Gone are the days when antique English furniture was just something you saw in your grandma’s house. Whether it’s creating a sustainable future for the planet or finding something unique, antiques are a way of life for people across the modern world, myself included.
One of the best things about great antique furniture is that it can be incredibly versatile, looking just as good in a contemporary apartment as in its traditional home. With a good eye and some clever design tricks, you can mix and match your modern and vintage furniture to create incredibly stylish and unique interiors.
Consider the Theme More Than the Style
This subtle difference can often be the difference between someone adding antique furniture to a modern room and someone creating a stylish space with both old and new pieces.
Many of us like to think of interiors in terms of style trends, such as the farmhouse style or Art Deco. However, designing an interior around a particular style limits the amount of freedom you have to add eclectic pieces. Instead, try to tie everything together around an overarching theme that goes beyond universal trends.
Examples of a theme might be creating a nautical or seaside-inspired kitchen, or a quiet and contemplative living room. By setting a broad theme that resonates on a personal level, you can start to picture both contemporary and antique furniture that could work together in the space much more easily.
Don’t Feel the Need to Highlight Your Antiques
Nobody loves antiques more than me. However, I often see interiors that feel the need to put their grandest, oldest furniture right in the centre of the room. Yes, that antique English kitchen table or regal stone sculpture is beautiful, but it’s just as beautiful at the edges of the room if that makes the whole look more cohesive.
Part of the fun of mixing and matching is creating unique, eye-catching angles in different parts of the space. Antiques are always full of stories and talking points, and coming across a beautiful cabinet tucked in the corner can be just as interesting as a classic antique table centrepiece.
Tone Down Rooms to Let Antiques Flourish
The joy of antiques is that every piece feels unique. Sure, there may be other versions of that Windsor chair still around, but none of them look quite the same as yours after all those years. There’s an energy and wisdom that only the best antiques carry that makes them interesting features in any room.
If you want your favourite antique furniture to stand out in a more modern setting, one of the most effective ways is to tone down the rest of the space. Swap vibrant colour palettes for darker shades such as olive and grey, and be selective over how many accessories and other items you include in the space. Doing this will naturally lead more eyes to the unique patina of your favourite antique furniture.
Bridge the Gap with Colours & Accessories
If you have an idea of the pieces you want in your dream mix-and-match space but are still struggling to stitch them together, these are the two best tools to complete your look.
Working with a clear colour palette is a quick and easy way to get contemporary and antique furniture singing from the same sheet. Pick a colour theme for the room, such as neutral tones or blues, and play with accents to allow pieces to stand out while still feeling part of the same aesthetic.
Another way to expertly blend antique furniture with contemporary pieces is through accessories. If you have a large antique cabinet, decorate it with contemporary accessories to take some of the edge off, and vice versa.
Love What You Love
Finally, and perhaps most importantly, there’s really no bad way of combining old and new pieces so long as it feels authentic and genuine.
Going back to the first point, being ‘on trend’ doesn’t matter when it comes to the timeless style of antiques. All you need is a theme that matters to you and some beautiful pieces that you love. If you have that, you’ll be well on your way to creating a beautiful interior filled with joy.
Of course, if you’re still looking for that perfect piece of antique furniture to add to your space, why not check out my collection on offer here? I have been sourcing the finest English antiques for many years, and I’m confident you’ll find something unique that feels just right for your dream interior.