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By Maree Peary, of www.styleandsoul.co.nz How to use antiques and heritage pieces in a more contemporary home. Heritage pieces refer to objects of historical, cultural, or sentimental value that are passed down through generations. One of these is antique and vintage furniture. There are lots of myths about antiques, and some will say they have no place in a modern home – rubbish! That’s exactly where they belong. The contrast they bring is simply magic. Antiques show true craftsmanship. Antiques were built to last, which is why so many pieces have survived to tell the tale. Choosing antique and vintage furniture is also a sustainable way to furnish your home, as they’ve already been made so don’t require valuable raw materials or resources to be produced and freighted. Some will say you have to update them or chalk paint them. However, the beauty is often in them alone, and there is no need for “upcycling”. Antiques can be expensive, but you can find some bargains too. Good bones are worth spending money on, not replacing things every season because they break or you get bored of them. Retro furniture from the 1950s, ’60s and ’70s is very on trend at present. I love trawling through garage sales, vintage and op shops looking for these pieces. You can often pick them up at very reasonable prices. Another myth is that antiques make your home look old fashioned. The truth is they make it look intentional – rich, collected and not “trendy” or “out of a catalogue”. Yet another myth – antiques are too fragile to use. Nope – they have survived centuries. Another lie – you have to “match” everything. Not true – contrast is key. The tension between eras is what makes it feel luxe. Myth number four – antiques are impractical. Wrong – true luxury is beauty and function. Antiques do both, flawlessly. Some will say antiques are only for maximalists. Again, not true. Even a single well-placed piece can change the entire feel or a room. Incorporating antiques or heritage pieces into a contemporary home can add character, depth, and a sense of history while maintaining a modern aesthetic by focusing on balance and harmony, strategic placement and scale, and cohesive colour palettes and textures. The key is to avoid overcrowding and to allow antique pieces to complement, rather than compete with, your modern furnishings. Incorporate them into your personal style. Tips for using antiques and heritage pieces in a contemporary home: Focus on balance and harmony: Distribute antique items throughout the space rather than clustering them, ensuring a sense of flow and preventing the room from feeling cluttered. Strategic placement and scale: Choose a spectacular antique piece as a focal point and surround it with more modern, discreet elements, or use a large-scale statement piece like an armoire or a vintage coffee table to create drama. Contrasting proportions: Pair small antique items with larger modern pieces, or vice versa, to create visual interest, ensuring they’re not too close to avoid competition. Softening lines: Use antique pieces with curved forms to soften the often, sleek lines of contemporary furniture, adding comfort and a sense of luxury. Cohesive colour palettes and textures: Unified undertones: Choose modern and antique furniture with consistent undertones (warm or cool) for a cohesive look. Textural contrast: Combine the smooth textures of modern materials with the rich textures of antiques, such as incorporating natural fibres, carved wood, or intricate textiles. Colour schemes: Unite disparate elements by selecting pieces within the same colour palette or by using a neutral backdrop that allows antique pieces to stand out. Often a treasured heritage artwork, artefact or antique furniture piece can be used as your basis for a colour scheme. Take your cue from the colours in it. Choose wallcoverings, fabrics, rugs and accessories from there. Specific applications: Accent walls: Use vintage artwork, mirrors, hand blocked wallpaper or posters to create a striking feature wall. Repurposing: Transform antique items into functional pieces like side tables or coffee tables. Lighting: Replace modern light fixtures with antique lamps for an instant touch of classic style. Bathrooms: Introduce antique washstands or other vintage finds to add warmth and personality to a bathroom. Important considerations: The 80/20 rule: Allow about 80 per cent of your interior to be unified by a particular style or period and then deviate with the other 20 per cent for an antique piece to work effectively. Embrace imperfections: Expect and embrace the character that comes with bumps and bruises on antiques, as these are part of their charm. It’s your home, have fun. Use sentimental antique and heritage items daily and delight in the pieces you love. Blend old and new pieces from different eras, the right balance will work best when items are tonally united. Happy decorating!
