One of the best things about living in the post-post-modern world is that there are many aesthetics and looks to choose from. The interiors of our home are no different because decorating and styling our home using multiple trends is all the rage these days. If you don’t want your home’s interiors to look too modern or traditional, here are some tips for mixing these two aesthetics to create a stunning and cohesive whole.
Defining modern and vintage
But first, here are a few things to remember about modern and vintage designs:
- Modern design was birthed during the turn of the 20th century. Its styles are marked by neutral colours, pointy shapes, lack of curves, clean lines, and natural materials usually left unpainted like leather, natural fibres, and metals.
- Vintage styles, on the other hand, evoke a spirit of romance, nostalgia, and yesteryear. Think of your grandma’s old bedside table and other antique furniture you can find in a thrift shop. This style is also a cousin of cottagecore style and the farmhouse aesthetic that’s been trendy for a few years now.
Believe it or not, it’s possible to mix these two aesthetics without your space looking disjointed and weird. Here are some tips for doing it as seamlessly as possible.
Making balance your priority
When it comes to mixing two styles on the opposite ends of the spectrum, balance is crucial. Give your pieces room to breathe by ensuring that everything is one is to one. That means one modern piece for one vintage accessory. For example, an antique store may look homey and cosy. But if it’s not the look you’re going for, then you can’t buy every furniture piece in there and place it in your home.
For one vintage stone object you add, like an antique entryway table, make sure you incorporate a modern touch beside it. For instance, it can be a door with FastFrame quality steel components that are painted black.
Treat your vintage pieces like the centrepiece in every space and let them have their moment. It will also give your room the balance it needs.
Using more than one material
This may seem obvious, but for many homeowners, cohesion means using just one material for the home’s decorative elements. They would use wood for the built-in shelves and use picture frames made of wooden materials. While there’s nothing wrong with repetition to create rhythm in the space, it defeats the purpose of mixing and matching modern and vintage together. We’re after cohesion, not repetition.
Don’t be afraid to use two different materials for your space. For example, you can use a bedside table made of metal, but your bed can be made of rattan or wood. Just make sure that those two pieces are also grouped with something similar to each of them, like a rattan basket under the bedside table. The key is to find pieces that have a similarity and bringing them together to create a grouping.
Maximizing textiles
Another piece of furniture you can play around with is rugs. It can instantly give your space a vintage boost, depending on the pattern and colour. It will also add some much-needed character and depth to a room, especially if it’s inundated with more modern elements than vintage ones. Rugs can also immediately ground the space without fully taking attention away from everything else.
Vintage rugs can look incredible in entryways, under your coffee table, and even your kitchen—make sure to add some double-stick tape underneath to ensure that you and your kids don’t slip.
Painting your walls white
If you’re worried about having too many contrasting design elements in your interiors, then consider painting your walls a neutral colour, like a warm white or cream. If you think white is too boring, then explore the Benjamin Moore website to see just how many white paint colours there are in the market. From finishes to undertones, not all white paint colours were created equal, so make sure to explore your options before moving on to a different colour.
White walls can provide a calming and serene atmosphere to your interiors and play off well with decorative elements of different colours. It’s the safest route you can take, it bounces off natural light really well, and it’s also on-trend.
Don’t be afraid to mix the old with the new. You don’t have to choose between two opposing aesthetics; you can blend them, strike a balance between the two, and give your home a timeless atmosphere.