Design Vogue

Our collective love of all things cozy and nostalgic seems to be why thrifting and vintage finds have been on the rise, And even those of us who prefer a contemporary space can sometimes find ourselves with an unexpected flea market gem or inherited piece of furniture that doesn't quite seem to fit our space.

If that's you, we tapped three designers who have you covered with ways to seamlessly style vintage decor in your modern home.

Make It the Focus

When you're introducing a vintage piece of furniture or decor into your modern space, knowing where to start can be stressful. That's why our design pros always recommend starting the area you plan on placing it from scratch (no matter how big or small), and then selecting modern pieces based around your new item.

"Choose just one or two standout pieces and let them shine," designer Kim Morris says. "Less is more when it comes to styling vintage items in a modern home."

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Lean Into Your Personal Style

We can spend years figuring out our home decor favorites, and throwing an unexpected piece of vintage decor into the mix can seem jarring at first. Instead of fighting your personal taste to make it work, embrace both and discover where the vintage find and your interior style intersect.

"Spend time determining what it is about those pieces you love the most, and curate surrounding decor that highlights your favorite qualities," Morris suggests.

Once you've taken a moment to appreciate the color, material, and style of the item—and which aspects of it resonate most with your home's aesthetic—you might find it fits into your space better than you thought.

Layer Items, Eras, and Materials

Vintage items feel inherently cozy, and you can highlight that further through the art of layering them with furniture and decor of similar materials, features, or from the same time frame.

"Vintage pieces often have rich textures and patinas that add warmth to modern interiors," interior architect Inara Tirkkonen says. "Incorporate different materials like distressed wood, aged leather, brass, and handwoven fabrics to create depth and interest."

What is most important is that the whole room or home feels cohesive.

"By maintaining consistency in design style across eras, you create a space that feels intentional and timeless," Morris says.

Color-Coordinate

As you start to curate the corners of your home around each vintage item, our designers say one of the most important common threads to keep in mind is the color palette.

"If you’ve inherited a vintage watercolor painting in a gorgeous gold frame, set it on top of a stack of coffee table books with spines that echo the colors of the painting," Morris says. "Pull in complementary hues of a vintage rug through pillows, throws or even fresh flowers."

Play With Room Placement

Sometimes, finding a new home for an unexpected vintage item within your space isn't so straightforward.

If your living room is already decorated in a way you love and you find yourself with a new rug, lamp, piece of furniture, or some old family photos, consider styling them in a less traditional room, like the bathroom or kitchen.

"An old dresser can be transformed into a stylish bathroom vanity, or a vintage trunk can serve as a coffee table," Tirkkonen says.

Don't be afraid to get creative, and keep in mind that you can always move things around later if you just don't like it.

Create Contrast

Grouping similar colors, design styles, and eras of decor together is one way to style a vintage piece, but it's not the only way. For more eye-catching impact, Tirkkonen recommends experimenting with the opposite technique, and juxtaposing old and new to build visual interest.

"Balance is crucial," she says. "Pairing vintage items with contemporary pieces creates contrast and helps you avoid an outdated look: Think a minimalist sofa with an ornate antique coffee table or using a mid-century cabinet in a modern setting."

Reimagine and Repurpose

If you've inherited a vintage piece that feels sentimental but doesn't quite fit into your home and day-to-day lifestyle, don't worry. Thinking outside the box and repurposing these items as storage, a planter, or decor could end up inspiring an evolution of style, like in this hallway designed by House Nine Design Studio where a wooden bucket turned into a storage vessel gives the entire setup a welcoming, rustic farmhouse feel.