How to Add Antique & Vintage Pieces to your Stylish Living Room
 with Mary Aspen Richardson


Complementary. Guest Curations | PUBLISHED 07.14.21 | Guest: Mary Aspen Richardson
Mary Aspen Richardson, an interior design enthusiast and a professional blogger shares her tips on integrating vintage and antique items to create a stylish modern living room | BRG

Although the antique style brings a particular emotional relevance, random placement of such items carries the risk of creating an outdated look in your new modern living room. However, there are several different ways to decorate with antique pieces, while still keeping your home both stylish and timeless - trust me!

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Shown: 1980s Abstract Two Part Coffee Table (item #175988); Yamaha G2 Grand Piano (item #176369); Antique English Georgian Mahogany Chest of Drawers (item #177422); Pair of Chinese Export Enameled Porcelain Vases Mounted as Table Lamps (item #167680); Pair of Notable Custom George II Style Wing Chair (item #175607); Very Fine 18th Century English Mirror from Stair Antiques (item #175640); Elegant Eight Light Faux Antler Chandelier (item #176382), Handwoven Persian Wool Carpet (item #167672)

Below, I will present you with a few examples of tasteful decorating using selected furniture pieces in a way that does not make your living room seem randomly designed. Not only learn how to construct a retro look, how to choose the best and timeless antiques, but also how to place antique and vintage objects to accentuate the room instead of distracting from it.

My Selection of Antique & Vintage Pieces for your Stylish, Modern Living Room

Create a retro look

One of the most direct approaches to decorating with antique items is to play with a retro design. You can add central decorative pieces to a coffee table or make the coffee table a central piece; vintage abstract furniture and art can decorate the walls, while retro floor lamps add to the overall vibe.

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If you love the 80's and abstract art, this
coffee table will make your living room pop.

Decorating with antiques of timeless design

An alternative is selecting antique items that can add a timeless look and at the same time bring something more modern and transient to your design. If we think of pianos in a home, we often imagine a lavish interior of a mansion. But a piano is not reserved for that purpose only! Adding a grand piano (full-sized or baby grands depending on the space available) to your modern living room and combining it with contemporary design items will truly make your home one of a kind. Pianos are music to both eyes and ears.

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You can use a piano to complement your diverse art collection. To customize, place your favorite prints and curated collectibles on or around it.

Take advantage of rustic design pieces

Another example of decorating with antiques is opting for unique rustic pieces. You can find several rustic shelves to place antique pieces and combine them with other furniture. It is also possible to arrange antiques on a table or wall surface. This approach can help you display your items in the most beautiful way possible.

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This beautiful chest of drawers offers both ample storage and display room on top. With its clean lines and a rich brown finish, it will be your living room gem.

Add a bit of culture

Adding antiques with a cultural feel, similar to Chinese porcelain, Asian decorative arts like pottery, carvings, or hand-painted screens or a Victorian set of dishes, is the best match for modern characteristics and will highlight your living room.

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When it comes to porcelain and ceramics, my advice is: don't acquire pieces with the sole purpose of making an investment. You will never be disappointed if you buy what you enjoy. If your budget allows, try to purchase the highest-quality example available.

Combine the old with the modern

In a modern home, an overdone antique interior will look irrelevant. The easiest and safest way to avoid this is to combine antique pieces with a modern design elements. For example, next to your stylish armchairs, place minimalist objects in the Scandinavian style. These handcrafted, George II-style wingback chairs fit amazingly with that idea. Don't be afraid of contrast - it balances the beauty of old-fashioned aesthetics with the functionality and freshness of modern design.

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Another advantage of this method is that it allows you to add antique motifs to any interior without replacing furniture or major repairs. If you are afraid of playing with stylistic contrasts, try starting with small changes. Combine furniture and accessories: find an antique detail, and then search for a modern pair for it.

A reflection of style

A beautiful antique mirror not only reflects light and gives the illusion of a larger room, but it also adds personality and echoes the homeowner's style. This gorgeous 18th century English pier mirror would absolutely be a one-of-a-kind piece to own and display. The gold finish with crimson undertones has aged gracefully. The gilded mirror can be layered over a painted fireplace for a stylish, intriguing effect.

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Playing with textures and materials is also a great way to create a sense of different eras in your home. For example, try combining the antique mirror with a metal frame and a geometric table painted to look like concrete. Two items can dramatically change the atmosphere in a room if you consider combining them.

A twist on the elegance of a chandelier

A Victorian home, for example, could not be imagined without a massive, richly decorated chandelier. Adding such an item, but with a twist, can do wonders for your living room.

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Chandeliers can be bulky and hard to transport, so if you are considering a relocation or a transfer to your new modern living room, it is best to seek the help of professional movers experienced with those kinds of jobs. However, you should ask for a couple of moving quotes first, to ensure you can move in without breaking the bank.

Don't forget the floor

Don't underestimate the impact a beautiful antique or vintage area rug can have on your living room. The excellent balance of materials, brilliant and intricate colors, or unique traditional patterns seen in antique rugs can be grounded in a modern design. They symbolize lines of tradition and reflect the history of their origin.

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To sum it up

The most dynamic, modern interiors are not limited to the furniture of a single style or period. Combining and arranging items that differ in date, shape, form, color, and background provides intrigue, timelessness, and even some wit! Rooms should have some aspect that causes visitors to take a second look, strike up a discussion, or even a grin.

Many old items look less neat and fresh compared to new ones. Don't try to make them perfect, because the beauty of vintage and antique pieces lies in minor flaws. They will be an imperfectly perfect addition to your new modern living room.



About Mary Aspen Richardson

Mary is an interior design enthusiast and a professional blogger. Her style is vibrant and bold - contrasting raw with refined, blending color, sophistication and spontaneity, and incorporating diverse periods of furniture. She believes design is a very intricate form of storytelling; each piece of furniture has its own history to share.



Brand ambassadors are always welcome.

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How to Add Antique & Vintage Pieces to your Stylish Living Room
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 with Mary Aspen Richardson
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