Decorating with Vintage Furniture: why I love it!

Three fantastic reasons to use vintage: value, environment and character!

You’ve seen the Instagram feeds….vintage furniture used to stunning effect in modern interior design, but you’re unsure whether it’s worth investing in or how to execute it. If you find yourself stuck in the cycle of buying new, cheap furniture every time your old stuff gets damaged or outdated, then buying vintage is for you. Read on, friend…

01 Value

Find great deals on vintage furniture at estate sales, auctions and flea markets.

If you’re looking to stretch your decorating dollars, you should think about picking up some vintage furniture at an estate sale. Estate sales are a great way to get older pieces of furniture that have been well taken care of by someone else and in turn can be passed down to your kids or grandkids.

You can also find some good deals at auctions, but if you get swept up in the bidding there, it might cost more than buying new furniture! Best to take a friend along to help keep you in check! If you want something slightly more economical, flea markets or online marketplaces are always a good option as well! But, you need to be willing to put in the time to sift through the less desirable pieces.

02 Environment

Sourcing vintage furniture lessens environmental impact.

By using vintage furniture in your home, you are opting out of the throwaway culture that produces an ever-increasing number of cheaply made and poorly designed mass-produced items. Vintage furniture can be recycled, repaired and refurbished by expert craftspeople or with a little elbow grease, by you!

It’s best not to always just assume that something needs throwing out because it doesn’t look quite as good as when it was first purchased; vintage furniture adds character, personality and history into your home. A home that tells a story!

Whenever any doubt arises about the design of your home, trust your gut: would that old chair look better reupholstered in a modern print or left alone? Would a coat of rich paint bring out the shape of that side table or maybe sand it down to natural wood?

Upgrade vintage furniture with minor repairs.

If you’ve got a gorgeous coffee table or a desk that needs to be updated, don’t worry! You can breathe new life into your vintage furniture with simple repairs.

Painting and staining are the easiest ways to upgrade an old piece of furniture. If you’re painting a piece of wood, it’s best to use a primer before applying paint; primers seal the wood so that the paint goes on smoothly and evenly. Sanding is also necessary for smooth surfaces: once you’ve got the primer down, sand down any rough spots or splinters so that your paint job will look its best.

Wood filler can be used to fill in holes or cracks in your antique furniture pieces—this will make them look new again! Wood filler comes in different colors so that you can match it up perfectly with the item you are repairing.

Or, do as we do at Ballantyne Design Co. and embrace that patina.

03 Character

The history behind the pieces will help create a unique story for your home.

An object that shows its age and has a charm all its own, adds personality to your home. Perhaps you are lucky enough to have inherited pieces from family members. Maybe they are stained with wine glass rings and show wear—the marks of a family that spent time together. Embrace it!

The nicks, wear, and patina on a piece of furniture are like smile lines on our faces – they’re evidence that time has passed. The more time a piece of furniture has spent in the world, the more character it has. You can see this in the wood grain and finish, as well as wear spots on the fabric. It’s these details that make vintage furniture so appealing.

An original piece can hold its value and appreciate over time. The same can’t be said for pieces that are mass-produced. While it’s important to value quality and craftsmanship, there is something special about an original piece of furniture that has been handed down through generations. It’s a family heirloom – it brings people together over time, which makes it more than just a piece of wood and fabric.

If you buy or inherit good furniture, you can take it anywhere. Buying special pieces will always work and it will end up elevating everything in its company.

Here’s how you can work with me to incorporate your special pieces.

Vintage sourcing & styling tips:

Check for damage:

Always, always check inside and out for rot or water damage, and any damage caused by vermin or rodents. Also, make sure there aren’t any stains or odors that come with the piece. Many estate sales, auctions, and flea markets are final sale.

Know your dimensions:

Be sure to check the dimensions of the piece, as well as make sure that it will fit in your home before buying. Bring a tape measure! If you’re not able to take it home immediately, you can always arrange for delivery. Keep in mind: many pieces of furniture are heavy and may not fit into your vehicle!

Choose your statement:

Consider how much of a statement you want to make with your decorating choices—a few well-placed vintage pieces can help tie together an eclectic mix of styles or create a cohesive look with minimal effort on your part. They can also add character to any room, even if it doesn’t have any other period elements in it at all!

Create unity:

It’s important not to overdo it with decorating. It can be easy to go overboard when adding vintage pieces, so make sure you keep the rest of your space clean and uncluttered! Choose a few colors or patterns and stick with them throughout your space. This will help create unity while still allowing each item its own personality.

If you love it, buy it!:

If you love something enough to buy it no matter what anyone else thinks, then do so! If a piece speaks to you, bring it home and find a space for it! And remember, if you don’t nab it up, someone else will! Happy hunting!