that can bring an overly artificial feel to the décor.

High-End Antiques

Looking for high-end antiques or era-defining centerpieces for your vintage-inspired interior design isn't easy. Comprehensive research is required to ensure that you make the right choice.

Antique pieces can be unique and might not blend well with combinations of different vintage interior design styles. Yet, there are two problems you may encounter.

Firstly, not everything that looks old is an original piece – it could be a replica. Secondly, old pieces can be fragile and might not be worth using in your design project.

Now, once you find the correct element, a single high-end antique piece can elevate any room. You have tons of solutions to enhance the vintage vibe of a home, from benches that also work to provide extra seating to standing clocks, chandeliers, and other pieces.

Remember that you don't need to go overboard with antiques. If you want something to take centre stage, it's best to surround it with simple elements. Overcrowding is one of the easiest ways to kill the inviting and authentic atmosphere of vintage décor.

Furniture

Vintage furniture can range from sophisticated to downright quirky, depending on the period. With that said, you have plenty of choices.

Depending on how accurate or period-specific you want to get with the design, you can choose between actual wear and tear and semi-antique furniture. A shabby leather armchair might not look great on its own.

But it can still be an excellent piece if you can fit it into an existing interior design organically.

Consider other items like a chest of drawers, vintage-style sofas, bar countertops, etc. Even bar stools can give you a vintage feel if you're trying to pay homage to the ‘30s or ‘40s eras.

There is some debate on whether the furniture should look worn out. In most cases, it's a purely stylistic choice – are you aiming for authenticity, or do you want durable, long-lasting furniture?

Either way, using the right combination of furniture pieces can greatly contribute to the overall theme of an era while providing some mystery to the home. It can also help you create a cosy family home feel or an elegant and glamorous vibe reminiscent of a high-class diner party scene. Again, deciding on an era first should give you the direction you need and plenty of ideas.

Décor and Finishes

Let's talk about some finishing touches. Paintings in carved wooden frames are pretty popular in vintage-style homes. The same goes for family photos and other similar ornaments. The key here is to keep things more natural.

Adding some elements like clocks, antique music boxes, or lavish chandeliers can give the atmosphere a special feeling. Even smaller objects like figurines, old books, or candlesticks can contribute to a vintage vibe, as will flowers.

While not as crucial as in a country-style design, floral patterns and some natural elements can go a long way.

The great thing about vintage finishes is that those small elements can have a big impact. It's also easier than ever to find these things on the market. So, implementing the right pieces, from newspaper clippings to massive framed mirrors, shouldn't be an issue.

Modern Vintage

When you're looking to create a vintage décor style but you're operating on a limited budget, you can use modern vintage style as an alternative. This type of project won't involve too many changes or costly redecorations.

It's simply blending the old with the new in an attempt to give fresh life to boring modern décor.

For example, vintage-style décor can add a touch of simplicity and elegance to a room. Or, it can provide comfort and elegance while inviting brightness into a home. Old-fashioned luxurious vintage elements can make their way into a modern bedroom – think adding a bigger bed and perhaps a classic dressing table.

Some decorative pillows or even jewelry boxes can be enough to adapt a modern décor style into a modern vintage interior.

This type of design allows for a wide range of stylistic choices. Era-specific appliances can completely transform a kitchen, as do wooden table sets. Perhaps combining your modern cabinets with plates or mugs that add ceramic detailing will work with your vision.

It's essential to keep a sense of regularity when combining old-fashioned design elements with a modern interior. But it doesn't take much to remove the uniformity and dullness of the minimalist modern or contemporary home.

A few accent pieces in the right place can completely change the tone of a room. Switching to a more restrained color scheme or adding elements of antique furniture can brighten up any space.

Vintage Never Went Away

There's no denying that people have always had a fascination with old-fashioned things. Vintage never really went away, whether it's clothing, vinyl records, venues, or home designs. These days, it's perhaps even more popular due to the monotonous, overly minimalist interior designs.

For that reason, it's one of the best times to consider starting some vintage interior projects. In terms of getting it right, there's only one secret to remember. You can stick to a theme or blend multiple styles as long as you keep to elements that bring a certain charm, elegance, and even romance to your vision.

If you're looking for additional tips on creating vintage-style interiors or modern vintage decors, don't hesitate to book a strategy call with us by clicking this link.