When you leave your home wearing a vintage piece, you feel like a million bucks. There’s something so satisfying about finding that perfect throwback accessory. Besides the fact that you’ll inevitably rack up compliments on your one-of-a-kind look, you also get to experience a deep connection to history every time you put it on.
And your home is no different than your wardrobe in this regard! Even if floor-to-ceiling contemporary style just isn’t your style, many folks love decorating their home with some vintage decoration around the holidays.
Want to take a page out of history’s book and add some vintage-inspired style to your living room? Here are four ideas to get you started:
Patterned Wallpaper
Putting up patterned wallpaper is a bold move, but it can pay off big time. Of course, homeowners who are hesitant about plastering an entire room in a busy pattern can pick a single accent wall.
One benefit to going bold in the wallpaper department is that you can decorate the rest of the room in a simple style and still get a lot of bang for your buck. Plus, vintage wallpaper comes in a lot of flavors. Do you love 1920s and 1930s art deco design? Try a diamond pattern on the walls. Is mid-century modern more your thing? Try geometric patterns in subdued oranges, yellows, greens and browns. Nature designs, like flora and fauna prints, are also great additions to any room.
Funky Accent Surfaces
Is your living room OK as is, but lacking a certain spark? You may be missing that one funky piece of furniture that elevates it to the next level. But before you kick your sofa out to the curb, start smaller.
A well-placed, shapely end or accent table can make all the difference in a room. Whether you choose a modern round table to offset the clean lines in the room or a glamorous vintage serving cart for storage, don’t sell yourself short and stick to only cut-and-dry side tables!
Lighting Fixtures
Lighting is one area where you can channel all the elegance of the past without worrying about fraying wires and archaic fixtures that don’t work well with your home’s electrical circuit; you can capture the most iconic designs from generations past in modern fixtures from reputable online retailers.
Think about hanging a retro-inspired chandelier over your sitting area for a unique twist, or putting up dramatic wall sconces at key points around the room. Cap off your balanced throwback lighting scheme with a few table and floor lamps for good measure, and your living room is ready for its close-up (day or night).
Geometric Rug
Just like with wallpaper, sometimes one significant swath of boldly patterned rug can tie together everything else in the room. An area rug with a geometric pattern can add pop to living rooms that are otherwise simplistic! Just make sure it’s large enough to frame your seating area, otherwise it will look out of place.
If your room isn’t conducive to one large rug, adding a few vintage accent rugs or runners throughout the room can create the same effect. As long as the pattern is bold and the colors are complementary, it’s sure to look fabulous in your living space.
You don’t have to haul home every single piece that you see at your local flea market to lend your living room some vintage charm. Start by focusing on a few strong additions (rug, lighting fixtures, tables and wall pattern) before you commit to an overall retro scheme. Just like when it comes to putting together a vintage-sourced outfit, tasteful layering is key.