Vintage is a word we hear quite often today, but we don’t always fully understand its semantic meaning. This word owes its origin to the French. This is what they called the wine, which had lain for decades in cozy wine cellars, distinguished by its maturity and perfection of taste. When an unusual and very unpretentious direction appeared in the art of creating interiors, replete with old gizmos and a certain specific atmosphere, the designers considered that this word would become the best characteristic of the style. Although the interior in the vintage style reproduces the atmosphere in houses of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there are no strict restrictions in decoration here . In such a room it is quite possible to find all the best that has been tested for ease of use over the centuries, as well as modern household items. So let's take a closer look at this magnificent style, especially since it is incredibly in demand today.
living room interior in vintage style
What is it like, vintage interior?
The room, decorated in vintage style, looks distinctly lived-in. It has a cozy and special nostalgic mood. There is always a lot of “seasoned” things here, each of which boasts its own history, and the neighbor to your grandmother’s chest of drawers may well be a home theater. Don't be surprised if there is an abundance of antiques in such an environment. They become a full-fledged ingredient of a mixed interior in vintage style. Staying in such a “shabby” and at the same time modernized atmosphere generates peace and tranquility. I just want to pick up a historical book, settle into a comfortable rocking chair, creaking with fasteners from the past, and, wrapped in a soft blanket, immerse myself in the serene reading of a fascinating novel.
Now it’s difficult to say who exactly came up with the idea to complement a modern modern interior with several elements reminiscent of bygone days, but the result was a very interesting decor that gained crazy popularity.
vintage interior style accessories
Design Features
To begin with, it is necessary to say that this concept refers to a material with a specific color or pattern. Old wallpaper is simply not used in modern construction, since it loses its physical properties and cannot withstand all the loads during installation.
That is why the price of such modern material is quite high, since it is made in small quantities in the old style, but only from new components.
Some types of similar materials have the appearance of products from the last century, but they are made with appropriate quality
Vintage
Recently, this style has been considered very popular. It has the specificity of repeating ancient finishing methods using the same patterns, designs and colors.
Some versions of such wallpaper may contain elements of aging or even a specific coloring in the form of dirt, which gives them a certain effect
- Many professional designers use retro-style wallpaper to decorate special rooms. The fact is that using this approach for an entire apartment or house is considered tasteless, but you can decorate a separate room in this way.
- It is worth noting that when choosing this type of interior, you should immediately think not only about finishing materials for the walls, but also about furniture. The fact is that many companies create similar products, but their cost is usually very high, since they require an individual approach to manufacturing.
When using wallpaper in a retro style, you should think in advance about decorative elements and other interior items that correspond to the chosen design direction
- Some craftsmen try to combine this type of material with modern types of coatings. The result is original interiors that can decorate rooms for any purpose.
- If you do the work yourself, then you can think about creating an applique. They were also popular in their time and were made from wallpaper. This solution can help in the artistic design of the room, but requires a specific plan of action or a sketch.
The simplest photo wallpapers adapted to the panorama
Photo wallpaper
This type of material was very popular and in demand at one time. Today, such wallpaper is replaced by artistic painting or other techniques that can transfer an image to the surface.
Photo wallpapers themselves are part of the retro style if they have a corresponding design
- At the moment, these types of coatings can also be found on the building materials market. However, they began to differ significantly from their predecessors not only in technical characteristics, but also in their appearance.
- Typically, retro photo wallpapers are used to create a specific panorama. Their use as a substrate for a colorless coating does not justify itself, which means that this type of material can be considered simply a decorative element in a vintage style.
Recently, materials with vintage patterns have become especially popular.
When choosing a specific design, special attention should be paid to ensuring that the package contains all the necessary elements, which can be checked using a small photograph attached to the product
Quite often, such materials carry the semantic load of a particular culture or idea.
Vintage materials
When decorating an interior in vintage style, wood, ceramics, and forging must be used .
All materials used should have a patina, that is, be really antique or look the part. Such decor will never look harmonious and complete without seemingly very insignificant accessories, which can be ordinary dried flowers or seasonal bouquets. What's special about them, you ask? After all, the same elements can be found in country and ethnic style interiors. Yes, indeed, the decoration technique is common, but in our case it has one characteristic difference. The secret is in the very method of arranging bouquets. They need to be made contrasting, and play not on the color scheme, but on the sizes. Along with small flowers, large flowers are placed in one vase. Moreover, the bouquet should absolutely not look prim; on the contrary, it should be assembled with some carelessness so that it turns out slightly disheveled. Ready-made bouquets can be placed in both metal and crystal vases. Decorative items used to decorate vintage interiors should bear barely readable inscriptions. This is a characteristic sign of their ancient origin. You should look for such items at flea markets (where you can sometimes find unique items at a ridiculous price) or in special shops.
furniture in vintage style living room interior
How to artificially age objects
It is not uncommon to find an antique item in excellent condition. During her lifetime she got used to it a little, and then she lay in the attic for half a century. This is very good, but not quite suitable for vintage style. History is needed. That is, long-term traces of use and time.
it is also quite acceptable when the product was recently manufactured. There are many craftsmen who make furniture copying the style of a bygone era. In this case, in order for the object to match the vintage trend in the room, it has been aged.
Using special paint, a network of artificial cracks is created on the surface of the object. There are several ways to do this:
- The object is painted using the dry brush technique. With this method, paint is applied only to uneven areas, and the relief is emphasized.
- A coating (patina) is applied, simulating color changes over time.
- A glaze is performed in which the lower colored layer shines through the translucent upper one.
- From time to time a spray is applied to simulate the contamination of the item.
- Vintage style works well for creating a crackle grid on a layer of paint using a special paint.
- Paint the scratches using the shabby chic method.
- Chemical etching of wooden objects is popular.
- Wire brushes are used to highlight the soft layers of wood furniture pieces. This method is called purging.
- Simulates the damage caused by carpenter beetles.
Interior in vintage style: nuances of creation
There are two ways to create an interior in a vintage spirit:
- Using individual specific items;
- Due to the basic design of the room.
In the first case, vintage elements and changing furniture will help change your home environment, but in the second case you will need to make a real renovation. But no matter what you choose, creating a vintage interior will be incredibly exciting, because you will have to redo every corner to saturate the room with its characteristic stylistic features. But you should start getting acquainted with vintage subtleties by recreating the general background.
So, the ceiling.
The antique style does not tolerate pronounced modernity, so the ceiling surfaces in an interior decorated in a vintage style often remain simply painted cream or pure white.
It is possible to decorate them with stucco molding. It is best if the paint on the ceiling is slightly cracked and appears in a fine “mesh”.
white ceiling with a three-stage plinth in a vintage interior
There will be no problems with the floor if it is laid with old parquet. The traces of long-term use clearly visible on it will only be beneficial in this case. The same applies to old ceramic tiles lying on this surface. In other cases, the coating will have to be replaced with artificially aged parquet or tiles, because no other, more modern materials can be used here.
But you shouldn’t rush into decorating the walls. Before you start decorating them, you should determine what exactly vintage style will set the tone for in your interior. If these are accessories, then it is better to make the walls in light pastel colors, and use only paint for this. However, if the vintage atmosphere is to appear without the use of patinated furniture, then the walls will have to be “dressed” with specific wallpaper. Options with delicate small floral prints, pastoral scenes or graceful butterflies are ideal. It is possible to use calm and thoughtful wallpaper in Chinese or Japanese style. In some cases, the desired atmosphere can be set with wallpaper with contrasting and large patterns. The choice of print should again depend on what you want to get in the end, and the understanding that in vintage style wallpaper is glued over the entire area of the walls, and not as an accent, and, therefore, you should be comfortable in the created environment.
pastel colors in vintage style bedroom interior design
Stylistic direction
Retro wallpapers are divided into two categories: vintage wallpapers and photo wallpapers.
Vintage wallpaper stylistically copies outdated finishing methods, which is what the term vintage actually means. Using motifs from ancient finishing methods with modern design solutions, as well as aging technologies, brings unique results. Many design professionals prefer this option and often use it in their personal practice. The effect of the obtained result is further enhanced by the correct and harmonious selection of furniture for the room.
Professionals recommend not to get carried away with the retro style and not to decorate all the rooms in the apartment in this way. The maximum effect will be achieved if you subtly and skillfully highlight one, most suitable room with this style.
Photo wallpapers are in great demand today. This is due to the fact that their surface can be decorated with various images. Common styles include:
- landscapes;
- architecture;
- famous personalities;
- flora and fauna;
- attractions;
- vintage photos, postcards, magazines.
The stores have ready-made products to choose from, but some establishments provide the opportunity to place any image on the selected photo wallpaper at the buyer’s request.
Filling the interior
Probably, only a vintage-style interior can look cozy and harmonious, despite the fact that its furnishings combine furniture from different eras. Chests of drawers and ottomans from the time of the conquest of the Crimea get along well with wardrobes and new, barely noticeable patinated tables. Small bureaus, elaborate sideboards, chairs and other upholstered furniture, where textiles are combined with wooden inserts - all this gives the atmosphere an incredible flavor. Furniture should bear the imprint of history, so if any of the items you like and need frankly do not want to fit into the decor, you should work on it a little. Try to create light abrasions, change the handles or use the decoupage technique - in general, put a little of your soul into the item and it will certainly become an interior decoration.
A boudoir table from a bygone era will fit perfectly into the interior of a vintage bedroom
Wallpaper selection
As noted above, a well-created background is the basis of a vintage style design. Preferred wall cladding options:
- Pastel paint finish;
- Pasted wallpaper.
Wallpaper suitable for recreating the style can be considered in three options:
- contrasting with the patterns, and plus striped trim;
- wallpaper with a patterned design (intertwined plant branches, floral motifs), which look from the walls as if they were somewhat faded under the influence of sunlight;
- canvases based on the Japanese model, where images of birds or pinkish floral patterns are abundantly visible.
In modern interior design, vintage style dictates its own rules when decorating walls - glued wallpaper should not look provocative or attract the attention of visitors to the room. On the contrary, elements of furniture should become catchy, together with individual accessories that are appropriate for the style direction of interest.
Subtleties of vintage decor
In a vintage setting, the main word remains not in the general background or even in the furniture, but in the small decor.
To complete a vintage-style interior, you simply need an abundance of knitted napkins and textiles, tablecloths and furniture covers, pillows and figurines.
Anything goes:
- Antique dolls;
- Copper teapots;
- Old plates;
- Worn books bound in woven covers;
- Mirrors in massive ornate frames;
- Porcelain trinkets;
- Black and white photos.
vintage photographs as an element of vintage style decor
To feel the breath of time, you will need curtains with tiebacks and canopies over the beds. But with all this splendor, you still shouldn’t overdo it. A space overloaded with decor will not please the eye, but will tire you. Moreover, there will be a feeling of complete chaos.
Recommendations
There are no specially established rules for decorating rooms in vintage style. He is characterized by complete freedom of decisions and flight of fantasies.
Vintage style uses natural materials, including wood, ceramics, linen, natural fabrics, metal and brass. Stretched stretch ceilings create the perfect picture in combination with parquet or ceramic floors, stylish wallpaper, photographs, ancient sculptures, paintings, and decorative pillows.
When creating an atmosphere of vintage style with your own hands using wallpaper rather than furniture sets, you should select canvases in delicate and light colors with a floral pattern or with a contrasting ornament.
Lighting is also important. Vintage light should be warm and dim. An excellent choice would be lampshades and floor lamps, table lamps and crystal chandeliers.
An excellent choice would be lampshades and floor lamps, table lamps and crystal chandeliers.
Advice! You should not clutter the room with all kinds of old furniture and accessories. The combination you choose should have a sense of proportion and be tasteful.
Using vintage pieces is a great way to combine a love of the past with modern room decoration. The popularity of vintage style is growing every year. Vintage decor is the best way to add a piece of the past to a boring and unattractive room, giving it a sophisticated and graceful appearance.
Lighting Aspects
Lighting for a vintage interior should not be too bright and very warm. It's good if you make it multi-level. You can light the room with table lamps, floor lamps, chandeliers imitating candelabra, or in general, candles in candlesticks. Lampshades, if any, should be made of fabric, and frames should be made of noble metal. Moreover, for ease of fitting into a vintage-style interior, it is better to initially patina these parts of the lighting fixtures: give bronze a greenish tint and elegantly darken copper. Faceted crystal pendants are used to decorate the designs of chandeliers and lamps. The light refracted and widely scattered in them will add a unique chic to the vintage atmosphere.
lighting in a vintage interior should be moderate
Antique wallpaper: care
Vintage wallpaper, made in a retro “antique” style, as mentioned above, can be made of various materials:
- paper;
- vinyl;
- textile;
- photo wallpaper.
These are common types, and then we will consider what care requirements each of them puts forward.
In the first case, we are talking about ordinary paper wallpaper, which is not covered with film and is extremely demanding to care for. It is necessary to ensure correct operating conditions and careful handling of them. This coating is regularly wiped with a dry cloth, and only in case of severe contamination is it permissible to use a slightly moistened cloth.
The second type has a vinyl coating and, on the contrary, is completely easy to maintain. To clean the surface, you can use any available means from a vacuum cleaner to a sponge with cleaning solutions.
Textile wallpaper is an expensive product that requires appropriate care and treatment. Subject to the optimal environment and operating conditions, they are extremely durable. For regular cleaning, use a soft brush, and to remove heavy dirt, use a stain remover and a damp cloth.
Photo wallpapers, as you know, have a water-resistant coating and do not impose serious requirements for their care; the cleaning process is similar to that with a vinyl coating.
Vintage in specific rooms
Living room interior in vintage style
To bring a vintage feel to the living room, sometimes it is enough to purchase a picture in a gilded frame, an old console or a metal chandelier.
A fireplace will cope with this task perfectly, the shelf of which can be decorated with souvenirs characteristic of the style. It is better to lay out the fireplace itself from brick or decorative stone and decorate it with a forged grate. In this case, it will look truly elegant. A rocking chair is appropriate for a living room interior in a vintage style. As for upholstered furniture, in such decor it should not only be comfortable, but convey the luxury of the atmosphere of bygone times. It doesn’t matter whether it is made of light or dark wood, the main thing is that the tone of its upholstery is calm. Ideally, scratches and abrasions should be clearly visible on the furniture.
The general background solution for the living room is best done in pastel colors. In this way, you can subtly emphasize the romance of the setting and the beauty of the things filling it.
living room interior in vintage style
Bedroom interior in vintage style
The bedroom space accepts the most unusual ideas for implementing a vintage interior.
Traditionally, wall decoration should be light, but certainly warm. If wallpaper is used, then it can carry either a sophisticated and completely discreet pattern, or imitate bronze, gilding and reproduce areas of wear on the surface being finished. However, if you want the cosmetic decoration not to distract from the presence of antique furniture and unusual decorative accessories, then you can leave the walls in pure white. Since the main element of a vintage-style bedroom interior is the bed, it should be made from the appropriate angle. Forged beds with high openwork headboards or models with a canopy would be successful for such decor. To sew the latter, it is not necessary to use only heavy fabrics like velvet; it can be made from organza, lace, and tulle. Remember that heavy materials will bring pomp to the interior, and translucent options, on the contrary, will somewhat defuse the atmosphere, saturating it with notes of light romanticism.
bedroom furniture in vintage style
Kitchen interior in vintage style
Vintage style in the kitchen looks completely different.
Everything in this room should be rich and rich, so the walls, accessories, appliances, and the furniture itself can be colored here. Do not be surprised by the decoration of the walls with bright wallpaper with polka dots, stripes, flowers or checkered patterns, flashy curtains and tablecloths of cheerful colors. Appliances in appropriate design will help to highlight the colorful interior of a kitchen in vintage style. Naturally, it costs more than products in standard modern cases, but its streamlined shapes, rounded windows, unusual long handles and colorful finishes completely compensate for the price disadvantage.
furniture and accessories in the design of a vintage kitchen
Characteristic signs
Considering the romance and sentimentality of the vintage style, the audience of its fans is growing every year. Not all of us have antique items, but true connoisseurs of this style do everything possible to purchase the necessary items and accessories to decorate their home in an antique style.
Vintage has become fashionable and popular. It is in demand by many who want to create a vintage interior in their home without using conventional factory furniture sets.
Thanks to its respectability and unsurpassed quality, the vintage style in the interior attracts the attention of people of different age categories and tastes. Any premises can be decorated in this style, including residential buildings and offices of high-ranking personalities, restaurants and banquet halls.
Attention! It is advisable not to use vintage style in small rooms, as this design takes up too much living space.
The main idea of the vintage style is the use of outdated, outdated, recycled furniture, which is repainted, varnished or supplemented with new parts. Antique, expensive and museum furniture are not used in the above style.
Photo gallery - vintage style in the interior:
Furnishings
When decorating the inside of a house in vintage country style, the main emphasis is on the furniture. The country interior is no stranger to those things that live in closets and closets. A sideboard, a mirrored dressing table, a chest or box, a dining table, screens and other similar things will come in very handy here. Suitable decor can be carved wood or brass overlays.
When decorating the interior, you need to try to avoid a “museum-like” appearance, when all the furniture is selected in the spirit of the times before last. It is important not so much to recreate a single style, but to create an interior that would give off a feeling of comfort and warmth. This does not require much effort, since the style is multifaceted. Using vintage furnishings, both from the attic and from a thrift store, and newly made ones, but with the addition of signs of wear, the interior will look somewhat chaotic. The harmonious arrangement of furniture elements will eliminate this nuance.
