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5 Great Ways to Include Antiques in Any Decor

Bringing antiques into a modern home design? Incorporating vintage pieces into a high-tech home of the 21st century? Placing an Empire style tabouret next to a 70-inch TV? These ideas may sound crazy at first, but you might be surprised.

As a fan of secondhand items, the idea of mixing vintage and antique items into a modern home to add contrast and class seems so intriguing. But it also sounds like an art not for the faint of heart. Today, I have a guest contributor, Elise Morgan, who’s sharing 5 great ways to incorporate antiques into a modern home decor. 

Mixing vintage and modern might initially seem out of reach. But once you start thinking through ideas, you’ll realize that they’re not as crazy as they might have sounded at first. It is possible to include antique pieces of furniture in your home.

Here’s how.

1. Combine and Contrast

The most effective way to achieve great style with antiques is by combining antique pieces with something modern. The contrast accentuates each piece and makes them blend in a way you didn’t think was possible.

For instance, many art lovers love hanging classic paintings on colorful walls, creating a perfect combination of old and new. Also, you can frame paintings in rich frames and hang them close to modern pieces of furniture – just imagine a vintage Rembrandt overshadowing a fashionable new sofa!

2. More Lights!

Chandeliers were the most prominent parts of all respectable homes of the past. To make your home look classier, consider incorporating one of these into your living room. Vintage chandeliers can be a bit pricey, but don’t hesitate to spend a bit more money on them – they’ll quickly become the focal point of your home.

Lamps are another great way you can bring the old into your new space. It doesn’t matter if you choose a gilded floor lamp or a wall lamp from the beginning of the 20th century. You’ll still make quite an impact. Choose subtle LED light bulbs that will emphasize their vintage look without diminishing their elegance.

3. Stylish Floors Equal a Stylish Home

If you can’t afford expensive paintings and chandeliers, you can still introduce something antique into your home décor as long as you know what you’re trying to achieve. Lots of people all around the world seem to pay more and more attention to their floors. Focusing on your floors is an easy yet highly effective way to draw attention to a part of your home that’s easily overlooked.

While purchasing tiles or hardwood with an aging look may be harder, opting for a rug can be a great solution. Vintage rugs can bring class and grace into every room of your home without forcing you to break the bank. Just make sure you pick the best rugs you can find, made from high-quality materials and with inspirational patterns and colors.

4. Recycle and Repurpose

Another amazing way to decorate your home with antiques is by renovating vintage pieces of furniture. You can easily find pieces online or at your local flea market, and they’re usually a bargain. If you invest a bit more money into finding a trustworthy renovator, you can get a wonderful vintage armchair for the price of a new one. Or, if you do it on your own, it’s even cheaper.

When deciding how to renovate old furniture, make sure you pay special attention to the materials, textures, colors and patterns you plan on using as these pieces should not stand out too much, but match your overall color scheme. Therefore, pick a color that will work well with what you already have.

5. Other Ideas

Other ways to include antiques into your home are decorating your kitchen with old-fashioned cookware, turning old trunks into bench seats or old suitcases into bookshelves, and repurposing ancient furniture (use a vintage cabinet as a TV stand, for example). All of these ideas will turn your home into an exciting and unique place to inspire you with character.

Guest Contributor

Elise is an unusual girl with a distinctive taste for home decor. She’s passionate about writing, sharing tips and DIY projects. When she’s not writing, she tries to squeeze in as much traveling and discovering inspiration for her projects as she can. You can find more from Elise on Facebook and Twitter.

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