Simple ways to perfectly blend vintage and modern home décor

It might seem a bit far-fetched, but vintage and modern decor can actually coexist in harmony. The problem is that the majority of homeowners dare not experiment with two seemingly opposing forces in their home, in fear of creating utter chaos and confusion. And rightfully so, as combining these decor schemes successfully requires careful consideration and meticulous execution.

Fortunately, this type of interior project doesn’t require any expensive or time-consuming investments, as perfect harmony can be achieved with the use of common, affordable decor elements only. Here to help you create a stunning symbiosis of old and new is the essential guide to combining vintage and modern home decor.

Start with a neutral foundation

No matter your preferred design approach or interior layout, both modern and vintage elements will only be able to truly come to life if supported by a neutral foundation on the walls. If you choose a striking hue for the backdrop, you might end up overemphasizing one approach and leaving the other completely hidden in its shadow.

So instead of risking it, you can opt for a neutral colour palette, entailing pure white and off-white hues, pastels, and earthy shades. These will allow the room to feel spacious and free, while also allowing the decor elements to shine in all their glory. This brings us to the next crucial point.

Decide on your favourite design approach

You might be all for equal rights and democracy, but your interior sure isn’t. In the world of combined decors and designs, there cannot be two equal rulers, as one decor approach needs to prevail over the other in order for the interior to portray a cohesive whole rather than a chaotic setting. Achieving this is no walk in the park, as you will need to decide which decor elements to put first.

The interior needs to speak either modern with a hint of vintage, or vice versa. The best way to create the desired aesthetic proportion is to go for 80:20 or 70:30 in favour of your preferred decor approach. This way everyone will be able to appreciate the room for its modern or vintage base, and revel in the bold beauty of its accompanying, complementary style.

Make a statement with striking accents

Possibly the most important step to keep in mind when designing a mixed decor line, regardless of the room, is introducing striking accents and focal points. These will serve both as an aesthetic and functional purpose. Luckily, statement pieces can come in all shapes and sizes, so there are plenty options to choose from.

Remember to complement the foundation with a single rustic or modern focal piece, such as a sofa, or better yet, an interesting rug to bring the cosy vibe to life in the entire room. Carpets can greatly influence the look and feel of the room, so be sure to research and buy rugs online at Decorug.com.au where you are sure to find the best of both worlds. Think about enriching the walls and tying the design together with accent artwork depicting your preferred decor scheme as well.

Scale back the rest of the decor

Combining two seemingly opposite designs can lead to numerous problems, and cluttering the space is one of them. While you might feel inspired to hold on to every trinket and accessory from both schemes, the key will actually be in scaling down the decor line in order to bring the interior to life.

This means that while you shouldn’t embrace a minimalist mindset per se, you do want to declutter your home thoroughly, creating enough free space for this combination of elements to shine in all its glory. Keep the number of elements balanced, avoiding overstuffing the room and creating confusion.

Combine different layers

The final step entails careful layering throughout the house. A common mistake which homeowners make is separating the two decor lines, creating two opposing fronts in a room rather than a harmonious environment.

To avoid this, think about complementing the base decor with vintage or modern accessories, such as modern book covers on a vintage side table, or a vintage freestanding lamp gracing a modern armchair, etc. The possibilities are endless, just make sure that you do not mix the smaller elements in order to avoid disorder – if the majority of book covers are vintage for instance, don’t try to disrupt them with a modern issue, it won’t work.

Combining two very different decor schemes in a household can seem like a daunting task better left to the professional interior designers; however, with a bit of planning and careful execution, bringing together vintage and modern decor in a home can be a fun and rewarding task.