Interior Design Tips for combining old with new can be a great way to create something unique and interesting, to pay homage to the past while embracing the present.

There is only one hard and fast rule you have, a house can become a true home with elements that reflect you and your family, with a collection of possessions you love, hold personal meaning, and evoke positive emotions which helps create a comfortable, inviting and visually interesting living space.

Here are some Interior Design Tips for combining old with new:

Find the right balance.

• Avoid creating a space that looks like it came straight out of a catalogue of coordinated furniture, keep your interior ‘scrumptious’.
• Use the 80/20 rule to mix different styles – This rule suggests that 80% of your room should be of the predominantly style, while the remaining 20% can be used to introduce accents or focal points of a different style.
• Consider the scale of the furniture when placing it in the living space. Antiques and dark furniture pieces are best placed on or near a wall, while lighter pieces should be placed next to items with more dimension to create a harmonious balance.
• Finding a balance in proportions across the room allows you to experiment with prints, finishes, colours, and styles.
• If the bones of your home are the provenance, recognise these features and celebrate the history and character in its entirety.

Antique furniture adds personality, warmth, and character.

• Antiques can be a great way to add interest and intrigue to a room. When something has a story of its own, it makes the whole room so much more interesting.
• Refurbish and repurpose your antiques.
• Antiques often display fine craftmanship and are of higher quality than today’s mass-produced furniture. Antique pieces were handcrafted by skilled artisans and made to last for generations.

Group your antiques by colour palette.

• Create a hero colour palette, making sure you’re your palette flows through your home.
• Unify colours, by integrating different elements in the same colour palette. This will create a cohesive and visually pleasing look.
• Select a dominant colour, choose one or two supporting colours to complement. Look for colours that appear in multiple pieces in your collection.
• To keep the focus on your antique collection, keep other elements in the room simple and understated. This will prevent the room from becoming overwhelming.

Definite contrast through textures.

• Incorporate vintage leather mixed with handwoven accent cushions. This combination creates contracts between the sleek, modern feel of the leather and the cosy, handmade feel of the cushions. This contrast can be emphasised by choosing colours and patterns that complement each other.
• Pair vintage with modern ceramics. A juxtaposition of vintage and modern elements will create a unique and exciting space.
• Use handwoven oriental rugs giving your living space unexpected warmth and a pop of colour. Handwoven rugs will add texture and depth to a room, creating a contract against smooth surfaces such as hardwood floors.
• Repetition is key. When mixing antiques with contemporary furniture, it is important to repeat certain elements to create unity. This can include repeating a pattern or colour scheme, or using materials that are similar in texture.

Here are some simple tips to keep in mind:

• Consider the overall look of the room: Plan your décor keeping in mind the architecture, lighting, and size of your room. Dark wooden furniture in a small room that has poor lighting will give it a sombre appearance. You might consider brightening it up with lighter colours or patterned upholstery. Mirrors are an excellent decorative element that can add both function and style to a room.
• Avoid the clichéd look: Gone are the days when everything had to match. Combining antiques with contemporary elements not only breaks up the tedium but also helps personalise the décor and style. Avoid putting all that family furniture you inherited into just one room.
• Pick styles that relate or complement each other: Modern furniture typically has clean lines. An ornate antique piece becomes the focal point of attention and adds drama to an otherwise simplistic décor.
• Choose one or two items to give your décor that extra pop of personality: Place a decorative Victorian style armchair or a Victorian chaise settee in your living room, an antique Tallboy in the dining area or an 18^th Century Dutch Batavian Trunk in your bedroom. Don’t overdo it or it will look like a chaotic mismatch of styles.
• Reupholster furniture for a bright and fresh look: Sometimes all it takes is new upholstery and a touch of polish to give your family heirlooms a new lease on life. It can also help you fine-tune the look to achieve a perfect balance of your antique and modern furniture.

Did you know:

The common difference between vintage and antique:

An antique is generally considered to be an item that is at least 100 years old, and is often valued for its rarity, historical significance, and craftmanship.

Vintage items, on the other hand, are typically at least 20 years old but less than 100 years old. They are often valued for their style and design, as well as their protentional to be repurposed or refurbished.

Written by Charlene Phillips
Charliegdesigns