As someone who loves vintage decor, I’m always on the lookout for unique pieces that can add charm and character to my home.
Whether it’s an antique vase or a retro lamp, vintage items have a timeless quality that can make any space feel more special.
In this article, I’ll be sharing 26 vintage decor ideas that are sure to inspire you to add some old-school charm to your own home.
From shabby chic to mid-century modern, there are so many different styles of vintage decor to choose from.
Whether you’re looking for a statement piece or just a few small accents, there’s something out there for everyone.
In this article, I’ll be showcasing a variety of vintage decor ideas that can work in any home, regardless of your personal style or budget.
1. Apothecary/Glass Bottles Serve Many Purposes
Walk into any general store or antique shop (maybe even the barn you might have your property) and you are sure to find vintage glass and apothecary bottles that used to house herbs, medicine, milk, wine, or any variety of contents.
Now you can use bottles to decorate an end table, store knickknacks, book ends, or to serve as a flower vase – just to give you some ideas in case they weren’t already flowing into your head.
Traditional Dining Room by Sacramento Interior Designers & Decorators Kerrie L. Kelly
Despite their vintage origins, glass bottles fit into a variety of decors, from eclectic living rooms to a modern entry.
2. Vintage Ladder Turns Towel Rack
Metal ladders have quickly replaced traditional wooden ladders, unless perhaps you need something small for an interior painting job.
But there is no need to throw that old wooden ladder out. Turn it into a decorative storage device.
Use it for blankets in the living room, hand towels in the kitchen or bathroom, or for scarves in your closet.
3. File Storage Stores Dinner Plates
The term file storage today less about storage compartments, and has now become synonymous with information technology and companies like Carbonite.
Even though you may not have files to store, if you can find a vintage file sorter like this, use it to creatively organize things like dishes or linens.
Traditional Kitchen by Los Angeles Interior Designers & Decorators Jennifer Gray Interiors
4. Nesting Nooks Stores A Plethora of Goods
When was the last time you saw a nesting nook?
If ever you come across one, it’s a great addition to a rustic, or industrial inspired kitchen.
You can easily store hand towels, dishes, pots and pans. Or add it to a child’s room to store to store toys, books, and bedding.
Rustic Dining Room by Stonewall Media & Bloggers Buckets of Burlap
5. Postcards Decorate Walls
Vintage postcards are certainly worth holding on to especially if they have sentimental value to you.
Keep them on display in a picture frame or other display to add décor, and give your room a conversation piece.
6. Typewriters Create Conversation
Danielle Steel, George RR Martin, Quentin Tarrantino…these Are just a few writers who rely on traditional typewriters to create their epic stories http://mashable.com/2014/02/15/modern-writers-technology/ and while you may not be writing a novel, you may still want to pick up that vintage typewriter.
Who knows you might revert back to “olden days” in a new study, or just add an interesting touch to the playroom.
Home Office by Other Metro flickr.com
Or use it as storage.
Either way it makes for good conversation.
7. Vintage Fan Adds More than Cool Air
Have a lakeside cottage or an urban industrial flat? You’d be surprised where a vintage fan can fit in with your décor.
It’s practical on hot days, decorative when it is not needed, and easy enough to store if you tire of it.
Eclectic Living Room by Vancouver Media & Bloggers The Locker
8. Silver Candlesticks
Dress Up an Accent Table Vintage silver candlesticks harken you back to a time when homes were lit exclusively by candlelight.
Although it was a bit inconvenient by today’s standards, there is a hint of romance in that kind of life, and many may wonder what it was like to live during a simpler time.
While we haven’t yet perfected our time machine, you can add a touch of history to your home with some candlesticks of your own.
Modern Living Room by Allenhurst Interior Designers & Decorators David Schaf Interiors, LLC
9. Phone a Friend
Like the fan, or vintage typewriter, who wouldn’t love an old vintage telephone.
Your children may not know what to do with it, since they can’t put it in their pocket or use it to get on the internet, but it still would make a fun accent to your room.
Eclectic Home Office by London Artists & Artisans Rossana Novella
10. Clocks Tell Time in More Ways Than One
You rely on the clocks in your home to tell the time today, but vintage clocks can also remind you of all the time that has passed.
Why not track down a vintage candle clock from 10th century Japan to adorn a Feng Shui Décor, a highly prized banjo clock to hang in a ski lodge, or a simple vintage alarm clock.
The craftsmanship and mechanics of your clock (whether it is working or not) are sure to add a nice touch to your room.
Rustic Living Room by San Francisco Architects & Building Designers John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA
11. Photographs Tell a Story
Do you have old black and family photos?
Take them out of the photo album and put them in some decorative frames to put them on display.
Everyone, especially little ones, love to explore their family tree.
Eclectic Bedroom by Dallas Media & Bloggers Jamie Laubhan-Oliver
If you are looking for more vintage knickknacks check out this blog post from Houzz.com.
12. Maps Help you Explore Indoors
Is there a favorite place you have visited? Do you love to sail?
Find a vintage map of your favorite place to explore and decorate your walls with it, whether as wallpaper, or as a framed centerpiece of the room.
Craftsman Home Office by Seattle Architects & Building Designers Bosworth Hoedemaker
13. Vintage Cans & Equipment
Upcycle old vintage cans and industrial equipment into some new home décor.
Use them as coffee tables or end tables. Or clean them out and use them for storage in a pantry, playroom or mudroom.
Looking for more vintage furniture ideas, check out this link from Houzz.com
14. Tables
Sure it is easy to find a table for your home today, but wouldn’t an old vintage table bring so much character to your kitchen or dining room.
A Mexican grain sorting table tells a story about a different way of life.
Farmhouse Kitchen by Berkeley Interior Designers & Decorators Lane McNab Interiors
This industrial table can serve as a kitchen island, countertop, prep station, or buffet, and you can imagine what purpose it used to serve, in its previous life.
Baled Hay from the Farmhouse Collection from Carlisle Wide Plank Floors featuring Prefinished Oak Flooring and Distressed Wood Flooring
15. Vintage Posters
Like your postcards, or maps, vintage posters are a great way to decorate a room, especially if you have a particular theme in mind.
This kitchen has a modern farmhouse feel, note the rooster poster in the background.
Traditional Kitchen by Atlanta Architects & Building Designers Harrison Design featuring Carlisle Distressed Wood Flooring
Get some Vintage posters for the race car enthusiast in your family.
If you have a media room or home theatre add some vintage movie posters to the walls.
Contemporary Home Theater by Eagle Home Builders CHC Mountain Structures
16. Reclaimed Wood Flooring Sets the Tone
As the iconic wood flooring company we would be remiss if we did point out some of the spectacular ways that wood floors can transform your space.
While they do require a bit more of an investment than an antique bottle, they are well worth it.
Although you can get distressed wood flooring to look old, you can also get the real thing – authentic antique flooring from buildings that are hundreds of years old. It doesn’t get any more vintage than that.
Eclectic Bedroom by Carlisle Wide Plank Floors
17. Old Books Tell Stories
Your old books and magazine can serve so many purposes if you want your room to have some vintage inspiration. Pile them up as a small end table
Industrial Living Room by Salt Lake City Photographers Lucy Call
Or if you can bear the thought of taking them apart (or maybe you found them that way) why not decorate the walls of a favorite room.
Eclectic Entry by London Interior Designers & Decorators Avocado Sweets Interior Design Studio
18. Lighting
Vintage lighting can be procured from old homes, factories, industrial buildings, or salvaged from demolition sites.
Hang them as pendant lights for a creative touch above your island, vanity or dining room table.
Industrial Living Room by Other Metro Furniture & Accessories worksberlin original vintage industrial furniture
19. Vintage Suitcases Settle Down
There is a certain nostalgia that comes with holding a vintage suitcase in your hands. Where has it been, who used it, what was stored inside?
While you may not know the answers to all these question, you can create a new history for these iconic travel companions and settle them down into your home decor. Use them as end tables.
In the general home Décor of your home.
These vintage suitcases also maintain their original purpose – storage. In this case, temporary storage for an event.
Farmhouse Spaces by Philadelphia Media & Bloggers Sara Bates
20. Upholstery & Fabric
Whether it is a vintage print, or a worn out burlap sack, you can use old fabric a variety of ways. Add personality to an old headboard with burlap fabric.
Contemporary Bedroom by Los Angeles Photographers Erika Bierman Photography
Add it to a frame and put it on display.
You can find some lovely vintage fabrics and make curtains or reupholster furniture piece, especially if they are in need of a makeover.
Eclectic Bedroom by Santa Cruz Media & Bloggers Shannon Malone
And we are probably cheating with this one, but this Anthropology sofa, while not vintage, does feature an appealing vintage print that would go well with your other vintage decor.
21. Refresh Your Living Room with Vintage Home Decor
Tuck vintage home decor finds among modern living room furniture for a unique, layered look.
For furnishings you’ll use most often, such as a sofa or accent chairs, it’s typically best to invest in new items to ensure they’ll hold up well with regular use.
Then opt for antiques and thrift store finds for accent pieces, such as a small side table or coffee table.
For wall decor, frame and hang large vintage posters that coordinate with your color scheme, or mount flea market finds on the wall as standalone art.
Cover the floor with an antique patterned rug, then lay a faux cowhide on top for added texture and interest.
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22. Bring Vintage Home Decor into Your Bedroom
In bedrooms, vintage home decor, whether furniture or accessories, can help contribute to a casual, comfortable ambiance; everything doesn’t need to match exactly.
Choose items with similar styles or color schemes, then use the concept of symmetry to create a cohesive look.
Serving as nightstands, the two mismatched wood dressers next to this four-poster bed are tied together by their similar finish.
Small antique rugs add a splash of color on either side of the bed. The vintage artwork mounted above the dressers shares a consistent nature motif, and the similarly-sized pieces are hung in the same pattern.
23. Use Vintage Elements in the Kitchen
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Even with a modern kitchen, vintage home decor can still be added successfully.
Hang an antique sign or decorate open shelves with vintage dishware to quickly add an old-fashioned look to your contemporary kitchen.
In this farmhouse-style kitchen, a found metal sign reflects the rustic look of distressed cabinets and shelves fashioned from salvaged wood.
It’s paired with other timeworn elements like vintage glass jars filled with dry ingredients and window treatments sewn from old grain sacks.
These simple elements could also work in a white kitchen outfitted with stainless steel and marble. Each piece adds warmth without taking away from the other more modern features.
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24. Decorate with Vintage Textiles
Old grain sacks and tea towels make perfect pillowcases, and old quilts can be beautiful wall hangings in an otherwise modern space.
Frame vintage scarves for instant artwork, or use antique curtains or blankets in the place of contemporary fabric for a covered headboard with a vintage feel.
Thinking outside the box and using vintage textiles in out-of-the-ordinary ways allows you to incorporate those quirky retro items you love without dating your home.
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25. Accessorize Dining Spaces with Vintage Home Decor
White or neutral walls make a great backdrop for vintage home decor like a rustic table, chairs, or bench.
Adding a chippy stool and decades-old blanket keep this dining room inviting without looking cluttered.
A ceiling fixture draws the eyes up, while bright red artwork and an old dough bowl filled with fruit bring additional color to the room while contrasting with the warmth of the wood furniture.
Don’t be afraid to pile on some of your favorite finds in a neutral room; it’s the perfect backdrop to show them off.
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26. Add Vintage Style to a Bathroom
Vintage pieces have their place, even in a freshly updated bathroom.
Instead of a new storage unit, repurpose an old dresser as a vintage-style cache for extra towels, bath products, and other necessities.
Paired with flea market wall art and rustic wood shelves, vintage home decor adds interest and warmth to the black and white space.
Other options for vintage bathroom decor include antique glass jars and wire baskets, which you can use to stash cotton balls and rolls of toilet paper.
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