How to Mix Modern With Vintage When Decorating

Make Connections

• Every design needs a solid jumping off point to work from. Choose a common color palette, a distinctive texture or definitive style to anchor your design. A vintage white painted desk melds beautifully with a modern white chair. Give a vintage chandelier a bright look with the help of silver metallic spray paint, and it will pair well with a set of modern chrome lamps. Match wood tones, metal finishes and colors among modern pieces and vintage finds to give them something in common.

Opposites Attract

• The contrast between vintage and modern is celebrated when you choose clear acrylic "ghost" chairs to surround a salvaged wood dining table. Using mismatched vintage table settings on a modern glass table allows the pieces to take center stage without overpowering the look. A well-worn Oriental rug provides an elegant base for a modern sectional sofa, and a vintage patchwork quilt dressing a sleek platform bed adds an unexpected pop of color.

Accessories With History

• A vintage silver tea set, photos in flea market frames or a collection of old barware all look at home when staged on a modern console table. Let vintage accessories co-mingle with modern furnishings to give the room a warm, inviting feel with a soulful vibe. Find interesting vintage accessories like books, glassware, trays, lamps or frames to give a modern room some instant interest and history.

Bridge the Gap

• Mid-Century Modern pieces are a natural bridge between vintage finds and modern treasures. An Eames chair can fill the void between a vintage coffee table and an elegant, modern couch. Mid-Century Modern chrome side tables look just as comfortable beside a vintage armchair as they do an angular ottoman. Use mid-century pieces to tie an eclectic room together, creating a distinctive design style that is interesting and dimensional.