Incorporating Vintage Finds into Your Home Decor - Complete Guide

Vintage finds have a charm and backstory that aren't matched by modern mass-produced items. You can add vintage and antique pieces to your home decor to create distinctive personalized spaces. Fads are here today, gone tomorrow, but vintage decor items have a lasting charm that never fades away. Let’s get started with the complete guide on how to incorporate vintage finds into your home decor.

What is Vintage Decor?

Any decor items that are over 20 years old are labeled as vintage. Some people use "vintage" more loosely for anything old or from a previous era. An item must not be extremely old to provide that vintage charm. Solid wood furniture, classic ceramic dishware, intricate textiles, and quality metalwork develop a classic vintage aesthetic. They add an exciting look to your living spaces.

Thrift stores, flea markets, estate sales, garage sales, online marketplaces, and antique stores can be great sources for vintage decor. You can also consider open-air flea markets for finding affordable decor. Compare prices so that you don't end up overpaying. Brush up on your knowledge before scouting for vintage pieces to prevent being taken for a ride. With the vintage label being all the rage, the market is awash with knock-offs.

Thrift stores and charity shops are goldmines for budget vintage finds. Check frequently, as inventory changes daily. Estate and garage sales put entire households of vintage items at low costs. Online listings and buy-sell groups are also worth checking regularly.

What Kind of Vintage Furniture Should You Buy?

Look for solid wood furniture such as dressers, tables, chairs, cabinets, and shelves that can add warmth and character. Vintage paintings, prints, mirrors, clocks, signs, old maps, and botanical prints bring personality to bare walls. Antique wood frames with detailed carving or gesso are extra special.

Rugs, quilts, curtains, tablecloths, and upholstery fabrics add fantastic texture and visual interest. Hunt for handmade pieces, intricate weavings, and beautiful patterns. The table lamps, hanging pendants, sconces, candleholders, or vintage lighting bases also set the mood. If you want to stick to a category, you can begin by collecting figurines, toys, vintage tins or boxes, cameras, etc, for starting a collection.

How to Incorporate Vintage Finds into Your Home Decor

If you struggle to achieve “the look” or need tips to polish your decor, here are some ways to incorporate vintage finds into your ideas. 

Don’t Overdo It

“Don’t overdo it” should be your mantra when incorporating vintage pieces into your decor. There is a very thin line between collecting and hoarding! Sometimes, we flood our living space with pieces of every shape and size. It can make the room look cluttered. Limit yourself to just a few high-quality pieces per room.

Spread out your vintage pieces throughout the house. For example, you can add vintage coat racks, trunks, etc, right in the entryway for an excellent first impression. Or add a few vintage utensils or a spice rack in your kitchen. Adding a few of these pieces to each room is possible so that you are greeted by these lovely vintage items no matter where you go.

Put Thought Behind the Decor

Decorating your house with vintage finds does not mean scattering a few items and calling it a day. Every piece must have a purpose that adds to your design language. The right accessories can also add volume to your vintage pieces.

While a mix of vintage styles can look eclectic, you'll want unifying design factors for an intentional look. Stick to between three to five primary colors that flow through the space. Choose vintage furniture, accessories, and artwork in colors that coordinate.

You can create a flow between rooms by featuring vintage finds in similar wood, metal, glass, or fabric textures and finishes. You can also shake things up by having each room represent a different era, such as Art Deco, mid-century, or Shabby Chic. Mixing vintage from different periods creates depth as long as colors, textures, shapes, and scales coordinate. Take cues from your home's design when choosing vintage decor. 

Make it Yours

Let each piece weave a story. Choose pieces that connect to your interests, hobbies, or personal memories. Don't decorate for the sake of decorating. Group together items that can recreate a moment in time. You can take inspiration from different sources but must leave your mark when decorating your space.

Don’t Hide the Imperfection

Flaws are part of the charm of vintage decor. Bumps, chips, dents, scratches, peeling paint, or other worn areas indicate that the piece has lived many lives before yours.

Don't obsess over making every vintage find look perfect or brand new. A bit of preserved patina builds the item's character and authenticity. Aim to restore major damage while maintaining as much natural aged charm as possible.

Give The Piece a New Life

Get creative to repurpose vintage finds in unexpected ways. Turn a wooden crate into a side table or use old baskets with damage as lampshades. Vintage trunks or baskets can be used as storage bins for throw pillows, blankets, etc., to create a cozy nook anywhere.

It breathes new life into these items while emphasizing your creativity. The bonus is you end up with a kind decor piece.

Match the Scale

Large, oversized vintage pieces can easily overwhelm small rooms. Consider proportion when looking for vintage items. To avoid clutter, use smaller vintage touches like table lamps, artwork, or textiles in bathrooms or other smaller spaces. Every piece must be added to your room without making it look cramped.

Add Accents

Adding a variety of intricate abstract patterns with bursts of color adds to the vintage look of your living space. You can quickly introduce them using affordable accessories like throw pillows. A few geometric patterns, courtesy of our Raga Mustard or Aegean Stripe, are a great way to bring vintage flair to the room.

A rug of various shapes and colors will be the base for the whole room. Contrasting design elements that tie everything together can restore balance. To add charisma to your decor, go for the Anne Rose in Azul's intricate pattern or the Fabio in Ivory/Charcoal's geometric design.

Pay Attention to Its Upkeep

Vintage furniture must be cared for properly to look its best. The patina and age are the highlights of these pieces. Take gentle care to maintain the look for a long time. Be gentle when cleaning vintage pieces. Talk to an expert about appropriate cleaners and care methods you can use with the vintage pieces. Avoid harsh chemicals or abrasives that could damage delicate finishes. Use quality museum wax on wood items to protect and enrich patinas. Keep fragile items away from direct sunlight to prevent fading.

When storing, keep it in clean boxes away from direct sunlight and humidity. If your vintage pieces are pricier, don't DIY repair them. It is better to seek professional restoration services.

Whether you thrift just a few accent pieces or fill your home with precious antique finds, decorating with unique vintage items will make your living spaces memorable. When shopping for vintage decor, look for well-constructed quality pieces that speak to you. The vintage style also promotes sustainability as you are reusing and repurposing pieces that might otherwise be discarded.

Blend beloved vintage finds alongside your contemporary furnishings to breathe new life into your decor. Sprinkle some vintage charm and balance it with our curated pillow covers, rugs, and artwork collection. You will create a living space that captivates the imagination.