6 tips how to mix vintage and modern
Mar 30, 2020 2:21:17 PM
1. Choose scandinavian style
Pure Scandinavian style is not so popular today as it also requires some eclectics. We would say that retro of 70s, 80s and 90s is perfect for this role. The thing is that the Scandinavian style itself considers details and furniture with a background and history. These are mostly the family relics and things that saw different generations. Here are always appropriate reproductions of artists inherited from a grandmother, massive cupboards and wooden cabinets.
Combination of scandi and American retro of 60s and 70s is an absolute top. Cozy Scandinavian interior will be a perfect space for such retro details as rounded furniture with thin wooden legs, checkered and striped prints and the chandelier Olympia with ribbed glass shades and geometry formed lines.
In this interior you can see the hanging light: DeMarkt 638017406 Semi-Flush Ceiling Light Modern
2. Contrasts
What if not try to fit the retro style harmonically into the modern apartment space? Quite challenging designer solution – putting contrast things together.
Especially this method can be applied in rooms with large open spaces. Let us show you the example: having minimalism in a kitchen area, which is turning into retro in a dining room you can draw borders by separating your space. You can also have different heights of flooring, various parquet masonry and skirting boards on the ceiling.
Hanging lights with barely visible cords as Platling look absolutely eyecatcing!
Such a solution is, of course, acceptable for those who are extravagant and experimental. But there is always a place for grandmother's antique and for the chandelier Magdalena, which is worthy to become a new family heirloom.
In this interior you can see the chandelier: Chiaro 445011008 Country style 8-arm brass chandelier
3. Retro and futurism
It can seem even impossible, but American retro style of 60s and 70s of the past century perfectly combines with a modern futurism. The fact is that the design of that time was strongly influenced by the technological progress. In response to the international space race, space motifs in the interiors, fantasy and futurism fascinated everyone without any exception.
That is why the 70s retro perfectly matches with modern futurism - it itself is full of futuristic ideas. In our illustration, a cosmic chandelier Hamburg with adjustable arms is combined with an unusual coffee table. It is even hard to understand what inspired the designers; the past or the future.
In this interior you can see the ceiling light: DeMarkt 605013005 5-arm hanging light with golden and black fixture and beige transparent glass shades
4. Mix of generations
Probably you do not notice that but you already have interior elements from different eras and they look harmonic together. Most things that are trendy today are coming from the past and our goal is to unify them in a single manner.
If you are ready to furnish your house in eclecticism then just follow our example: Looking at this picture it can seem that the only retro thing is the coach on thin legs. But it is not true as all the elements in this picture refer to different generations. It is not easy to identify and only experienced designers see this mix of styles. This grey couch is the most noticeable element on a picture and it draws all our attention.
Meanwhile the bright wall behind the coach is the hello from 80s. That was the time when bright colorful prints became trendy. Today such kind of print is also popular. Our pendant light Viola which seems to be romantic and futuristic at the same time is actually inspired by vintage style.
It was then, back in the 60s and 70s of the last century, that such an original shape was created.
Therefore, we think you got the main idea: retro things should be combined with details that look like “modern”. Then the mix of generations will definitely look harmonic.
In this interior you can see the pendant light: MW-Light 298012803 Modern 3-bulb round pendant light in white finish with unusual décor
5. Retro and neoclassics
In this case, you do not even have to think a lot as the modern classics is accepting almost all style directions. Moreover, the idea and concept of classic style are thought to be „Retro“. It means that you do not even have to think on mixing the different designs. Furniture of 70-s will look perfect together with a chandelier DelRey which has even some element of art deco style.
It is also possible to mix the opposite things such as the abstract painting of 80s with a noble neoclassic frame in gold finish.
In this interior you can see the chandelier: MW-Light 700012106 Modern 6-arm pendant chandelier in antique brass with fabric shades and MW-Light 700013408 Modern 8-arm ceiling light in black and antique brass with fabric shades
6. Unified palette
One more tip to easily combine retro with modern style is to have similar color shades together. You can choose 3-4 basic color shades and have them almost in all styles. Look at this grey-brown interior and note that furniture of 70s, retro cabinet and wardrobe look harmonic with a contemporary LED ceiling light Graffiti and a glass table. At first sight, it can seem that all these things do not come together as some of them are so modern, that we do not expect them to be in a retro room.
In this interior you can see the LED ceiling light: DeMarkt 549010704 Modern LED square flush ceiling light in chrome finish with 4 round shades