There is something particularly appealing when you find yourself in a modern home with some antique furniture pieces. Such pieces add to the overall style and ambiance of a room – they add value. It has become a trend to incorporate these antique furniture pieces into modern homes. And for a good reason. By doing this, we get a unique and well-balanced home that breathes modern and antique at the same time. Often, this blend makes us feel safe, comfortable, and cozy. If you’ve been considering upgrading your modern home with some antique furniture pieces, then this post is for you. Keep reading and learn how you can blend your modern home with old antique furniture.
We will start with making a distinction between two concepts, often used interchangeably – vintage and old. Then we’ll share some handy tips. Some of the tips say that you should find balance, consider form and function and repurpose and refinish. Moreover, what you can also do is add statement and accent pieces, use colours in a smart way and consider the 80/20 rule. Also, you shouldn’t forget about textures and layering.
Vintage vs. Antique
When it comes to these two concepts, they are often used interchangeably, even though they don’t mean quite the same thing. Anything that is more than 100 years old is considered to be antique, while anything that is more than 20 and less than 100 years old is considered vintage. On the other hand, the term ‘modern’ in interior design can refer to two things. It can refer to midcentury modern that comes from the 20th century. Also, it can be used as a synonym for contemporary design. This means anything that is less than 20 years old up to brand new.
1. Find balance
As far as blending styles are concerned, the first and most important rule is to find balance. The sky is the limit when it comes to mixing and matching. Almost anything can look good with the right balance. Rather than looking like a photo from an interior design catalogue, your home should be filled with things that are meaningful to you. In that way, you will create the right juxtaposition between the old and the new. Also, it’s essential to keep scale in mind. Some antique furniture pieces are dark and large and as such, would best look near a wall. On the other hand, light and leggy pieces should be placed near more massive items to prevent the room from looking uncomfortable.
2. Consider form and function
It will surely happen that you find yourself in a dilemma at some point in the blending process. The dilemma will most usually refer to which pieces to include and leave and which not. When this dilemma strikes, you should consider both form and function to make the right choice. Antique furniture and other pieces are quite specific and intriguing with their fine craftsmanship and wood carving. It is not so usual to see those kinds of pieces too often. You should aim for a healthy mix of curves and streamlined.
3. Repurpose and refinish
When it comes to getting antique pieces for your modern home, there are a few ways to get them. If you weren’t lucky enough to inherit some antique pieces from your grandmother or aunt, you’d have to search for antique pieces yourself. It can be a process, so take your time. The best blends are exactly those that took years to build. You can’t expect to find exactly what you’re looking for in just a few visits to thrift stores and flea markets. These are the most common places people look for antiques.
It’s important to know that even if you find some furniture piece that you like, which is not in perfect condition, there are some things you can do to make it look bright new. For instance, it is very popular in Australia and other continents to repurpose and refinish antique furniture. That’s why many Australians choose antique furniture restoration in Sydney to preserve these valuable pieces and blend antiques into their modern home.
4. Add statement and accent pieces
You can get the maximum effect of the antique blend by adding several statement pieces. Statement pieces are often large and keep focus upon entering a room. Statement pieces often include tables and headboards. Whatever piece you choose, you should make it functional. You can easily add a focal point or a sense of drama by incorporating one statement piece. This works especially well in neutral spaces. On the other hand, if you don’t have so much space to add statement pieces, you can always consider adding some accent pieces. These are often smaller and able to fit anywhere. Accent pieces can be lamps, mirrors, decorative items, small tables and ottomans, paintings, and other things alike.
5. Use colours in a smart way
The colour schema is yet another aspect to keep in mind when it comes to mixing old and new. Besides being mindful of how to mix different styles and periods, you should also pay attention to the colours you use. The colours should also be in balance. Ideally, the colours should be from the same colour palette, with some bold accents that fit well.
6. Consider the 80/20 rule
When it comes to interior design and blending, there is a simple rule you can follow. To find the right balance between modern and antique, you should use 20% vintage and 80% modern in your overall design. This is a rule that always works if you are unsure how to mix and match.
7. Don’t forget textures and layering
Textures and layering also play a key role in the overall feelings room has. You add coziness, warmth, and that homey feeling by incorporating a throw pillow and blanket here and there. You can also use rugs, different textured upholstery, and ottomans to mix textures and add layers.
Today we have Pinterest, where you can find so many awesome ideas when it comes to blending antiques in your modern home. You can create boards and save ideas. Then, you can assess your home, get busy in thrift stores and flea markets and find the right furniture pieces and other antiques to put in your home.
