Vintage items that remember the childhood of our grandmothers or were accidentally discovered in the “treasuries” of antique shops and flea markets can harmoniously coexist with hot trends, collections of modern designers and a practical mass market. Here’s how to combine them

Stylization

One of the ways to interrelate retro with modernity is to make vintage items the protagonists of the interior, and choose all the rest of the furniture and finishes for them. This is an easy task nowadays.

This year, the 70s remain the most fashionable trend: terrazzo texture, rounded furniture, velvet upholstery, macrame and other signs of the hippie decade are massively present in designer collections.

Contrast

Mixing styles and eras in one interior has every right to look contrasting. And the sharper, more noticeable the contrast, the better. The most relevant technique at the moment: take a simple, solid interior base and expressive accents. By a solid base, we mean neutrality in decoration and modern interior minimalism, and by expressive accents – emphasized foreign pieces of furniture and accessories. 

As always, the main thing is the correct proportions. The dominance of vintage can squeeze air out of space, turning it into an antique shop. Use retro elements as condiments.

Recycling

Sometimes we want to warm up a vintage item in the interior, not only because of its aesthetic or practical qualities, but simply because it is memorable. Some of these items can no longer be used for their intended purpose, but you can always give them new life.