Decorating your home with vintage style is not as easy as it they
make it look in Country Living Magazine or Home and Garden TV. I'm not a
professional but I have made some mistakes and have learned a lot over
the years. Here are some simple tips to help make it a little easier for
you...
Organize:
Don't let the clutter of your vintage collections take over your house.
Organize by item, color or anyway that floats your boat but don't let
it get out of control. A beautifully displayed book case or curio
cabinet are good ways to contain the clutter. Use unconventional items
as well: old trophies, glass jars {think Ball jars}, old crates or
vintage baskets all make great vessels for holding your stuff {referred
to by some as junk}.
Mix it up:
Don't be afraid to mix old with new. A reproduction found at the right
price can be a great addition to your vintage home decor, especially
when it comes to furniture. I sometimes find that even though antique or
vintage furniture can look awesome the "worn torn" appeal doesn't
always hold up well to my kids. I use to think that it all had to be old
but I've gotten over that. Once i realized that no one really cared
but me and I was so stressed out over something breaking I decided to
let all that go.
Vignette:
The vignette is an easy way to pull mix matched vintage or antique
pieces together for display. There is an art to it and it may take some
time to "get it right" but don't give up. Start by pulling out all the
vintage pieces you have laying around: antique books, vintage pottery,
small photos etc. Then pick the spot you want to use for your vignette:
hall table, coffee table, book case etc.. Clear off the spot and get
started with the vintage pieces you've just found in your home! Play
with the variation in sizes, layering and color.
Stay Eclectic:
I have found that staying eclectic with a thread that pulls your
antique and vintage finds together is the best way to go. I love
Mid-century design but too much of it and your house either starts to
look like a museum or an episode of Leave it to Beaver. I stick to
straight lined furniture for the most part with the occasional ornate
piece thrown in. I also find that by staying eclectic I have more
opportunity to snatch up great finds at great prices.
Be Fearless:
Seriously it's just decorating your house. I have found myself in the
past paralyzed when it comes to taking chances on my home decor. The
fear of getting it wrong can be so overwhelming that you stop trying. So
what if you have to move the chair to another room in the house because
it isn't working with your vintage table. So what if your Russel Wright
is reproduction and not the original. As a good friend of mine once
said, if the price is right and you love it the rest doesn't matter!
Paint:
I know a lot of people {perhaps you're one of them} consider it a sin
to paint old or vintage furniture {certainly antique}. I say if it gets
that piece out of the land fill and in to your living room, have at it.
If it's the perfect piece at the perfect price but not the perfect
color; slap on a coat of paint. The above photo of that fabulous painted
farmhouse cabinet is an example of utilizing paint on vintage furniture
to bring it to life. You'll never convince me in a million years that
the coat of yellow paint didn 't save it from obscrutiy.
There's
nod doubt about it; decorating with antiques or vintage finds can be
harder than it looks. Don't let the specifics overwhelm you and remember
you're not performing brain surgery so making a mistake is certainly an
option!
Share your tips for decorating in vintage style!