Vintage is a word we hear quite often today, but we do not always fully understand its semantic meaning. The origin of this word is due to the French. That is how they called the wine, which has lain for decades in cozy wine cellars, distinguished by maturity and perfection of taste. When an unusual and very unpretentious direction appeared in the art of creating interiors, replete with old gizmos and a certain specificity of the atmosphere, the designers considered that this word would become the best description of the style. Although the interior is vintage in style and reproduces the atmosphere in the houses of the end XIX - start XX centuries, but there are no strict restrictions in the scenery. In such a room, it is quite possible to meet all the best that has been tested in ease of use for centuries, and objects of modern life. So let's take a closer look at this magnificent style, especially since today it is incredibly in demand.
What is it, vintage interior?
The room, decorated in vintage style, looks emphasized lived-in. It is filled with comfort and a special nostalgic mood. There are always a lot of "seasoned" things here, each of which boasts its own history, and a home theater may well turn out to be a neighbor of a grandmother's chest of drawers. Do not be surprised if in such an environment there is an abundance of antiques. They become a full-fledged ingredient in a mix interior in vintage style. Staying in such a "shabby" and at the same time modernized atmosphere gives rise to peace and tranquility. One feels like picking up a historical book, settling in a comfortable rocking chair, creaking fasteners from the past times, and, wrapped in a soft blanket, immerse yourself in serene reading of a fascinating novel.
Now it’s hard to say who exactly came up with the idea to complement a modern modern interior with a few elements reminiscent of bygone days, but the result is a very interesting decor that has gained crazy popularity.
back to index ↑vintage materials
When decorating an interior in vintage style, wood, ceramics, forging must be used.. All materials used should have a touch of patina, that is, be really old or look appropriate. Such a decor will never look harmonious and complete without seemingly very insignificant accessories, which can be ordinary dry flowers or seasonal bouquets. What is special about them, you ask? After all, the same elements can be found in the interiors of country and ethnic styles. Yes, indeed, the decoration technique is common, but in our case it has one characteristic difference. The secret is in the way the bouquets are designed. They need to be made contrasting, and play not on colors, but on sizes.Along with small flowers, large flowers are placed in one vase. Moreover, the bouquet absolutely should not look stiff, on the contrary, it should be collected with some carelessness so that it turns out to be slightly disheveled. Ready-made bouquets can be placed both in metal and crystal vases.
Decor items used to decorate vintage interiors should bear barely readable inscriptions. This is a characteristic sign of their ancient origin. You should look for such items in flea markets (where you can sometimes find unique things at a ridiculous price) or in special shops.
back to index ↑Vintage style interior: the nuances of creation
There are two ways to create an interior in a vintage spirit:
- Using individual specific items;
- Due to the basic design of the room.
In the first case, vintage elements and a change of furniture will help to change the home environment, but in the second case, you will need to make a real renovation. But no matter what you choose, creating a vintage interior will be incredibly exciting, because you will have to redo every corner in order to saturate the room with characteristic stylistic features. And to begin acquaintance with vintage subtleties, one should still recreate the general background.
So the ceiling.
The old style does not tolerate pronounced modernity, so the ceiling surfaces in the interior, designed in vintage style, often remain simply painted in cream or pure white.
Perhaps their decoration with stucco. It is best if the paint on the ceiling cracks slightly and goes into a fine “grid”.
There will be no problems with the floor if it is lined with old parquet. The traces of long-term operation clearly visible on it in this case will only benefit. The same applies to old ceramic tiles lying on this surface. In other cases, the coating will have to be changed to artificially aged parquet or tiles, because no other, more modern materials can be used here.
But with the design of the walls should not be in a hurry. Before proceeding with their decoration, you should determine what exactly in your interior in a characteristic vintage style will set the tone. If these are accessories, then it is better to make the walls in light pastel colors, and use only paint for this. However, if the vintage atmosphere is to appear without the use of patinated furniture, then here the walls will have to be “dressed” in specific wallpapers. Ideal options with a delicate small floral print, pastoral scenes or graceful butterflies. You can use calm and thoughtful wallpaper in Chinese or Japanese style. In some cases, the desired atmosphere can be set with wallpaper with a contrasting and large ornament. The choice of print, again, should depend on what you want to get in the end, and understanding that in vintage style wallpaper is glued over the entire area of \u200b\u200bthe walls, and not accentuated, and, therefore, you should be comfortable in the created environment.
back to index ↑We fill the interior
Probably, only a vintage-style interior can look cozy and harmonious, despite the fact that its furnishings combine furniture from different eras. Chests of drawers and ottomans from the time of the conquest of the Crimea get along well with wardrobes and new, barely noticeable patinated tables. Small bureaus, artsy sideboards, chairs and other upholstered furniture, where textiles are combined with wooden inserts - all this gives the atmosphere an incredible flavor. Furniture should bear the imprint of history, so if any of the favorite and necessary items frankly does not want to fit into the decor, it is worth working on it a little.Try to create light scuffs, change the handles or apply the decoupage technique - in general, put a little of your soul into the thing and it will certainly become an interior decoration.
back to index ↑Subtleties of vintage decor
In a vintage setting, the main word still remains not behind the general background and not even behind the furniture, but behind the small decor.
To complete the interior in vintage style, you just need an abundance of knitted napkins and textiles, tablecloths and furniture covers, pillows and figurines.
Everything fits:
- vintage dolls;
- Copper teapots;
- old plates;
- Worn books in woven bindings;
- Mirrors in massive ornate frames;
- Porcelain trinkets;
- Black and white photos.
To feel the breath of the times, you will need curtains on the tiebacks, canopies over the beds. But with all this splendor, you should not overdo it. A space overloaded with decor will not please the eye, but tire. Moreover, there will be a feeling of complete chaos.
back to index ↑Aspects of lighting
The lighting of a vintage interior should not be too bright and very warm. It's good if you make it multi-level. You can illuminate the room with table lamps, floor lamps, chandeliers imitating candelabra, or in general, candles in candlesticks. Shades, if any, on lamps should be made of fabric, and frames should be made of noble metal. Moreover, for the convenience of fitting into the interior in a vintage style, it is better to initially patinate these parts of the lighting fixtures: give the bronze a greenish tint and elegantly darken the copper. Faceted crystal pendants are used to decorate the designs of chandeliers and lamps. The refracted and widely scattered light in them will add a kind of chic to the vintage atmosphere.
back to index ↑Vintage in specific rooms
Living room interior in vintage style
To bring a vintage entourage into the living room, sometimes it is enough to purchase a picture in a gilded frame, an old console or a metal chandelier. A fireplace will perfectly cope with this task, the shelf of which can be decorated with souvenirs characteristic of the style. The fireplace itself is best laid out of brick or decorative stone and decorated with a wrought iron grate. In this case, it will look really elegant. It is appropriate in the interior of the living room in the style of a vintage rocking chair.
As for upholstered furniture, in such a decor it should not only be comfortable, but convey the luxury of the atmosphere of bygone times. It does not matter whether it is made of light or dark wood, as long as the tone of its upholstery is calm. Ideally, scratches and scuffs should be clearly visible on the furniture.
The general background solution of the living room is best done in pastel colors. Thus, you can subtly emphasize the romantic atmosphere and the beauty of the things that fill it.
Bedroom interior in vintage style
The bedroom space accepts the most unusual ideas for embodying a vintage interior in it. Wall decoration, according to tradition, should be light, but certainly warm. If wallpaper is used, then they can carry both a sophisticated and completely discreet pattern, and imitate bronze, gilding and reproduce areas of wear on the finished surface. However, if you want the cosmetic finish to not detract from the presence of antique furniture and unusual decorative accessories, then you can leave the walls in pure white.
Since the main element of the bedroom interior in vintage style is the bed, then it should be made in the appropriate perspective. Forged beds with high openwork headboards or models with a canopy will be successful for such a decor.For tailoring the latter, it is not necessary to use only heavy fabrics like velvet, it can be made from organza, lace, and tulle. Remember that heavy materials will bring pomposity to the interior, and translucent options, on the contrary, will somewhat defuse the atmosphere, saturating it with notes of light romanticism.
Kitchen interior in vintage style
The vintage style in the kitchen looks completely different. In this room, everything should be juicy, rich, so walls, accessories, appliances, and furniture itself can be colored here. Don't be surprised by wall decoration with bright polka dots, stripes, flowers or checks, flashy curtains and cheerfully colored tablecloths.
Emphasize the colorful interior of the kitchen in vintage style will help household appliances in the appropriate design. It costs, of course, more expensive than products in standard modern cases, but its streamlined shape, rounded windows, unusual long handles and colorful finishes fully compensate for the price disadvantage.
back to index ↑Conclusion
Vintage is a decor shaped by time. If country or modern can be decorated in one visit to the store, then to get a full-fledged vintage interior it will take more than one day, and sometimes even a month. You will have to look for unique gizmos that will most fully reveal the beauty of this style. You can find some in stores, but most of the items suitable for a vintage-style interior can be found in grandmother's chests and in dusty attics.. Since creating the atmosphere of a bygone era is a creative process, do not rush to buy unnecessary and completely unnecessary things for you. Put in a little effort and breathe life into the rarities found in your own home. So, over time, the room will look harmonious and complete. Do not be afraid to deviate from the canons and play with the texture of materials and their colors. You will see that vintage quite allows you to combine the incongruous, the main thing in this matter is to keep the harmony of the atmosphere.
The interior in vintage style is famous for its originality. This is one of the most unique decors in which all the things present are really endowed with a soul and in which you really want to live and create. Do not miss the opportunity to create an oasis of romance of bygone times in your home, especially since this can be done without any special material costs.
back to index ↑Photo gallery - vintage style in the interior: