Vintage Home Interior Design

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With the recent trend for all things retro, I thought I'd share my thoughts on this quick and easy guide to creating a picture-perfect vintage chic home interior:

1. Planning

Think granny's home in the 60s and 70s with floral motifs and lace tablecloths.

There are no hard and fast rules on what makes for a vintage look. Generally, the furnishing includes antiques, second-hand furniture or new pieces deliberately 'distressed' to look used. This means reinventing vintage items and giving them new life.

2. Key Pieces

Whimsical designs ranging from crystal chandeliers, floral fabrics, old-fashioned lampshades, wrought-iron furniture, comfortable armchairs, candles, recycled accessories and offbeat ideas like using an old teapot to hold fresh flowers. There's no running away from wallpaper, furs and curtains if you're going for the European vintage look.

3. Color: Light vs Dark

Personally, I like to opt for light colors like white and cream as they evoke a more breezy and casual touch. It's also the classic base palette of the vintage look. This color is also easy to work on since you don't have to worry about clashing color. Alternatively, rich and darker color like burgundy, purple, black with gold accents can also character to the room.

4. Cheap & Chic

The key to a bona fide vintage look is, well, vintage pieces. As such, you'll need to include second-hand pieces which do not break the bank.

5. Coordination Rules

There are practically no rules on putting the pieces together. However, it is important to visualize the impact of all your mismatched bits and pieces when placed together. While we are not talking Stepford Wives perfection, it helps to create a theme or motif that recurs throughout the space. For instance, pick a family of colors and vary them subtly. Using white as an example, we'd be looking at egg shell, cream, caramel etc.

6. Where to Shop

Anywhere! From eBay to antique malls and flea markets, the important rule is to know what you want but be flexible to adapt when necessary. If doubt sets in, do not commit to a purchase.

Vintage style home interiors have become increasingly popular in the UK and abroad, with exquisite decorative touches and vintage home accessories.

So what is it about this look that homeowners love so much?

First of all, the cost is one of the most attractive elements of choosing a vintage look. It can easily be achieved on a small budget, so those of us who can't afford wrought iron furniture and chandeliers need not despair! There are a whole load of creative little tricks that can be used to save money, while still producing a stunning and stylish home environment.

With a timeless element, vintage is a look that will last. Unlike some modern looks that require specific styles of appliances and accessories, the vintage look is eclectic and can easily be added to over time. A few new items added to it can make a wonderful impact when you want a bit of a change - rather than having to get rid of last year's items.

It's also hugely about re-using and re-vamping, because mixing old and new is the way to achieve the perfect vintage home. You can salvage old furniture and spruce the room up with some elegant decorations in a vintage style - which is not only manageable in terms of cost, but environmentally beneficial too.

While a vintage look does require a certain amount of work in reviving old items, it can also be a lot of fun. Odd chairs can be painted to match each other; or even to mismatch! A wood stain or a coat of white or pastel paint can make all the difference to shabby dining furniture or a kitchen counter.

Another lovely element to the vintage style is that it can be truly personalised. It's the collection and placement of items collected from your life, complemented by subtle decorative accessories.