Candles, Mirrors & More: How To Set Up A Vintage-Theme Living Room

Let’s start small, and look at just adding a touch of vintage to your space, shall we? Individual pieces (or showpieces as you might know them) might be a great way to start. Vintage corner pieces and accessories are always a safe bet. Think typewriters, vehicle models, old telephones, and antique style clocks should do the trick. Outside of local antique dealers and vintage decor stores, few brands also only sell vintage-themed decor online, we’re loving Vintage Crafts on LBB. 

Other Brands We Love: The Antique Story, Jaypore, The Decor Kart

For more vintage home decor pieces, click here.

What colours come to mind when you think of vintage? Usually dark browns, beige(ish), brassy tones, off whites, and occasionally pastels and muted tones. Obviously reflective of lasting decades, and that of the materials and pigments available from pre-synthetic anything days. Essentially avoid bright colours and you’re good. Incorporating dark brown pouffes, neutral shades to offset the darker browns, and a touch of metal to the vintage vibe. Of course, if you want to add colours anything with moss green (or sage green - we have a whole bunch of options in this list), muted plum and purple cushions, maroon throws, and mustard yellow table runners perhaps.

Other Brands We Love: Blanc 9 (for cushion covers), Fabindia (for furnishings, and decor), Manor House

A surefire way to channel the vintage vibe is to go dark. The best antique style homes and rooms rely on natural light, but also furniture that’s varnished and polished dark. If you’re not able to pick up decor and home accents that exude a vintage vibe, let the polish do the talking. Full-blown furniture is what we’re talking about. Feel free to shop for antiques (whether it’s Indian or colonial styles) online or hit up a local antique store. For storage options, pick up deep-hued trunks or drapes among other things. If you hit up a store, look for their more rustic pieces or ask for time period specific options. When it comes to furniture, just pick up vintage-inspired options, so cane and rattan chairs, mid-century sofas and tables, and glass decor accents to reflect some light and add some depth.

Brands We Love: Brick Brown (for their wooden options), Cubico (for their trunks, and storage options), Royal Oak (for furniture)

Okay, so one sure shot way to incorporate vintage or antique aesthetics to your home is to literally get old furniture or decor! There are many brands that work with reclaimed material, pieces of furniture, or upcycle old things to make great furniture. Sometimes the distressed finish of wood does the trick. Even if it’s not a vintage piece, looking like one makes a difference. This candle stand not only is antiquated decor but also looks like it.  Brass planters were a big deal back in the day and had multifunctional use (storage, so keeping some around will definitely age the look a bit).

Brands We Love (for vintage-inspired decor across categories): Source, Amoliconcepts, Jaypore, Folkstorys, House of Sajja, Dekor Company

Lighting can really set the mood or ruin it. While heavily reliant on natural lighting, a vintage-themed home pretty much uses warm yellow lighting. No fairy lights or neon signages, vintage lighting is synonymous with lampshades, naked bulbs, and candles. Channel the Victorian vibe with fabric lampshades or something more rudimentary all the way from the Industrial Revolution with industrial style statement bulb style lighting. For your tables and corners, add kerosene lamp style lighting (either traditional or ones with a bulb). Lanterns are also old school, even when they come in contemporary designs. Another option is to channel the Vanity Mirror look (works just as well over glass). Speaking of mirrors, older homes had a lot since it was great for reflecting light and here’s where you can read about more. Oh, and if you want to go full old school, there are always candles! 

Brands We Love: Fos Lighting, Opaxa Living, Deeps Shop