How to Mix Modern and Antique Furniture

The most livable interiors are those that can’t be pinned to a specific era or decade, but integrate elements from the history of home design. The desire to mix old and new can be sparked by the architecture (or lack thereof) of your home, an heirloom, or a thrift store crush.

Here are some tips for mixing modern and antique furniture to create a layered interior that transcends time. 

Find the Right Balance

"When it comes to mixing antiques with modern pieces, almost anything goes," says interior designer Erin Williamson of Erin Williamson Design.

"A home should be a collection of things you love and find meaningful, not a catalog of coordinated furniture. That said, it helps to spread the patina throughout a space so that the juxtaposition between old and new feels fresh and surprising rather than shabby."

Williamson emphasizes the importance of considering scale when placing antique furniture. "Many dark, heavy wood pieces don't float comfortably and would be happiest on or near a wall," she says.

"Light and leggy pieces should be placed next to items with more mass so that the room doesn't feel nervy and uncomfortable. A balance of proportion across space offers a lot of leeway to run wild with prints, colors, finishes, and styles."

Consider Form and Function

When considering whether to keep or integrate an older piece into a modern design, consider both form and function. Antiques often display fine craftsmanship that is harder to come by today and feature intricate wood carving, marquetry, or decorative flourishes that you won’t find in run-of-the-mill modern-day furniture.

For interior designer Lisa Gilmore of Lisa Gilmore Design, successfully mixing modern and antiques is “all about playing with your lines, making sure you have a healthy mix of streamlined and curves.” Gilmore says she mixes metal finishes “to give the design legs” and keep it from looking dated. 

Repurpose and Refinish

While nothing beats the rich patina of a quality antique or vintage piece, not all antiques are valuable or need to be preserved in their original state. If you inherit your grandparents’ old dining table, stumble on an antique bed frame at the flea market, or find a thrift store armoire with great bones but a dated finish, take a step back and imagine how it would look stripped to its bones, refinished, or transformed with a brand new coat of paint.

"Fresh upholstery can give antiques a modern feel without sacrificing vintage charm," Williamson says. "If you fancy a print, consider the shape of the piece and decide whether to play with or against the form. Stripes on a curved settee will highlight its shape while florals on a straight back chair might add some softness."

Williamson notes that it's a good idea to refresh batting and springs to add modern comfort to older seating.

Unify With Color

One of the challenges of mixing old and new pieces is figuring out how to make the mix of periods and styles work together in a cohesive way. While mixing wood finishes and metals is an art in itself, sometimes the easiest way to integrate disparate elements is to unite them using the same color palette.

If you a fan of shabby chic interiors, you can create coherence by painting thrift store finds like nightstands, dining room chairs, tables, and dressers in a creamy white, and add white overstuffed armchairs and sofas. This will make it simple to marry styles and periods by keeping the focus on form.

Choose a Statement Piece

If you are looking to create maximum impact in a modern room with an antique piece, go bold with a large-scale statement piece like an antique armoire, a Baroque-style or Art Deco headboard, or a vintage farm or coffee table.

This strategy works particularly well in a neutral space that needs a focal point or a sense of drama that is achieved by introducing contrast and juxtaposition. This same formula can work for large-scale decorative pieces, like a gilded mirror or a vintage rug to anchor an otherwise contemporary living room. 

Focus on Accent Pieces

Not everyone has the appetite or budget for creating large-scale drama with a splashy antique focal point. If you love antiques but feel intimidated by buying antique furniture, start with small furniture pieces such as end tables and wooden stools, or decorative pieces like ornate gilded mirrors, lighting fixtures, and rugs.

“For me, a really large antique/vintage rug sets the tone immediately,” says Gilmore, “and you can have lots of fun adding and layering around it.”