How to Mix Modern and Antique Furniture
Thinking of mixing the old with the new? Here are our tips for successfully combining antiques with new furniture.
When designing a home, it is important to create cozy spaces with life and personality where you can relax and unwind. Choosing a set of furniture—for living rooms, bedrooms, or even dining rooms—may seem like the easiest and most effective solution. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
The best interior design projects combine new pieces with old and antique ones. They are about generating unique and individualized spaces that reflect the tastes of those living there. In this post, we cover useful tips for mixing new and antique furniture like a true professional interior designer.
Find a common theme
Whether you are a fan of eclectic interiors or prefer everything to match, finding commonalities between new and old pieces is key. This approach will help create coherent but not overly uniform combinations that complement the mix.
It's important to strike the right balance, as overdoing the combination of different styles can create an incoherent look and feel. To avoid that, aim for furniture with common colors, a recurring pattern, or a similar material. Ideally, antique and modern pieces should be united by at least one common attribute.
Add vintage-style textiles
Vintage fabrics bring timeless warmth to your living room. Wool rugs with classic patterns or hand-woven Persian rugs add a touch of color to any interior and a contrasting element to the most modern furniture. You can also upholster your furniture with a vintage pattern to add more vibe to your decor.
These prints will undoubtedly be the perfect contrast against the most modern furniture. Other textiles, such as curtains, upholstery, cushions, or even fabric wallpaper, can be a way to introduce those vintage-style patterns or motifs.
Use antiques in small spaces
Playing with proportions can give a sense of luxury in small spaces in contemporary homes and apartments. An old, solid wooden desk or a classic mid-century sofa can make a small living room feel much larger.
Add vintage pieces to a small space
Choose a spectacular vintage or second-hand piece as the focal point and surround it with more modern and discreet pieces. Introducing a historical piece full of life is the perfect way to contrast more contemporary rooms.
Consider the 80/20 rule
The 80/20 rule is an effective method for mixing antique and modern furniture. Unless you collect antiques, most of your pieces will generally be contemporary. Therefore, it's a good practice to incorporate 80% modern pieces with 20% vintage ones. This rule applies to furniture and small decor pieces.
Use vintage lighting
Lamps are one of the simplest ways to combine the old with the new. If you are unsure about mixing antique and modern pieces, consider combining modern furniture with antique crystal chandeliers. These pieces, borrowed from past times, are an excellent way to introduce a touch of luxury and sumptuousness to contemporary interiors.
Antique mirrors are another effective way to spice up your modern interiors. A gold framed mirror (whether an antique, like a French mirror from the 16th century, or a modern replica) can be the perfect way to bring natural light to the darkest corners of the house, as it will double the light sources with its reflection.
Experiment with unexpected color combinations
Mixing antique and modern furniture styles in our homes has a lot to do with the need to create contrasts. Combining modern furniture in white or gray tones with antique pieces full of color is easy and effective.
Incorporating different colors and patterns can be equally sophisticated and bring energy to your interiors. So, don't be afraid to opt for a more daring color palette, even if it might initially seem too much. This can work very well in rooms with unique wall details.
Conclusion
When it comes down to it, mixing modern furniture with antique or vintage pieces should reflect what makes you feel good. Look for pieces that reflect your tastes and preferences, and always respond to your needs and lifestyle.
After all, when decorating your home, you do it for yourself. Play with mixing antiques and new pieces to create an interior that is full of charm, style and personality.
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