Look, I have witnessed too many so-called vintage bedrooms that just remind me of an old lady throwing decorations to the wall and hoping that something works out. Just the spaces that say, I got everything in one antique shop and that is it. The best vintage bedroom decor? It is too much deliberate to be that.
Years of scouting estate sales and purchasing furniture pieces that, in my mind, would have looked much more superior to my current bedroom than they did, I have come to realize what exactly makes vintage bedroom decor work, in the first place. Part of it is they are not random old pieces, it is the pieces that give the actual vintage look and feel that we are all after.
1. The Statement Bed Frame That Commands Attention
The whole retro mood is established with your bed frame. All other decorations in your room will be either complimentary or contrasting to this decision so you better make a point out of it.
Wrought iron beds simply yell retro romance but they are not the only way out. You have the wooden sleigh beds which have that down home feel of the farmhouse and then there is the brass beds that provides you with that perfect antique hotel flavor. I was taught this lesson one day when I purchased a beautiful Victorian iron bed frame which totally dominated my tiny bedroom- not that bigger means better.
The most popular old fashioned bed frames include: • Cast iron making use of elaborate scrollwork • Solid wood sleigh beds • Brass beds; those with lean lines • Upholstered headboards done in vintage fabric.
The key? Select a frame that meets your space as well your comfort practical requirement. You may think that hit old bed is so beautiful, but once you have to take a step, and that bed makes a couple of clanking noises, you would want to jump out of it by the end of the week.
2. Authentic Vintage Lighting That Creates Magic
Nothing is worse at snuffing out vintage feels than super harsh modern lighting. What you need are warm, layered lights that make your room seem to be straight out of a bygone era.
The right golden light is achieved by table lamps having shades made of fabric, pendant light with Edison lights, and old-fashioned sconces. I just can not get enough of the milk glass lighting- it scatters light so wonderfully, not to mention how much it gives off that simultaneous aged-but-nostalgic vibe, without taking itself too seriously.
Important antique lighting items: • Warm bulbed bedside table lamps • String lights on a wall to give an ambient glow (only use sparingly!) • antique light fixture: a chandelier or hanging lamp • Antique candle holder
By all means, avoid the fluorescent overheads. Believe me, there is no kind of antique furnishing that can rescue a space with cold unflattering light.
3. Time-Worn Textiles That Tell Stories
This is where antique bedrooms are brought into life by fabrics with their own history and character. These things like vintage quilts, embroidered linens and weathered cotton all have that real worn-in aspect that is impossible to feign.
I scour estate sales looking not just, but ENTIRELY, for authentic vintage fabric. Reproductions of high quality are equally good and wont disintegrate the moment you touch them in actual use. It is to have that soft lived-in look that makes you want to curl up and stay.
| Textile Type | Authentic Options |
|---|---|
| Bedding | Vintage quilts, linen sheets, cotton chenille |
| Window Treatments | Lace panels, heavy drapes, vintage-inspired blinds |
Layering should add texture >=buff?¦ indicator of the textured layering of things on the bed, perhaps an old quilt over linen bed sheets, with a thick knit throw at the bed foot. The combination adds interest to the visuals but not being too matchy-matchy.
4. Weathered Wood Furniture with Real Patina
Real patina can not be hurried or imitated. The good old worn effect of old authentic vintage wood furniture is earned after decades of wear and that is what makes the authentic homemade furniture stand way above the mass produced distressed furniture.
Buy dressers, nightstands and wardrobes that have character wear marks. My favorite things are something where the wood grain shows through paint that is worn or something where handles are worn in just by use over the years. These flaws are part of the story and they give it that character that cannot be shopped.
What to Look for in Vintage Wood Furniture
Evidence of genuine age: • Real wear marks where hands would rest • Slight discoloration due to sunshine • Original machinery complete with a patina of age • Sound contruction even though imperfect in appearance
Don not use distressed furniture that achieves its distressed look artificially, you know, the kind that someone put some sandpaper at random. Real vintage wears have rational patterns of the usage of furniture.
5. Antique Mirrors That Reflect Character
Mirrors reflect many times more light and space but vintage mirrors produce one more magic, they make your room appear deeper and mysterious. Do you need a glittering gold, ornately-framed mirror, or a plain old silvered mirror with spots and dents? These mirrors become the ground-level of your vintage look.
I like mirrors which have some older defects. What tiny dark spots and light cloudiness? That is the real patina, not wear. The mirrors of today have been made to be too clean and too perfect to fit in vintage space.
Best vintage mirror designs: • fancy baroque baroque frames either gold or silver • plain wooden in rustic style • geometric art deco designs • mirrors that are in the form of vanity mirrors and thus can move up and down.
Make them look as though they represent your loveliest vintage elements say that lovely iron bed frame or your vintage book collection.
6. Vintage Storage Solutions That Actually Work
Vintage bedroom storage should be able to do a double job, it must stylishly, but convincingly store modern life. Old fashioned trunks, wardrobes, dressers do not only perform solely the aesthetic role, but also work.
At the foot of my bed I have an old steamer trunk in which I keep extra blankets, and seasonal clothes. It is not only lovely, but practical too which is what an old fashioned bedroom decor ought to be. There is no use regarding possessing beautiful furniture that does not satisfy your needs at all.
Brainy vintage storage ideas: 1. Steamers trunks to store linen and clothes 2. Old style wardrobes as an alternative to closets 3. Antique dresses with wide drawers 4. Old suitcases as a nightstand stacked with each other
Key is to get the pieces that suit your storage needs and still that perfect vintage look.
7. Authentic Vintage Hardware and Details
The devil is in the detail and antique bedrooms are made with or without theirs. Original doorknobs made of glass, drawer pulls made of brass and iron curtain rods may not be huge commodities but they make a room feel truly vintage as opposed to retro-vintage.
I have been foolish with how long I have searched to find genuine Bakelite light switches, and genuine brass curtain hardware, but the details count. They are the ornaments which persuade your eye your are looking at something genuine.
Where details count the most and then some.
These are the pieces of hardware that should have your attention: • Door and cabinet hardware • Light switch plates and outlet covers • Curtain rods and window hardware • Picture hanging systems and hooks
It should not all do it at the same time, but exchanging obviously recent hardware is a major step towards authenticity.
8. Vintage Artwork and Personal Collections
Use art in your vintage bedroom but make sure it is something that suits the period you are trying to reflect. Botany prints, old photography and vintage maps are all beautiful in the vintage spaces.
I have many old travel posters and botanical illustrations since this is what speaks to me about myself. Your art also depends on what you are interested in, but not necessarily what seems sufficiently vintage. Being genuine is about the personal connection, it is not about doing it by the checklist.
Period artwork: • Botany / nature print • Old photography in its original frames • Old maps / drawings • Small weathered oil paintings in old frames
Put smaller items in a group to make it a statement, and have courage in combining various types of vintage art. The contrast gives aesthetic appeal and avoids the look of a decorator show room.
9. Natural Elements That Bring Life
Vintage rooms and places are softened with plants and other natural pieces so that it does not look like an exhibition. New flowers in old vases, flowers in terra cotta pots, wicker or rattan furniture add the touch of nature to your vintage bedroom.
On my dresser an old milk bottle has some fresh eucalyptus in it, and it still meets the required organic touch to complete all the artificial old fashioned items. The mix of living plants and vintage furniture produces the impression of a comfortable environment as though it is occupied.
The composition: The antiques that complement the vintage decor: In fresh or dried flowers • in the old-fashioned containers • in the potted plants, which are placed in a weathered ceramic pot • in the natural fiber rugs and baskets • in the use of wood and stone accessories
This kind of living adds to your vintage bedroom and does not make it seem like it is trapped in a certain period of time, rather you would want to be in the room.
10. The Right Scent and Atmosphere
This may seem strange but there is a certain smell and an atmosphere of the true vintage. It is not stuffy, dusty, or stale, after all, it is a warm aroma of old wood, natural fibers, and perhaps a taste of lavender or rose.
I like to use beeswax candles and lavender sachets in order to come up with an ideal vintage bedroom appearance. The aim is to use very slight scent that stimulates the mood and not assault your senses. The smell of modern synthetic perfume is inappropriate in old places 🙂
Scent ingredients in bedrooms of a bygone era: • Beeswax or soy candles in antique candle holders • Sachets of lavender in drawers and closets • Natural moth-proofing materials, blocks of cedar • Flowers whenever possible
The accurate scent completes everything and makes your vintage bedroom a complete and a true one.
Bringing It All Together
Designing an actual vintage bedroom is not a matter of ticking things on the list but choosing the pieces that shall create a story in itself. Every detail must be hand-picked and not simply done out of vintage because it is vintage.
Begin with your statement pieces (bed frame, major furniture) and go on. Add textiles, lighting and accessories that add to, rather than distract attention away form, your hero items. Above all, you should select something that you truly enjoy living with and not items that look great well in photographs.
FYI, the most desirable vintage bedrooms change with time. The relics will come to you one by one and it is that natural development which makes the most genuine vintage environments. Time is a great investment in a project like this one so believe me and be patient! 🙂