What are some tips for creating contrast between modern and vintage elements in home decor?

Create the perfect backdrop for your design. Find the balance between furniture and decoration.

What are some tips for creating contrast between modern and vintage elements in home decor?

Create the perfect backdrop for your design. Find the balance between furniture and decoration. Lighting fixtures are one of the easiest ways to combine old with new. If you're not sure how to combine antique and modern furniture, consider focusing on the dazzling possibilities offered by reclaimed pendant lamps or an ornate Art Nouveau-style Tiffany glass chandelier in an otherwise contemporary space.

In the same way, a 17th century French gilded mirror adds instant character and reflects light beautifully. For example, if your dining room is filled with an antique dining table, a chandelier, and a porcelain cabinet, you'll want to use modern decor as an accent instead of trying to combine larger contemporary furniture into the space. It is also essential to unify the scheme and create a backdrop for the furniture by choosing the right floor. Don't worry, whether you have an unlimited budget or you need an elegant and affordable decor, Pepper+ Vetiver home decor helps you add vintage pieces to a modern home or to decorate your old rooms with modern and sophisticated decor.

Interior design expert Julia Kendell explains how to mix contemporary with old to create a relaxed and elegant vintage style. If you're looking for less expensive options, combine timeless decor with contrasting textures, such as decorating with marble chains in a bowl with wooden legs. By mixing old and new and using lots of interesting individual elements, there's no need to add flashy colors to walls, for example, to create a greater impact. Learning to mix modern and vintage decor allows designers to combine existing spaces with contemporary and classic furniture.

Harmony is a design principle according to which all the elements of a room visually fit together, creating a pleasant experience. In wine and design circles, the term vintage is often used to denote high quality and, although age is not always a factor in the definition, it does refer to a piece that evokes an era that precedes the present with an age of between 30 and 100 years. While mixing wood and metal finishes is an art in itself, sometimes the easiest way to integrate disparate elements is to bring them together using the same color palette. To achieve this, try reusing your favorite objects, such as an old chair with a ladder back as a bedside table, a vintage suitcase as a coffee table, or an industrial work table as a dining table.

While there is nothing better than the rich patina of a quality antique or vintage piece in terms of aesthetics and value, the truth is that not all antiques are valuable or must be preserved in their original state. While “worn out” and aged parts can be a charming addition, too many can give the effect of a junk shop instead of the sleek look you're trying to create. Oversized designs are often better than small-sized ones, for example, in hanging lamps. Some of the most impressive designs combine contemporary seating with period chandeliers and classic mirrors.

The most livable interiors are those that cannot focus on a specific era or decade, but instead integrate elements from the history of home design.