How to Incorporate Antiques into a Modern Home
- Color-match objects. Pick unusual color combinations throughout your home. Instilling a contrasting theme around the...
- Accent lighting. Accent lighting is an excellent tool for highlighting your favorite objects. Small lamps could bend...
- Display cabinets. These are perhaps the best option for displaying antique glassware...
Full Answer
Can you mix antiques and modern furniture?
So, if you want to mix modern items with antiques don't just rush out and buy any items to fit the bill. You want to create a look that appears as though it's evolved over time. Wait until you find just the right items that will add the proper form and function to your home.
Can I display antiques in my home?
This is not true at all; you can absolutely adorn your home with antiques from any period. The antiques, though, have to be displayed in a certain way; otherwise, your home runs the risk of looking more like a museum than a living space. 1. Group items together as a focal point
How do you decorate a modern room with antiques?
Cover an old regency or Louis Bergere chair in an ultra-modern fabric. A piece of modern art in a room filled with antiques creates a pop. Put modern lamps on an antique sofa table, or vice versa. Place modern chairs around a beautiful, round French or English wood pedestal table.
How can I Make my antiques look more modern?
"Fresh upholstery can give antiques a modern feel without sacrificing vintage charm," Williamson says. "If you fancy a print, consider the shape of the piece and decide whether to play with or against the form. Stripes on a curved settee will highlight its shape while florals on a straight back chair might add some softness."
How do you mix antiques with modern interior?
Seven essential tips for mixing modern and antique furnitureHarness the power of repetition. ... Add touchable dimension with textiles. ... Use oversized antiques in smaller spaces. ... Insert a subtle nod to the past. ... Use the 80/20 rule of decorating. ... Play with lighting and reflection. ... Don't shy away from unexpected colour combinations.
How do you show antiques in a modern way?
"Showing all the pieces in the same room is dated. If it is a set of seating or a suite of furniture comprised of a dining table, dining chairs, sideboard, and a console, for example, I would display them separately—show the console in the living room and introduce contemporary art to lighten it up.
How do you combine vintage and modern art?
Find Balance Be creative with furniture and create a unique look by upcycling vintage pieces. To achieve a piece that bridges the gap between styles, use contemporary fabrics and colors. While mixing different styles within the same space you should find a balance between the numbers of pieces used.
How do you decorate with antiques?
8:0513:02How to Use Antiques in a Modern Home - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd i also have inside of here you can find those everywhere. And they're really easy to incorporateMoreAnd i also have inside of here you can find those everywhere. And they're really easy to incorporate because they're neutral. They add a really cool texture. And kind of old charm feel to the space.
Are antiques coming back in style?
Antique furniture is making a comeback. The same is true for antique jewelry. The styles are timeless. If you have an older home, would like to remember someone special, or find that the modern doesn't quite do it for you, then you, too, can rediscover the classics.
How do you mix traditional and modern?
1:493:48Interior Design: How To Mix Traditional And Modern DecorYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWhich is probably true every room has some grain. And each room is so soothing because of that thatMoreWhich is probably true every room has some grain. And each room is so soothing because of that that they equally feel as livable. And comfortable.
How do you mix antiques with modern living room?
A great rule of thumb is to group contrasting periods together. For instance, you might have antique bedside tables with modern lamps, or antique lamps with modern bedside tables. In the office you could have an antique desk with a modern chair, or perhaps antique art with a new sofa in your living room.
How do you make old furniture look modern?
Updating your furniture is now easy with our simple and creative ideas:#1. Strip Old Painted Finishes. ... #2. Clean Stain from Your Chairs, Dresser or Tables. ... #3. Add a Fresh Coat of Spray Paint. ... #4. Re-Cover Dining Chairs with a New Cushion. ... #5. Refinishing Furniture. ... #6. Go For Milk Paint.
What is modern classic decor?
Modern Classic style, also known as Modern Traditional, is the perfect blend of modern + traditional… aka timeless! This style features the sleek, simple, contemporary lines of the modern design style paired with traditional furniture, finishes, and accessories to take what was "then" and make it "now".
Can you put antiques in a modern home?
Decorating with antiques can give soul to your home and can offer the potential to make it unique- if you do it right. You don't have to have interiors filled with antiques to the brim. A few pieces here and there will add lots of character to your design.
How do you combine mid century modern with traditional?
Layer with art and lighting Modern lighting and art can help you incorporate more traditionally styled pieces into a modern interior. A contemporary light sitting on an antique desk for example, can make a dynamic combination. A vintage dresser with a modern painting hung above will help the two styles come together.
How do you display antiques?
Show Off. Create an art gallery in your home with vintage art or posters. Gallery walls look great almost anywhere, but for optimal impact, display your art in a high-traffic area like a hallway, staircase, or the living room. Use kraft paper to map out the perfect spot for each piece before hanging it.
How do you display antiques?
Show Off. Create an art gallery in your home with vintage art or posters. Gallery walls look great almost anywhere, but for optimal impact, display your art in a high-traffic area like a hallway, staircase, or the living room. Use kraft paper to map out the perfect spot for each piece before hanging it.
How do you mix antiques with modern living room?
A great rule of thumb is to group contrasting periods together. For instance, you might have antique bedside tables with modern lamps, or antique lamps with modern bedside tables. In the office you could have an antique desk with a modern chair, or perhaps antique art with a new sofa in your living room.
Why is it important to keep antiques in a single area?
Plus, by having them in a single location, that area becomes the room’s focal or accent space, or the area you want to draw eyes towards .
How are antiques grouped?
In museums and exhibits, antique collections are usually grouped according to antique type, geographical region, time period, etc. Since your home is not a museum, you do not have to group according to any of these parameters. With that in mind, though, we do recommend grouping by color.
How to keep antiques out of reach?
There’s a natural instinct to keep valuable antique items out of reach. Common areas include the top of a shelf or behind a display case. This is reminiscent of how collections in a museum are displayed. This gives off almost an “off limits” look. Since we are trying to move away from the museum look, keep the antiques close by. By close, this means on a coffee table, in the center of the living room, or even use an antique rug. Of course, this means you’ll have to take greater care and exercise more caution to keep the items in good condition, but this helps retain a homelier appearance.
Why do we blend past and present?
Blending past with present is in fact a creative way to decorate your home and create immense visual appeal.
Can you mix modern decor with antiques?
Conventional wisdom will have you believe that old-style furnishings and modern decor don’t mix with a contemporary interior. This is not true at all; you can absolutely adorn your home with antiques from any period. The antiques, though, have to be displayed in a certain way; otherwise, your home runs the risk of looking more like a museum ...
Can you put an antique candle holder on a coffee table?
When it comes to color grouping, you can also take into consideration non-antique décor. In other words, feel free to put that brown antique candle holder on the contemporary brown coffee table you purchased from Pottery Barn.
Can you have antique furniture with modern decor?
Just because you have antique furnishings doesn’t mean you can’t have modern decor style items as well. In fact, it makes sense to include modern items since the home interior is based on modern architecture. Seemingly incompatible items can complement each other.
Why do interior decorators mix modern and antique furniture?
Mixing modern items with antiques is a great way to achieve these decorating goals because the approach keeps a room fresh, adds contrast and depth, and ultimately creates balance .
What is important to consider when considering whether to keep or integrate an older piece into a modern design?
When considering whether to keep or integrate an older piece into a modern design, it’s important to think about both form and function. Antiques often display fine craftsmanship that is harder to come by today and feature intricate wood carving, marquetry, or decorative flourishes that you won’t find in run-of-the-mill modern-day furniture. (One exception to this is Shaker-style furniture, which has been embracing the same clean lines for centuries and still looks current in even the most minimalist modern interiors. )
What is a fireplace mantel?
A fireplace mantel in a modern room can really become a focal point if there's a single, ornate, antique piece placed on it. A modern light fixture hanging in a room full of rustic antiques is a powerful statement. Likewise, an ornate fixture in a modern room stands out and adds character.
What is considered an antique?
The common definition of an antique is a piece that is more than 100 years old. Anything more than 20 years old but less than 100 is usually considered vintage. Modern may refer to midcentury modern design from the 20th century, or be used as a synonym for current and contemporary, which generally refers to anything that is less than 20 years old up to brand spanking new.
Should you sacrifice things you love in decorating?
Although there are rules of scale, balance, and proportion in decorating, you should never sacrifice using items you love in order to follow the rules. Your home needs to look good to you, and if you truly love a piece, then there's a place in your home for it. Read More.
Do antiques need to be preserved?
While nothing beats the rich patina of a quality antique or vintage piece in terms of aesthetics and value, the truth is that not all antiques are valuable or need to be preserved in their original state. If you inherit your grandparents’ old dining table, stumble on an antique bed frame at the flea market, or find a thrift store armoire with great bones but a dated finish, take a step back and imagine how it would look stripped to its bones, refinished, or transformed with a brand new coat of paint .
Color-match objects
Pick unusual color combinations throughout your home. Instilling a contrasting theme around the house will mean old objects shouldn’t appear too jarring when placed in new surroundings. Some classy colors like burgundy and teal work superbly together and will provide a stunning backdrop for your pièce de résistance.
Accent lighting
Accent lighting is an excellent tool for highlighting your favorite objects. Small lamps could bend over and glow above an ancient globe, while downfacing spotlights could revitalize an antique fireplace.
Display cabinets
These are perhaps the best option for displaying antique glassware or other intricate items in a modern home. Housing smaller antique objects together shows them off collectively. Here, visitors will be able to admire your collections from different angles, and, if you get the right lighting, in a setting fit for their majesty.
The 80-20 rule
Finally, and this is applicable to any interior design conundrum, apply the 80-20 rule. This rule states that so long as 80% of a room or home’s design is in keeping with itself, the other 20% will not look out of place.
What to keep in mind when decorating a room?
It’s also helpful to keep in mind some of the other colors, wood tones, etc. in your room so that you can have an idea of how the piece will look in your space. Adding items like these to your existing decor should be a breeze as you already have a need for them.
What to put in a kitchen?
Think about things like: 1 glassware and dinnerware 2 baskets for decor and storage 3 furniture, including chairs, tables, dressers, etc. 4 a coat rack, hooks, or peg rails
Who said contemporary interiors are not confined to furnishings of any singular look or period?
Lauren Silberman. Caleb says: "The most dynamic, contemporary interiors are not confined to furnishings of any singular look or period. Combining pieces that vary in period, shape, form, color and culture and arranging them harmoniously creates interest, timelessness and even some wit.
What does Caleb say about antiques?
Caleb says: "Antiques can be given new life with a bright, bold fabric. These pieces are antique but the combination is fresh and modern. I love the warmth, history, uniqueness and grandeur that antiques can bring, yet feel compelled to juxtapose them with a minimal approach that injects structure, rigor, and contemporary mores."
Who designed the fainting lounge chair?
This lounge chair, originally designed by Hans Hartl in the 1960s, resembles the classic fainting lounge with its unique form, while the three-armed floor lamp is angular and helps create a truly unexpected pairing. The most interesting piece of this collection is the mirror-finished, stainless steel coffee table and a 17th century portrait by Lavinia Fontana. Despite the period, sophistication never loses its edge."
