Give your home interest and personality with these simple tips for mixing old and new (vintage and modern) in your home decor!
How would you describe your decor style is a question I get asked often.
My usual answer is that I don't stick to one particular decor style and simply buy what I love. If I had to describe my style I would say it's a little vintage, a little modern, a little industrial and a little farmhouse. How's that for a style description?
I have never really believed in the "rule" of sticking to one style and feel the best way to create a home is to fill it with what you love. You can mix styles and still have a beautiful and cohesive home that fits YOUR unique and individual style. It's your home and should represent YOU.
Mixing old and new, vintage and modern is my favorite way to give my home a lived-in feel and create a place I love. Keeping it neutral allows vintage pieces to shine while also allowing my home to feel cohesive, intentional and a bit more modern.
HOW TO MIX OLD AND NEW IN YOUR HOME DECOR
- ADD VINTAGE LIGHTING IN A MODERN SPACE -
Crisp white board and batten walls paired with dark painted doors add a modern touch to my mudroom. While the addition of an authentic vintage light adds the perfect pop of interest.
Vintage lighting, whether it's a hanging pendant, sconce or table lamp is a great affordable option to add interest to a clean and neutral modern space.
- ADD A TOUCH OF VINTAGE TO A MODERN BEDROOM WITH AUTHENTIC VINTAGE TEXTILES-
I would consider my bedroom to be more on the modern side, but the addition of chippy vintage farmhouse frames and a white vintage Bates bedspread adds the perfect touch of vintage.
Adding vintage rugs, bed linens, blankets and pillowcases are other great ways to incorporate old and new in a modern bedroom.
- USE VINTAGE DECOR TO ORGANIZE JEWELRY -
I recently hung a vintage accordion rack in my bedroom to organize my jewelry and I'm kicking myself for not doing it sooner. Not only is it perfect for organizing jewelry, but it also doubles as art in a previously wasted space.
Another great option is to use a vintage dress form to both organize your jewelry and add a touch of vintage to your space.
- DECORATE OPEN SHELVES WITH TOUCHES OF VINTAGE -
Vintage clocks, scales and cameras are perfect vintage accessories to add to office bookcases or shelves. While displaying old and new glassware or pottery on open shelves is a great way to incorporate a little vintage in a more modern kitchen.
Helpful resource: Creating Beautiful Vintage Displays and Vignettes
- CREATE INTEREST WITH VINTAGE FURNITURE -
Family heirlooms and unique vintage furniture are perfect for adding history, interest, style and personality to any space. My favorite vintage pieces to use in my own home are cubbies, card catalogs and lockers. Not only do they add the perfect touch of vintage, but they are also functional, stylish and practical.
***TIP*** To create balance, style large pieces of vintage furniture with small vintage accessories. This helps to keep the large piece from feeling out of place and helps create the perfect balance of old and new.
- KEEP IT NEUTRAL -
Keeping your spaces neutral allows multiple decor styles, both old and new to coordinate seamlessly and reduces the risk of a particular piece "stealing the show'.
Neutral doesn't have to be boring though. Adding contrast and infusing your home with unique vintage decor adds interest, texture, warmth and personality while neutral walls create the perfect modern backdrop.
Most would agree that the shiplap/plank wall in our basement is a little farmhouse, the Eames style chair is very vintage/mid-century modern and the dark fireplace paired with white walls are a bit more modern. The space incorporates many different decor styles but still feels cohesive, lived in and intentional.
No matter what your decor style is or how you decide to mix old and new, make sure you fill your home with what you love. Buying what YOU love and filling your home with what YOU love will create a home YOU love, no matter the style.
I love your painted interior doors! Is it okay to mix some painted doors but leave some white? I am wanting to try it, but not sure I. Ready to do them all.
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Yes, as long as it looks intentional. All my interior doors are painted Iron Ore EXCEPT the doors to my kids bedrooms. They are in a little nook, aren't seen from the main living area and are across from each other so it feels intentional. I say, start with one door and see how you like it. Creating a home is a work in process and isn't created overnight. Paint the rest as you have time or if you don't like it, you can always paint it back to white. Good luck!
DeleteYour home is simply gorgeous and I just love how your have paired vintage with modern. Your decor style (mixing styles) is not always easy and you have described just how to create a vintage yet modern space.
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing your tips!!
Thank you so much for helping me recognize that my style is a mix--very similar to your own. Your ideas help me to select different pieces that fall into those 4 styles without feeling anxious that I don't have just one style!
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