How to Mix Modern and Vintage Home Decor

Mixing modern and vintage home decor can create a unique and stylish look for any home. By blending classic pieces with contemporary designs, you can achieve a timeless and sophisticated aesthetic that reflects your personal style. 

However, striking a balance between the two can be challenging, especially if you're new to interior design. We share some tips on how to mix modern and vintage home decor to create a cohesive and visually appealing space.

What Is Modern and Vintage Furniture?

Before you begin, consider the definitions of modern and vintage and what it means to you. Commonly, the word ‘antique’ is used to describe pieces that are more than 100 years old. Items that are more than 20 years old but less than 100 years old are typically considered ‘vintage’. Therefore, vintage furniture is that which is from around 1920 - 2000. 

‘Modern’ can mean a couple of things in the interior design world. Firstly, it could refer to ‘mid-century modern’ design that was popular in the mid-20th century and is rapidly regaining popularity again now. Alternatively, it could be used as a synonym for ‘contemporary’, which refers to items that were produced less than 20 years ago, including new furniture. 

Define Your Style

When looking to create a mix of vintage and modern styles in your home, consider what these words mean to you, and the more specific time period you would like to evoke. For example, do you want to add Art Deco elements into a contemporary home, a touch of gothic glamour, or subtler mid-century touches? Consider if you want a minimalist or maximalist approach. 

Look on Pinterest and home interior inspiration sites or magazines to get ideas and put together a mood board with the things that catch your eye. 

Work From a Colour Scheme

When mixing modern and vintage home decor, it's essential to choose a cohesive colour palette. Consider the hues and tones of both styles and find a common thread that ties them together. 

For example, Art Deco furniture often uses rich shades, like emerald green and gold, so complimentary colours can be used for your modern items. 

Neutral tones like beige, grey, and white work well as a base, while pops of colour can add interest and depth. You can also use contrasting colours to create a dynamic visual effect.

Likewise, if you wanted to bring mid-century elements to your modern home, keeping things neutral with pops of red or orange would be a fantastic way of cohesively combining the two eras of design. Want that perfect mid-century colour and silhouette? Our acacia dining tables offer a great example of subtle vintage-inspired pieces that can be paired with modern elements. 

Start with a Focal Point

When decorating, it's always a good idea to start with a focal point. This could be a piece of vintage furniture, a modern artwork, or a statement lighting fixture. Once you have your focal point, you can build around it by adding complementary pieces that enhance its beauty and style.

Use Vintage Accessories

Vintage accessories are an easy way to add character and charm to a modern space. Consider using vintage lamps, mirrors, or decorative objects to create a focal point or add interest to an otherwise plain wall. Vintage accessories can be found at flea markets, antique stores, or online marketplaces, or find vintage-inspired accessories here at Accessories for the Home.

Mix Vintage and Modern Textiles 

Textiles are an excellent way to add warmth and texture to a room. Mixing vintage and modern textiles can create a cohesive and visually appealing look. Vintage rugs are easy to add to a living room, dining space or under the bed for an instant blend of old and new. Modern throw pillows on a vintage armchair or vintage cushions on a modern sofa are really simple ways of bringing the two styles together. 

Mixing textiles adds depth and dimension to your space, making it feel more inviting and cosy.

Create a Gallery Wall

A gallery wall is an excellent way to showcase both vintage and modern artwork. Mix and match frames and styles to create a dynamic display that reflects your personal taste. You can also mix different types of artwork, such as paintings, prints, and photographs, to create a cohesive and visually appealing look. 

You can add trinkets and wall hangings to the mix to evoke a particular style; for example, macrame can be added for a boho feel, while mirrors and dark gilt frames can bring a gothic twist. 

Mix Old and New Furniture

It might seem obvious, but simply mixing old and new pieces of furniture in your room is an easy way to combine vintage and modern styles. Consider pairing a vintage dining table with modern chairs or a contemporary sofa with vintage side tables or art deco style metal coffee tables. Not only does mixing old and new furniture add depth and dimension to your space, it can bring a unique visual that offers a strong sense of personality.

Consider the Scale and Proportion of Your Furniture

When mixing modern and vintage home decor, it's important to consider the scale and proportion of your pieces. You don’t want items to dominate your space and offset the balance. 

For example, pairing a large modern sofa with a small vintage side table can create an unbalanced and awkward look. Likewise, a heavy vintage side table with a small modern mirror above would look out of place. 

Consider the size and shape of your pieces and find a balance that works for your space. 

Be Mindful of Clutter

When mixing modern and vintage home decor, it's important to be mindful of clutter. While vintage accessories can add character and charm to a space, too many can create a cluttered and overwhelming look. Consider auditing your accessories and choosing only a few key items to include. 

If you’re looking for ways to bring a touch of vintage to your interior, then browse our full range of furniture and accessories to find the perfect pieces for your home.