Making Antiques Part of Contemporary Decor

Antiques have long been incorporated in traditional decorating schemes, but they can be part of contemporary decor as well. When juxtaposed against contemporary furniture with clean sleek lines, antiques provide an interesting counterpoint with vintage or retro flavor. If you love contemporary decor but want to give your interiors a little more personality and a touch of the unexpected, consider these tips for incorporating antiques with modern furnishings.

Repurposing Antique Furniture

Repurposing antique furniture to work with your contemporary decorating scheme is what makes using them so interesting and fun. This approach can also be used to transform a piece from outdated to chic and remarkable. For instance, you can top an antique chest or trunk with a cushion and use it as impromptu seating or as a seat in a bay window. An antique dining room chair that is the lone survivor from some long gone set can be painted in a bold modern color and used in a foyer or beside the shower to hold a stack of thick fluffy towels. An old door can be turned into a headboard or even a table top.

Antiques that Go with Modern Style

In most cases, antiques with simpler lines will blend better with modern furnishings than ornately carved pieces, although if used as a focal point, an elaborate piece may have the dramatic impact required to carry off a unique style statement. Pieces that are not upholstered are also easier to incorporate; however, a new trend is to reupholster antique pieces in modern fabrics and this is a good way to tie the two styles together.

The key to successfully marrying the two styles is to choose just a few antiques so that they stand out but don’t dominant the room. It’s also wise to find some common ground in the design, material or finish of the antiques and your modern furniture. Similar wood tones, profile and scale will make the composition appealing. Certain styles from the past, such as Art Deco or pop art from the 60’s, work particularly well with modern furnishings because they were the cutting edge designs of their day. Classics always work as well; an Eames chair from the 60’s, for example, works in nearly any decor.

Where to find Antiques at Great Prices

You may have a few antiques in your own attic or your favorite aunt may have a few pieces that she’d like to pass on to you. However, you can also find great pieces at antique stores, resale shops, summer antique fairs and even garage sales if you look often enough. You’ll can find all kinds of furniture, accessories and home wall art, whether you’re hunting for an original op-art painting, an antique weathered Tuscan initial wall grille or primitive folk art door toppers. Since you are not shopping for a house full of antiques, the best approach is to be selective, rather than buying the first pieces you see. Remember that the pieces you choose need to be perfect to have the stylish effect you crave and it may be worth the extra expense and time spent to find the absolutely right vintage furnishings. You’ll know when you’ve found them!