Vintage interior design ideas

Vintage inspired interiors are always on trend. Bringing a bit of vintage decor into your home is a great way to showcase your unique style and add some character. Vintage is a huge umbrella term that covers a wide range of eras and decades, so you just need to find the right one that suits you and your home best. Whether your space is a modern blank canvas or a period property full of quirky features, we’ve got vintage interior design ideas to get your creative juices flowing! Read on to find out all the different vintage styles as well as how to incorporate vintage home decor ideas into a modern living space.

• What is vintage decor?
• Different types of vintage style
• How to add vintage decor to a living room
• How to add vintage decor to a bedroom
• Incorporating vintage decor in a modern home
• How to source vintage items
• Which flooring is best for a vintage look?

What is vintage decor?

The term ‘vintage’ applies to anything that’s 20 years old or more. So, believe it or not, even items from the 2000s would be classed as vintage today! And if an item is over 100 years old, it’s then called an antique. Something that’s vintage might refer to the age of the item, but it can also mean the design itself – we often say a piece looks vintage because it’s been deliberately distressed or aged. That’s why the vintage decor home aesthetic is easy to achieve. It’s not about being polished or perfect; it’s about punctuating your space with pieces that add character and charm to create an eclectic look.

Different types of vintage style

Vintage style spans so many different eras that one person’s vintage decor ideas may be completely different to another’s. That said, you can identify the main vintage styles by their time period:

French Country

A more relaxed version of the ornate Rococo style that became popular in the early 18^th century, French country vintage decor is elegant and refined. Light and painted wooden furniture often features carved foliage, scrolls and scalloped edges, with intricate details highlighted in gold. Ooh la la!

Victorian

Classic and traditional, Victorian vintage style from the late 1800s is perfect for lovers of antiques or those with period properties. It leans into the gothic aesthetic, using dark wooden furniture and fancy metalwork to bring incredible detail and a moody ambience to your space.

Art Deco

Originating in the roaring 1920s, Art Deco vintage design will give any room a glamorous twist. It pairs bold geometric patterns like chevrons and sunbursts with a decadent colour palette of dark, jewel tones and metallic accents.

Mid-Century Modern

Emerging during the mid-20^th century, Mid-century modern vintage style focuses on clean lines and functionality. Furniture is made using natural materials such as leather and wood, blended with muted, earthy colours like browns and greens to ground this look.

Retro

Retro vintage decor comes from the 1960s and 70s and is notable for its eclectic patterns and vibrant colours like orange, yellow, and teal. Clashing textures – for example, pairing a smooth chrome-legged chair with a shaggy rug – is the key to nailing this look.

How to add vintage decor to a living room

Statement pieces are a fantastic way to bring a vintage element into your living room. Choose eye-catching and interesting furniture like an accent chair or a coffee table then build your scheme around it using the key colours, shapes, or materials.

How to add vintage decor to a bedroom

Bedrooms are all about depth, so layer your scheme with vintage accessories. Cushions, throws, and rugs will help to unite the old and the new. Play around with different textures and introduce patterns of that era on headboards or even wallpaper to elevate your look. Picture frames and artworks are also an easy way to add a vintage touch.

Incorporating vintage decor in a modern home

If you live in a contemporary home and want to include more modern vintage decor, then adding a few carefully chosen accessories will help the different styles merge seamlessly. The good thing about newer properties is that they are often just painted neutral with square rooms and blank walls, giving you the chance to stamp your home with any style you like. There are a few guidelines you should follow:

• Choose your colour scheme first – You’ll probably find that your colour palette lends itself to one of the vintage styles more than the others. Fancy pops of colour? Retro is your bag. Want pale and interesting? Go for French country.
• Don’t mix too many styles – Including all the vintage styles we’ve listed would be too much for one home! To create an eclectic look, pick a couple that blend well together, with pieces that have something in common, e.g. geometric shapes, ornate flourishes, gold accents, etc.
• Stick to a shared colour palette – That said, vastly different vintage decor designs can work together if they only feature colours from the chosen colour family. For example, an Art Deco sideboard with a gold trim will sit nicely next to Victorian art in a gilded frame.
• Add vintage accessories – Vintage textiles like cushions, rugs, and curtains, along with mirrors or lamps will let you explore incorporating vintage decor without too much of a commitment. These are also easy to move from room to room - or get rid of completely if you decide they’re not right for your space.

How to source vintage items

With the internet at your fingertips, it’s much easier to track down that elusive vintage piece. Bear in mind that real vintage comes with a price tag and might need a bit of TLC, but there are other ethical ways you might be able to source vintage items for your home:

Charity shops

A great place to start because they are cheap, and you might find a hidden gem if you know exactly what you’re looking for. However, they do take up a lot of time to rummage through and you’ll often come away empty handed.

Second-hand market places

Facebook marketplace, Vinted, and eBay are ideal if you’re after a particular vintage item. You can set up an alert so you’ll be the first to know if it’s available. If you’re spending a lot of money on something designer, you’ll need to watch out for fakes, but a lot of marketplaces do include buyer protection and authentication. You can also haggle the price down, which is fun! You could also check out vintage online marketplaces like Vinterior, Narchie and Selency where you can find high-end designer vintage pieces.

Antique dealers

Vintage items found here are often more expensive, but the dealers are super knowledgeable if you need advice. Plus, they can keep an eye out for something specific and let you know if it arrives, or show you a similar item from the same vintage period.

Upcycle

Repurposing existing furniture or accessories is ideal if you’re just after a vintage look rather than a genuine vintage piece. One man’s trash is another man’s treasure as they say, so watch YouTube tutorials and stain, paint, and add gold leaf to your heart’s content.

Small local craft businesses

Keep an eye out for vintage fairs or craft markets in your local area. Alternatively, Etsy and eBay have small sellers who make to order so if you’ve exhausted all the other avenues, go for an original piece with a vintage feel instead.

Which flooring is best for a vintage look?

Hard flooring is best for creating a vintage look. Aged laminate flooring as well as luxury vinyl and engineered wood has been cleverly designed to make it appear older and more rustic. It might be more textured or have a white or smoky wash over the plank to pull out the pattern of the grain for a vintage appeal. You can then add a vintage rug on top of your wooden floor to tie the scheme together.

Geometric vinyl flooring is another vintage flooring option available in a variety of designs, from decadent Victorian tiles to black and white chequered retro flooring, so you can match it to the era. The great thing about vinyl flooring is that it’s incredibly hardwearing and more comfortable underfoot than tiles, plus it’s also more affordable.

The right carpet can also help to bring a vintage feel to your space. A floral patterned carpet might suit a French country scheme, whereas a coloured carpet in mustard yellow or a bold blue would be perfect for embracing retro design. Or if you like a specific design but don’t fancy it as a full carpet, we can make it into a rug using our carpet-whipping service.

Our Ideas Hub has plenty more design inspiration to help your curate your perfect vintage style. Whether you’re keen to embrace the Parisian interiors trend or like the funky tones of 1970s interior design or want to add glamour using Art Deco design in your home, we’ve got lots of tips and tricks that you should definitely read before you begin.