Inspiration: mixing old and new in interior design

May 28

Balancing old and new in interior design brings together the best of both worlds - the cosiness of traditional design and the freshness of contemporary design. Not only that, but mixing old and new always results in a space that feels timeless and completely unique. Here’s some inspiration for combining old and new in your home.

Statement antique furniture

Adding a vintage piece of furniture adds some history and personality into a room when combined with more modern surroundings. Coffee tables, desks and sideboards are great options and can be sourced online, in charity shops or vintage furniture markets. I also really like the look of a big bashed up and pre-loved dining table combined with more sleek dining chairs.

Architectural details

Panelling has been really popular for a while now and I don’t think it’s going anywhere. It’s a great way of adding some interest to your walls, and when painted in modern colours or mixed with more modern features it can look really timeless. If you live in a more modern house, adding tonnes of traditional architectural details won’t necessarily suit the style of your home, but balancing them with modern details is a great way to inject some into your design.

Unexpected colour

If you think of a traditional colour palette it’s probably going to be a bit more muted or fall into the category of heritage colours. I love the look of an unexpected colour pop in a traditional design to keep things feeling fresh and full of personality.

Modern lighting with traditional design

Lighting is a really great way of mixing some new into a more traditional design, and the same goes for adding traditional elements via lighting to a more modern design. Playing with materials and shapes either in your overhead lighting, wall lights, table lamps or floor lamps helps to make a space feel timeless and unique.

Rugs and soft furnishings

I absolutely love a Persian rug, and for some reason they feel like a neutral design feature to me - they fit so well into any other interior design style. There’s something about an antique rug that brings so much warmth, texture and character into a room. Contemporary or modern design can sometimes come across as cold, so adding an antique or traditional style rug is a great way to add some balance.

Contemporary art with traditional design

This is one of my favourite ways to inject some personality into a design. If you’re going for a more modern style, then an unexpected vintage piece of art can look really quirky and provide a great statement. Similarly, a traditional design can be really uplifted by adding some unexpected modern art.

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