Antique and vintage items can be a great way to add a sense of age and character to any space. This is true even in more modern and contemporary style homes, where the addition of a carefully chosen antique piece can work wonders in creating a lived-in feel when mixed with new furniture and decorative elements. If you’re headed out to a thrift store, antique vendor, or flea market, you may want to keep an eye out for some very in-demand pieces that can add endless charm to your space wherever and however you use them. Vintage chests and tables, from the simple to the more ornate, are a popular way to add a small dose of character amongst newer pieces that can add interest and dimension to your home .
These chests and tables can often be an inexpensive element that elevates any room, particularly when obtained second-hand. Chests, in particular, offer both character and extra closed storage. Tables, whether it’s a vintage end table, a beautiful old wood console, or a tiny cane side table, can be great ways to fill in space and add extra surface areas for both décor and practicality. Many design experts, like HGTV’s Nate Berkus, recommend adding one antique or vintage piece per room for a beautiful layered home.
How to add these unique finds to your space
When adding antiques to a room, look for pieces in these secondhand venues that have a lot of interest in terms of stunning finishes and hardware. For more streamlined modern spaces, opt for classic pieces from the mid-century design era or geometric-inspired pieces in a range of beautiful wood tones. If you want a more antiqued or eclectic feel, choose pieces that have unique carvings, inlays, and intricately molded hardware. Using a beautiful old chest of drawers or table in a sleek and neutral contemporary space can also be beautiful merely for the juxtaposition of styles and eras. Try an antique chest as a media console for a television or as a more small-space-friendly sideboard in your dining room. Use a small vintage table as a bedside table or between two chairs to create a seating nook near a window.
When looking to buy antique furniture, find pieces that speak to you and work with the décor you have. Older furnishings may be in a host of different secondhand conditions, so if you love a table or chest you find, think of ways that you can restore, paint, or stain it. Adding new hardware and undertaking other modifications might perk it up to use in your space. If you’re on a budget and cannot afford genuine antique or vintage pieces, you can also make newer secondhand tables and chests look much older by refinishing them with distressing techniques, adding antiqued brass hardware, replacing the top with gorgeous marble, or using millwork appliques to create entirely unique upcycled furniture pieces.
