5 Tips for Mixing Vintage and Contemporary Furniture

Can you combine contemporary and vintage furniture? Yes! Learn how to seamlessly blend vintage and contemporary furniture to create a unique and stylish space. One of the most important tips (we offer this one as an extra tip) is clarity and good taste even in the smallest details.

What’s contemporary-vintage decor?
Contemporary-vintage decor mixes classic, old and nowadays designs to elevate a space to a charming and cosy refuge. Legacy rare pieces, high-quality furniture, lavish carpets, functional lamps, family pictures, and sleek tables are special touches in contemporary-vintage projects.

5 tips to mix vintage and contemporary furniture

Tip 1: Choose contemporary seating

Mixing contemporary and vintage furniture creates an eclectic look with sentimental value and a sense of nostalgia. Contemporary seating pieces, from armchairs and sofas to chairs and pouffes, have a dynamic style and are the perfect combination of past and future.

As vintage furniture tends to be more eye-catching and statement pieces, contemporary furniture often includes natural products, simple looks, clean lines and functionality. Choosing contemporary seating means that messy bundles are a no-no, while storage and comfort are a yes-yes. Thus, contemporary design sofas and chairs are mandatory for a sense of belonging.

Tip 2: Find the balance between vintage and contemporary

Mixing contemporary and vintage furniture creates an eclectic look with sentimental value and a sense of nostalgia. Combine pieces to create a cohesive room. Getting the proportions of each piece right is vital to how furnishings relate to one another.
Oversized designs are generally better than undersized ones. Vintage lighting, from table lamps to pendants, is a great choice, for instance, when combined with contemporary seating. Mix strong and rebellious vintage pieces with smooth and silky contemporary textures. Try a distressed leather chair with simple accessories. Combine sumptuous layers with cosy lamps.
“For a house to be successful, the objects in it must communicate with one another, respond and balance one another.”
- Andrée Putman famed for founding Ecart International, pioneered the development of boutique hotels.

Image: Kelly Wearstler Eclectic Interior Design Project

Tip 3: Consider aesthetic, form and function

When considering whether to integrate or keep a vintage piece into a contemporary design or the other way around, consider form, function, and aesthetics. Vintage pieces often display fine craftsmanship that is harder to come by today's furniture style. For successfully mixing contemporary and vintage, think about playing with lines, making sure you reach a balanced and healthy mix of curves, textures, and practicality.

Tip 4: Choose a vintage statement piece

To create a maximum impact in contemporary decor, go bold with a vintage statement piece like a sideboard, coffee table, geometric headboard, lavish rug, or a gilded mirror. This approach allows you to create a focal point or a sense of drama through contract and juxtaposition but without creating a chaotic space.

Tip 5: Balance everything with the colour palette

Choose a colour palette that bridges vintage and contemporary:

Neutral tones like white, grey, and light wood tones
Bring in pops of colour with accessories or artwork for a cool and unexpected twist.
Ensure the colours of vintage and contemporary furniture pieces match well together.

Thus, colour is key to unifying vintage and contemporary decor by using the same colour palette to integrate disparate elements, including different wood finishes and metals.

Image: Kelly Wearstler Interior Design Project mixing vintage and contemporary furniture items

Conclusion

It is okay to mix contemporary and vintage furniture in all spaces. From the living room to the home office, mix different designs to your home and interior design projects a layered look that feels collected over time. We only have 3 rules for mixing vintage and contemporary furniture items: