Anything But Cookie-Cutter: 8 Vintage Interior Design Details That Make Any New Build House a Home
When it comes to trends (ranging across fashion revolutions to home renovations), what’s old-school is cool again. Yes, history is repeating itself, in all the best ways.
In terms of residence, newer houses may be move-in ready and a blank space to begin life—but ironically, also lack that warm, welcoming, lived-in personality we crave in a place we hope “feels like home”.
So the question stands: how do you make a new-build house a home?
The answer lies in adding on character through vintage interior design touches and architectural details—via paint, decor, metals and woodwork, trim, and more.
Ready to pile on the charm? We’ve rounded up 8 areas of your modern house that deserve a little TLC (or in this case, timeless love and craftsmanship).
1. Walls
Far more than just a foundational structure, walls in older homes feature a piece of past and present residents' lives with how they are covered and accessorized. Newer homes can earn historic charm on walls with the addition of vintage interior designs like ornate chrome molding near the ceiling or lower wainscoting trim. If walls could talk, a Victorian floral wallpaper makes an antique-chic statement, too.
2. Window Treatments
Windows are the eyes to the soul . . . and a little dose of heart and soul is exactly what your new build needs. Why not dress up your views with welcoming treatments like Art Deco window panes, or soften them with velvet floor-length curtain drapes or airy valances? Even a dash of trim paint (like a mint green window sill/apron in a retro-mod kitchen) adds a cute vintage interior design touch.
3. Lighting Fixtures
If you’re looking to add homey warmth and vintage interior design to a bland builder-grade space, look no further than lighting fixtures. A crystal-dangling chandelier will lend retro romance to any modern space—or add Edison lamps or mini accent spotlights surrounding framed family photos for a historic industrial glow.
4. Flooring Choices
Another way to ground a sparse or overly uniform house? Update (or rather, revert) floors back to their vintage style interior design origins. Think: refinishing old hardwood floors, adding earthy surfaces like slate, or—on a more affordable level—warming up the space with woven or folk art rugs.
5. Antique Hardware & Decor
Adding character to a newer home can be as easy as tweaking the hardware or other decorative knickknacks. Consider replacing run-of-the-mill kitchen or bathroom features for antique metal, patterned, or vintage glass knobs or pulls. For decor, put that handed-down grandfather clock or piano on display—or simply throw a patchwork quilt over the end of a couch!
6. Mirrors
If you want to reflect the past in a modern-day house, see what a difference vintage mirrors can make. From Grecian to Gothic, no matter what era you want to emulate through shapes or arched metal frames, an antique-style mirror tells a story of a house (all while making the room feel bigger).
7. Furniture
Retro-mod furniture is all the rage, even well into the 2020s. Ultra-shapely pieces that have a ‘70s-era vibe are in, as well as vintage fabric upholstery. Try rounded chairs and wavy pincushion couches—or add a nod to the past with plenty of mixed-pattern and textured pillows in both bold and earthy color palettes.
8. Register Renovation
From up on the ceiling and sides of walls down to the floor, remember that registers are visible on every level. Why not give your HVAC system an air of retro-mod style with one of our Heritage or Made to Order register patterns? They’ll provide an eye-catching vintage interior design touch wherever you look in the house.
Yes, when it comes to adding character to your clean-cut newer home, take note of the details. You can’t go wrong adding something old to something new (and making your haven eclectic-cool and very *you*).