Are you interested in putting together a dynamic, curated home that balances modern and vintage styles? This design trend is quite popular, and it’s also fun to create! In fact, the most popular application of this trend is via the 80/20 rule. This states it’s best to use roughly 80% modern furniture with 20% vintage statement pieces. Of course, don’t feel bad if you prefer 70/30 or 90/10!
Top Takeaways:
- Choose a vintage focal point and contrast it with modern furniture
- Layer your accessories with a vintage frame and modern print
- Bring texture and color together to bridge your modern and vintage aesthetic
- Select vintage items that also serve a modern function
- Keep your modern/vintage theme alive during the holidays with Decor Steals
Begin with a Neutral Foundation
Before you begin picking up vintage pieces, be sure your home has neutral-colored walls. That way, your vintage decor will truly stand out! We suggest using beige, white, or gray colored walls. Although it might feel a bit flat when you first paint, it’ll look fantastic once everything is together.
Pick Out Modern Furniture
Next, it’s time to select your main modern pieces. For example, you might pick out a living room set that includes a sofa, loveseat, and coffee table. Be sure your furniture is comfortable and inviting, particularly if you enjoy hosting people.
Focal Point: Antiques and Vintage-Themed Decor
Now it’s time to add your statement pieces! You can create drama by incorporating bold, large, or vintage-themed pieces. Also, don’t forget you can bring in approximately 20% vintage furniture, too. For example, our Vintage Drop-Front Secretary Desk with Key offers an X-leg base to add architectural interest.Alternatively, our Gilded Arch Wall Mirror commands attention with its rich gold finish and intricate carving details. This decorative and striking piece also comes with a classic arch design. It has such vintage appeal that people will assume it came at a premium price. However, it can be yours for less than $100!
Layer Your Accessories
To continue your modern vintage aesthetic, it’s a good idea to layer your accessories. What we mean by that is mixing and matching different time periods. Think of antique vases placed on top of a sleek, modern shelf or vintage frames filled with contemporary prints. An ideal example can be found with our Rustic Farmhouse Chippy Patina Urn Vases Set. By pairing it with a modern floating shelf, you’ll make your vases really stand out.
Bridge with Texture and Color
Bringing pieces from various time pieces together must be done carefully to create the right look. Fortunately, it’s possible to unify them by combining textures such as wood, velvet, and metal. Alternatively, stick with a central color palette.
Let’s say you’ve got beige walls and green furniture. You could bring this look together with white accessories like our Greenhouse Inspired Outdoor Plant Stand. Although it’s durable and outdoor-proof, this white, charming greenhouse design also looks great inside. Plus, it provides the perfect bridge; white matches any color scheme, while also standing out.
Provide a Functional Contrast
Your vintage-themed decor should also function properly for modern needs. A good example of this can be found with our Vintage Old Town Station Wall Clock. It comes with an older style of a European train station clock, but it still works perfectly. Another example is our Vintage Double-Glow Brass Desk Lamp, which adds vintage appeal while still serving as a working lamp.
How to Keep This Theme Working Over the Holidays
Many holidays cause people to temporarily change some of their decor. The good news is that it’s easy to pick up holiday-themed items with a vintage appearance. Therefore, if you’d like to make sure your house retains its mixture of modern and vintage styles over the holidays, this section is for you!
Easter
Want to celebrate Easter without giving up on your vintage/modern ideas? Incorporate vintage in your Easter decor! One such item is our Vintage-Inspired Rabbit Couple Table Lamps Set. Rather than having a cutesy theme, you’ll have an old-world finish with modern ease. This whimsical design offers a soft, cozy glow and cord-free convenience.
Another Easter item that allows you to participate in the fun without ruining your home’s aesthetics is our Easter Bunny Metal Planters Set. This set comes with two coordinating sizes to create visual interest. It also has a whimsical, charming black design. It IS possible to decorate for Easter without using lots of pastels!
4th of July
The 4th of July goes back to the very first celebration on July 4, 1777. In other words, it has a long and storied history that relates to vintage items. This is perfectly represented in our American Flag Distressed Tattered Flag Wall Art. The patriotic design comes in two sizes, and you can pick from five different finishes.
Would you like to be surprised and also get several vintage-themed items for the holiday? Opt for our Celebrate America Collection by Steal It Box. Rather than picking out items individually, you’ll receive an entire box filled with the best decor for the 4th of July!
Halloween
The older Halloween gets in America, the more likely people are to seek out vintage pieces. In fact, there are now three distinctly different styles for Halloween: Vintage, Modern, and Gory. Rather than setting up a gory display, though, let’s look at how to best combine the vintage Halloween aesthetic with your modern furniture. First up is a Halloween favorite: Bats! Our Rustic Iron Hanging Bats with Easy-Mount Adhesive Set comes with two bats. Crafted from iron, the rustic distressed front is always a winner!
Halloween time means Jack-o-lanterns, but it doesn’t have to mean making a big mess. Instead, opt for our Handcrafted Rustic Jack-O-Lantern Set. That way, you’ll always have perfectly carved Jack-o-lanterns! Also, tea lights fit perfectly inside these one-of-a-kind decorations.
Christmas
Christmas has long been affiliated with vintage items. In fact, it was less than 100 years ago when the modern version of Santa Claus was created by Coca-Cola. Therefore, it’s relatively easy to pick out some vintage-themed decor. For instance, our Vintage Gold Metal Nutcracker King Set. After all, nutcrackers were first created in 1600s Germany!
Another way to mix it up and keep your Christmas more vintage-themed is with our Vintage Inspired Santa Wall Art. Rather than featuring the Santa that we’ve all become familiar with, thanks to Coca-Cola, this version features a jolly Black man as Ol’ Saint Nick.
Decor Steals Makes Modern and Vintage Fun
As you can see, mixing modern and vintage styles has never been easier! Pick up your modern furniture elsewhere, then turn to us to find the very best of vintage and vintage-inspired decor!