10 ways to use antiques & vintage in your interior design

Dec 23

Art Deco mirrors and Mid Century lamp in a New York City foyer. Design by Time & Place Interiors

Have you noticed how the most tasteful rooms have a bit of authentic age? Nothing brings as much character to your home as antiques and vintage. Whether you’re decorating an eclectic home or focusing on a particular style, vintage (pieces that are 30+ years old) and antiques (ages 100+) are great for bringing genuine beauty and soul into your space. They work equally well for historic period homes as they do for modern interiors. And as an added bonus, they’re the most sustainable way to decorate.

Furniture is the more well known route for vintage and antique shopping, but there are many other creative ways to use original designs. Truth is, for any new houseware piece you’re shopping for, there’s an authentic alternative waiting to find a good home in your design. Antiques are usually higher quality and they stretch your budget further than new products.

Here are my Top 10 tips for using original vintage and antiques in your home interior design.

1. Ceiling lights

First things first! Take out that contractor-grade ceiling lamp shedding unattractive overhead light on your complexion, and swap it for a pretty pendant, flushmount, or chandelier. The right light fixture will do wonders for your space, transforming it instantly from blah to ahhh. No need to get a reproduction: authentic originals are often no more expensive or even (secret’s out!) more affordable than lights made to look like they’re Mid Century Modern or Craftsman Style. From rustic farmhouse, industrial chic, or sleek mod — the style options are endless.

1970s chrome pendant in a modern dining room. Design: Time & Place Interiors / Photo: Lauren Adler

Venetian small pendant in a chic bedroom. Design: Meg Sharpe Interiors / Photo: Kyle Knodell

2. Bathroom lighting

"A bathroom can and should be an exciting room to go into,” said celebrated stylist David Hicks. As a room that gets so much use, bathroom design shouldn’t be an afterthought. Flank your vanity with vintage sconces, or add a single antique vanity light above your medicine cabinet. Instead of browsing the aisles of Home Depot, go for a more interesting vintage light that speaks to your personality. From Art Deco milk glass to modern lucite, there is perfect option out there for each bathroom’s design vibe.

Bauhaus bath vanity light and a vintage sink. Design: Harding & Read / Photo: Seth Carnill

Lightolier 1970s deco bath vanity light. Design: Time & Place Interiors / Photo: Lauren Adler

3. Bath accessories

While we’re on the subject of bathrooms: accessories are easy ways to add an element of functional character. Clear bent glass, jadeite, or chrome towel bars from the 1920s-1940s are perfect for adding flair. Have a small powder room? Hang a linen hand towel on an antique hook for a classy touch. Elevate the luxe factor on small details like soap dishes, cups, and waste baskets with antiques. Don’t waste an opportunity on matching Bed Bath and Beyond sets; instead, shop your cupboards or vintage shops for attractive containers that can be repurposed.

Art Deco glass towel bar in powder room. Design: LAVA Interiors / Photo: Christian Torres

Jadeite towel bars from the 1940s. Design: Time & Place Interiors / Photo: Lauren Adler

Vintage blue glass towel bar. Design and Photo: The Lavender Ghost

4. Knobs and other hardware

Antique hardware is jewelry for the home. Swapping out knobs and pulls is one of the easiest hacks to transforming drab kitchen cupboards, vanity cabinets, dressers, or bi-fold doors. If you can’t find enough pieces to make a complete set, don’t sweat it: as long as the hardware is coordinated by finish, shape, or even time period, you can mix and match. Other uses for vintage hardware are coat racks, curtain tiebacks, plant hooks, or peep hole covers. See Zio & Sons’ tips for more ideas on salvage.

Art Deco backplate repurposed as an apartment door peephole. Design: Time & Place Interiors / Photo: Lauren Adler

1940s French knobs used on closet doors. Design by Time & Place Interiors

5. Doorware

Take hardware one step further with antique doorknobs. Glass, brass, wood, or ceramic knobs will do miracles in elevating the style of your doors. Pair an antique knob with a pretty backplate or rosette to complete the look. For extra attention to detail, add antique period hinges. Antique doorware is beautiful in period homes, but also looks striking against the backdrop of a modern interior. Pro tip: watch this handy guide on how to add antique hardware to your modern door.

Art Deco brass knob and backplate on a stripped metal door. Design: Time & Place Interiors / Photo: Lauren Adler

Art Deco glass doorknob in a modernized interior. Design by Space Exploration

6. Grilles and vents

For radiator covers or air vents, add an antique grille cover for intriguing beauty plus practical function. You can keep a grille’s original rustic finish, or paint it to match your walls or even to add a pop of contrasting bold color. Architectural salvage grilles and grates also make great wall decor.

Antique grille used as a radiator cover. Design: Time & Place Interiors / Photo: Lauren Adler

Salvaged grate used as wall decor. Design: Big Sense / Photo: Hey! Cheese

7. Mirrors

What room couldn’t benefit from a mirror? Add a cluster of Art Deco mirrors in your entryway for last-minute check-ups before you leave the house. Instead of a conventional hardware store pick, go for a antique mirror above the sink in a powder room. Hang one above your bed in place of a headboard. As the legendary designer Elsie De Wolfe said: “Use your mirrors... and you will multiply the pleasures of your room.”

Art Deco mirrors in an entryway, paired with a post-modern glass console table. Design by Time & Place Interiors

Vintage mirror used as a headboard. Design: Andre Mellone / Photo: Stephen Kent Johnson

8. Tiles and stone slabs

Even if you can’t amass enough to complete your entire project, consider using a small set of antique tiles as a mini backsplash above the kitchen sink, as a trim in the bathroom, or as a fireplace surround. Old slabs of marble can be cut to shape, placed on top of objects as storage surfaces, or used on their own for that je ne sais quoi “found” look. For more inspiration, read Tom Givone’s advice on sourcing from salvage.

A mini backsplash of antique tiles. Design: 1934 / Photo: Ruby Woodhouse

Marble slab repurposed as a backsplash. Design: Fabr Studio / Photo: Matthew Williams

9. Accessories and decor

Accessorizing with vintage and antiques creates a “shopportunity” to add a layer of history to your design. To avoid your space looking too generic, don’t shy away from the signs of lived experience, or to create an eclectic interior design by mixing styles. Place an interesting object on top of a stack of coffee table books. Repurpose a handmade basket to hold children’s toys. Shop your attic for an old chair to reupholster, a container to hold dried flowers, a pair of candlesticks with rich patina. The best objects are often found, not looked for. But if you’re looking, check out the flea market: you might just find the perfect accent.

An old medicine bottle as dried flower bud vase. Design by Time & Place Interiors

Traditional footstool paired with sleek Mid Century chair. Design by Time & Place Interiors

10. The unexpected

Think of objects beyond their original intended purpose, and don’t be afraid to experiment. An old column as a plant stand. Salvaged doors as a headboard. An antique chest as a nightstand. Paneled stained glass leaned against a window to add color. If you love an object, buy it! You will find a place for it.