That feeling you got when you spent the wee hours on Pinterest finding that bedroom that makes you reconsider all of your decorating choices? That is likely to be a good old bedroom, at work.
Vintage, as I used to believe, was outdated, dusty objects and flowered wallpaper of grandma. How very,very wrong I was. Having completely redesigned my own plain bedroom and turned it into a fanciful vintage paradise (while making all the rookie mistakes in the process), I have realized that any type of bedroom with any sort of budget and aesthetic preferences can work to invoke the effect of vintage style.
Are you ready to make a bedroom appear it is a part of a romance novel? It is time to discuss 16 vintage bedroom decor ideas that will make you plan weekend trips to all antique markets in the 50-mile radius.
The Foundation: Vintage Color Magic
Romantic Pastels That Actually Work
Put all those things about pastel colors behind you, and consider them babyish. The bedroom color schemes in vintage bedrooms are washed out pastels that have a certain sophistication that one will never find in the current vividly colored interiors.
The secret? Split apart similar tones of pastel rather than go monochromatic. I discovered this the right after painting my room a solitary hue of pink that made it appear as if a cotton candy factory had exploded in there – that was most definitely NOT the room I was trying for.
Best vintage pastel matching combinations: • Partie hâbleur glauque avec des dessous de jus de basilic • Pêche rose s’associe avec goutteux chaleureux • Blue Powder chanvre au blanc antique, • Peach soft est accompagné de mince verte
Rich Jewel Tones for Drama
Want Brighter? Vintage bedrooms can totally go dark with the rich colors if you balance them just right. I am envisioning for emerald green walls with brass get the job done, or burgundy say with cream.
Wondered why these shades are so far more sophisticated as compared to Lipstick red and shocking pink? Vintage and the old jewel tones will also have undertones which gives the illusion of depth and warmth rather than the shiny plastic feeling that the modern paint brings.
Furniture Pieces That Steal the Show
Statement Headboards That Command Attention
The ones that your headboard forms are the whole gist of your retro bedroom. Don t buy those drab cushioned quadrilaterals everybody is laying out and buy something with real personality.
Headboards that will be a showstopper: • Victorian wrought iron with scrollwork details • Carved wooden ornaments with intricate molding details • Velvet cover and the button-style tufting details • Vintage brass beds with patina finish
The headboard that I have is a wonderful, carved wood piece that I picked up at some estate sale–I almost got it free because no one wants to bother with heavy furniture anymore. Their loss ended up being my bedroom’s centerpiece.
Vanity Tables That Channel Old Hollywood
No one would dare dispute the fact that a true vintage vanity table remains the epitome of vintage glamour. These fixtures introduce functionality and style that the newer desk-as-vanity arrangements can never succeed in reaching.
Decorate vanites with: • Triple mirrors by the classic choice • Curved legs, stretchy attributes • Built-in storage for beauty and beauty holding inside • Matched seats through antique cloth
Storage Solutions with Vintage Charm
The bedroom furniture today is so modern and resembles one another, bland, boxy and definitely forgettable. There are vintage pieces of storage that have personality, making it fun to organize.
Vintage Storage Winners:
| Piece Type | Best Feature | Style Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Antique Armoire | Massive storage capacity | Dramatic focal point |
| Cedar Chest | Dual purpose seating/storage | Cozy, traditional feel |
Lighting That Creates Pure Magic
Crystal Chandeliers for Ultimate Romance
Now, to get the elephant in the living room, yes, you can totally have a vintage chandelier in your bedroom and it will not make you look over the top. The secret lies in the selection of the correct scale and style in terms of your space.
I was scared to death to put a chandelier in my small bedroom, because it would overpower the room. It turns out that the correct Chandelier can tend to make a small room seem more luxury-like and purposeful.
Vintage Table Lamps with Character
Bedroom lighting is destined to be harsh and unbecoming of the bedroom atmosphere- and we all accept that fact. Your bedroom is completed by vintage table lamps which are used to provide the warm, ambient light that transforms your bedroom into a magical space.
Vintage lamps should have the following must-haves; • Their glasses should be of color and most preferably of Tiffany Style • The stands used should be ceramic and have hand painted decorum • The finishing should be of brass or bronze that should be vintage in appearance • The lightening of the lamp should be of fabric and should have the old fashioned fabric patterns printed
Fairy Lights and String Lighting
Before you dismiss and think “college dorm room,” let me tell you something. Vintage string lights – we are talking Edison bulbs or warm white fairy lights here – create a whimsical “look” that overtly harsh ceiling fixtures don’t.
FYI, what matters is that you use them as an accent light, not as your main light source. Drape them over a headboard, weave through a canopy or outline an old mirror and instant romance is yours.
Textiles That Tell Stories
Layered Bedding with Vintage Flair
The modern minimalists would probably play it safe and use white linens, but vintage bedroom decor adopts the styling of layering. Variety of textures and patterns draws eye attraction that cannot be made in single color bedding.
The foundation is quality vintage-look sheets, over which a quilt or other coverlet with classic designs in muted colors should be placed, topped off with varied pillows of various size and materials. Its purpose is to appear artlessly gathered and not necessarily matched.
Curtains That Frame Your Windows
Such plain roller blinds can do your retro bedroom no favors. Opulent, thick curtains can instantly class up any room and give it that old world style that we just cannot get with today window treatments.
The traditional curtains you should have: • Extravagant fabrics like velvet, brocade or heavy cotton • Traditional curtains like damask or toile • Proper hardware including lavish rods and finials • Long panels so that the effect will be dramatic and elegant
Vintage Rugs That Ground the Space
A good rug is nothing that can make a vintage bedroom complete. Choose a Persian-looking oriental area rug or a small and humble braided area rug, but vintage rugs bring the coziness and the texture that wall-to-wall carpet, or even uncarpeted floors, cannot provide.
I was in the process of hunting the ideal vintage rug for months and about to buy a mass-market act of a vintage-style rug. The next time that I discovered a true antique rug at a consignment store, I saw the distinction – things that are truly vintage contain aberrations and patina which lend to them personality.
Decorative Elements That Complete the Look
Vintage Mirrors That Reflect Personality
The vintage mirrors can be used as a dual purpose item, they can make the spaces look larger and at the same time add a level of decorative interest not seen in modern mirrors. Frames with decorations, distinctive shapes, and distressed glasses can be used to create the focus that brings out your vintage aesthetic.
Look for: • Gilt frames with elaborate details • Antique vanity mirrors on stands • Sunburst or starburst designs • Mirrors with foxed or slightly aged glass
Wall Art with Vintage Appeal
Avoid those prints that are reproduced in large numbers and splurge on vintage wall art that has a story. Vintage photography, botanical prints, and antique maps add the character that other pieces of bland art could not.
Have you ever asked yourself why vintage art is much more interesting? These were made at a better time when the craftsmanship was valued and these images have had greater focus on details which has been lost in prints these days.
Fresh Flowers in Vintage Vessels
There is no better way of making old bedroom concepts come back to life than using fresh flowers in true vintage receptacles. Mason jars are adorable, but old glass crystals vases, ceramic pitchers and silver bowls can make the whole look.
I store old bud vases next to my nightstand and dresser as well colored vases look even prettier and more romantic when ever there has been even one flower in them.
Creating Cozy Reading Nooks
Vintage Chairs That Invite Relaxation
After having vintage bedroom furniture, the place must have a comfortable reading chair where he or she can just sit and reflect on the world. A pretty old piece of furniture like an armchair with tufting or an elegant slipper chair makes a devoted area of relaxation.
Place your vintage chair in front of a window that has good natural light, drape a soft throw over and add a small side table and you now have the type of reading nook that would actually make you want to put down your phone.
Side Tables with Storage
Vintage side tables are not your ordinary coffee cup placement tables. Try to seek furniture with drawers, shelves or compartments that are capable of giving both hidden storage and that vintage look as well.
Vintage-Inspired Wallpaper and Wall Treatments
Patterns That Don’t Overwhelm
Your bedroom can be changed with vintage wallpaper, though you should be careful with this. There were no loud patterns that may be very overwhelming in the area where you are about to sleep at night.
Look at: • Subtle florals using restrained color • Stripes or simple geometric designs • Textured wallpaper which adds interest without being regular pattern • Just an accent wall to counter papering • The whole room
Wainscoting and Architectural Details
Laying in old elements of the architecture such as wainscoting, crown molding or trim adds the immediate feeling of authenticity and class to any bedroom.
You do not have to remodel a whole room to achieve that vintage feel, even simple adaptations such as the use of picture rails molding or corner blocks can add that much sought after vintage glamour.
Budget-Friendly Vintage Bedroom Makeovers
Thrift Store and Flea Market Treasures
And you certainly do not have to rein in a fortune to be able to attain a dreamy vintage bedroom style. There are several of my favorite items that I found on garage sales, secondhand shops and online shops.
Best cheap vintage discoveries: • Cheap picture frames painted, distressed • Good condition vintage books to put on nightstands and shelves • Lamps made of ceramic that need to be rewired • Linens and fabrics in good condition
DIY Vintage Transformations
There are times when vintage charm is achieved through a transformation of the modern pieces. I have also refurbished plain wooden furniture into what would appear as an antique by applying chalk paint, distressing, and use of old-style hardware.
It is all about knowing what things to do to make furniture look like it has been aged and not something unnatural such as distressed. Learn how to wear them by studying actual vintage items to see how they wear with age.
Mixing Vintage with Modern Comfort
Technology Integration Done Right
Come on, you still want to recharge your phone and probably watch Netflix. Vintage bedroom designs in the modern world play a clever trick by not breaking the aesthetic through the incorporation of technologies.
Stash charging cables behind furniture, pick vintage-style lamps with USB interface built in, and if you have to get a TV in the room, think about some vintage-themed TV stand.
Comfort Without Compromise
That old bedroom style doesn’t have to come with modern discomfort. You can combine the lovely antique bed frame with a modern mattress, good-looking old-fashioned stuff piling on on supportive contemporary pillows.
In my opinion, the ideal vintage bedrooms are the ones that combine the old vintage furniture with the contemporary conveniences in a natural way- you are able to enjoy the style you desire and at the same time experience the comfort you require.
Small Space Vintage Solutions
Making Vintage Work in Tiny Bedrooms
Believe that to achieve vintage style, you must have a huge bedroom? Think again. Vintage elements certainly could be used in small bedrooms, provided that you select the items which you use wisely.
Choose one or two statement pieces as opposed to fitting too many vintage pieces into a little area. A beautiful antique headboard or a fancy mirror can work wonders in a small room and not make it look too crowded.
Vertical Storage Solutions
Small spaces with old-fashioned rooms do well with vertical thinking. Large armoires, wall-mounted shelving designed with old-fashioned brackets as well as hanging organizers are all done to store their supplies in large quantity without compromising on that old-style look.
Seasonal Vintage Bedroom Updates
Switching Textiles by Season
The major plus of vintage bedroom design is that you can change the appearance of the design by the season. Rearrange some things, have summer colors where the winter velvets are, change your bed linen or some throw cushions to reflect the change of seasons.
While this method keeps your vintage bedroom restful while also keeping in check with her classic elegance at any time of the year.
Holiday Decorating the Vintage Way
Seasonal decorating is well achieved with vintage bedrooms. Vintage rooms are perfect to enjoy those seasonal changes, whether you are adding some autumn foliage, in old vases on your mantel, or some garland around the headboard during the holiday season.
Creating Your Dream Vintage Bedroom
Want to turn your dull bedroom into an old fashioned oasis you can never get off your ass? Take one thing that touches your heart, something you have been drooling over perhaps that lovely curlicue mirror or a lovely old quilt that came down to you.
Make the remainder of your room to center around that work of art, even then, little by little the rest of your room can come together with similar coloring, patterns, and accouterments. It is important to remember that dreamy vintage bedroom ideas have to reflect your personal taste rather than imitate the style of another person.
Your bedroom ought to be a walk into your own personal heaven- a relaxation point where you can also get to retreat, wind and rejuvenate. The romance and personality of modern design tend to be lost, but when old things are used, they create rooms with the authentic character and vintage flair.
What is the greatest thing about the vintage bedroom design? When compared to now popular trends that become less recent in years, well-selected vintage items only grow more beautiful as time passers. You are not simply providing a room with decoration, you are establishing a beautiful old-fashioned oasis that can never get out of fashion 🙂
Therefore, do not hold back and enjoy those vintage bedroom ideas that your heart skips a beat over. It is finally time to turn your bedroom into a vintage room and not even mentioning the fact that you will never regret making and keeping this transition, just imagine how great you will feel having transformed your bedroom with the help of the vintage style.