For the Love of Old Things: Why you Should Decorate your Home with Antique and Vintage Items
A key part of my historic-modern aesthetic is (not surprisingly) the use of vintage and antique furniture and accessories. These items add character, patina, and a beautifully-authentic element to a room that is so much harder to pull off when the entire space is furnished with brand-new, off-the-shelf items.
Mixing old and new items is key to achieving this authentic and layered look. Going with strictly vintage items is hard to pull off and runs the risk of looking like your grandparent’s living room. I recommend a 50/50 mix of old, antique pieces and new items. The key to this balance is creating contrast while also having some unifying elements to pull the contrasting pieces together. Unifying elements could be a similar colour palette or wood tone, textile pattern, or shape, for example.
Image Source: Heidi Caillier Design
This balance can take time and practice to pull off, so I suggest experimenting with adding vintage accessories to your decor as a starting point. Check out this post I wrote about vintage home decor accessories to look for at the thrift store for ideas and inspiration.
What’s the difference between antique and vintage items you might be asking? While I use the two terms as a catch-all for “old things” there is a distinction: antiques generally refer to an item that is at least 100 years old, whereas vintage refers to items that aren’t as old (generally between 20-99 years of age).
Decorating with antiques and vintage items is not only a great way to create a layered and unique home, but there are lots of other advantages too:
1. They add historical and personal significance to your home
I’m a big history buff (if I wasn’t a designer, museum curator would be my other dream job), and I love thinking about how people used to live and the way they used their homes. Antique items tell a story, and I find it fascinating to think of the role a farmhouse kitchen hutch played to the family who owned it and the carpenter who made it, for example.
One of the greatest advantages of decorating with antiques and vintage items is that they add a sense of historical significance to your home. If you have an old home, pieces from around the same genre that your house was built will automatically look cohesive with the architecture of your space. But you can absolutely put antique pieces in a new home as well- remember, the mix of old and new is what creates that beautiful contrast and visual interest.
Image Source: Amber Interiors
Vintage and antique items can also have enormous personal and familial significance. Before I was born, my grandmother (who just like me, loved hitting up thrift shops and refinishing furniture), found a natural oak bureau dresser at an auction, covered in paint splatters and badly in need of refinishing. I’m told she spent an entire summer lovingly working away on it in the garage, planning to gift it to a future grandchild. That grandchild turned out to be me, and it’s been in my bedroom ever since I can remember. My grandma and I were very close, and I love that she loved the creative things I turned out to be so passionate about as an adult. She’s since passed away, but I think of her every morning as I get ready for the day in front of that dresser. This antique piece of furniture makes me feel connected to my past, and will hopefully end up in the home of one of my children or grandchildren. While furniture can’t replace our memories or connections with people, they are a powerful and tangible reminder of our past and where we’ve come from.
2. They’re Eco-Friendly and Sustainable
Decorating with antiques and vintage items is an environmentally-friendly and sustainable way to furnish your home. Rather than buying new items that contribute to environmental waste, you can repurpose and reuse items that have been around for decades or even centuries. Research has shown that the carbon footprint of an antique piece of furniture, is on average, 16 times lower than a newly produced piece. Also, add into this equation reduced carbon emissions from global transportation of goods (and decreased or non-existent shipping delays!) and minimal risks of off-gassing from new materials, and antique pieces are a clear winner from an environmental perspective.
Image Source: Meghan Eisenberg
3. Antique pieces that have survived until now are usually of high-quality
Antiques and vintage items are often made of high-quality materials and craftsmanship that aren't found in modern mass-produced items. This means that they’re built to last and can often be used for generations. By investing in antique and vintage pieces, you’re not only adding unique character to your home, but you’re also investing in items that are likely to hold their value over time. So even if your kids don’t want to inherit your antique pieces someday, chances are someone out there will appreciate them and I think that’s just as important.
When shopping for antique furniture here are a few things to look for to ensure you’re buying a quality piece:
Construction details such as dovetail joints on drawers and cabinets. This type of joint usually indicates hand craftsmanship, as opposed to nail and glue joints of more recent factory production. Original hardware will also have a threaded post and nut securing it to the cabinet front, as opposed to a more modern slotted or flathead screw.
A signature, label, or stamp can provide more clues about when and where the piece was made. Check for these on the backs and insides and undersides of drawers. Originally, cabinetmakers would initial their work in pencil or chalk; furniture companies began labeling their pieces with stamps in the late 1800s and this practice continued through the 1950s.
Wear patterns, repairs, and replacements. Legitimate antique collectors prefer pieces to be in the original and untouched condition as this attracts higher purchase prices, but how you feel about repairs and replacements is up to you. If done well, repairing a piece will make it more functional for you to use in your home and you may prefer the look of a refinished piece.
Overall quality. Inspect a piece for water damage, infestation (yes- it happens!), and structural integrity. As hard as it can sometimes be, don’t buy a piece that it’s in very rough condition unless you have a plan and the knowledge to fix it (or know someone who can).
4. They can be more affordable than new, off-the-shelf items.
Ok- this isn’t the case for all antique items, but regular run-of-the-mill antique pieces can be far more affordable than even entry-level, off-the-shelf furniture. I recently sourced a simple sturdy farmhouse sideboard for a client from a local antique market. The piece was from the late 1800s and had a beautiful finish with a marble worktop. The price was $650, far less than the $2K sideboards of a similar size that I had sourced at places like Crate and Barrel and Pottery Barn. Add to the fact that they’re in stock and ready-to-ship and it's a complete win.
Image Source: McGrath II
5. When you buy vintage you get a one-of-a kind piece
Antiques and vintage items are usually one-of-a-kind, so you won't see them in anyone else’s home. For many people this isn't a big deal, but for others it's important. Especially when the furniture market is dominated by big name retailers, it feels special to have a few pieces that are completely original to you.
Have I convinced you to add a few vintage or antique items to your home, or perhaps you were already sold and are now itching to hit up the local antique market? Do you have a favourite vintage item in your home? Tell me in the comments below!
Cover Image Source: McGrath II