Mix Modern Living Room Furniture with Antique Items for a Uniquely Personal Living Space
Give your modern living room a stunning appearance by incorporating antique items into its overall design. More than just heirlooms and history pieces, antiques are unique and timeless décor. When used strategically, they can add flair and character to contemporary room layouts —you just need to think out of the box. Make your living room more stylish with new and old items.
The Appeal of Antique-Modern Design Mixing
Decorating with antiques is not a new concept. When executed well, it offers a uniquely stylish look at the past amid the innovations of the present. Here’s why you should seriously consider mixing old and new with your home’s interior design:
- A great way to showcase your style – Having a uniquely designed living room is a great way to show off your personality. For example, you can show off your love of antique maps in your living room, without making it look like a chamber in a medieval castle.
- Break the grain of usual style ideas – While some people prefer to adhere to a particular style when decorating a house—like Contemporary, Classic, or Mid-Century Modern—a different look will certainly be more appealing to your houseguests. It will make your home more interesting, and may even increase its value should you decide to sell in the future.
- Show the evolution of design styles – The eclecticism of your living room layout can put pieces from different eras and give a history lesson without being cheeky. When set thoughtfully, your old-style desk lamp, modern accent chair, and contemporary sectional will all come together to create an aesthetic effect on your room.
By mixing modern furniture with antiques, you can achieve a style that’s not just “old” or “new,” but a unique fusion that transcends time.
Design Strategies for Mixing Antiques with Modern Furniture
While mixing antiques and modern furnishings is fairly easy, you should still be careful in carrying out the design. Otherwise, the final result may look ill-conceived or sloppy. Here are the different techniques you can use for your layout:
Concentrate the antiques in a particular spot.
Turn the living room into a harmonious area. Make sure you don’t go overboard and convert the space into a museum. Place the antiques in one room instead of scattering them throughout your home. This way, they become the focal point of the room.
Here are some good examples of where you can place an antique item:
- The living room corner
- At the back of a sofa
- On the fireplace mantel
- At an entertainment center
Group items by color.
In exhibits, antique collections are usually put together according to antique type and geographical period, among others. Since your house is not a museum, you shouldn’t have to follow that rule. Grouping by color, however, helps create a uniform setting that’s easy on the eyes.
You can also use none-antique décor in your color grouping. This means you can place that vase you got from the thrift shop on your recently purchased mid-century coffee table.
Use leather.
Place leather décor and accessories all around a contemporary desk to add more flair to the room. This can be achieved by using everyday items to avoid a stiff appearance.
Leather also matches well if the other antiques in your home have a rustic feel to it, like cottage style cabinets. Meanwhile, if you want a country living themed room, you can use leather to create a western feel.
Create a Unique Mix of Old and New
Buying new furniture doesn’t mean you can’t decorate with antique items. With the right techniques and a pinch of creativity, you can blend old and new objects into a design that you can confidently show off to the world!
While you’re busy dusting your antiques off for display, don’t forget to check unique modern furniture items at any furniture store San Diego. Whether you’re looking for modern dining room sets or contemporary bedroom furniture, you can surely find one. Discover classy yet affordable items that are perfect for your home.