Submitted by: Jessica Ackerman

If you love the look of antiques but have your home decorated in a more contemporary style, you might wish you could find a way to make old and new pieces work beautifully together. Or, you might want to add a few contemporary pieces of art to your traditionally styled living room. Either way, it’s certainly possible to blend various styles of decor together, even if they are from different centuries. The secret is to find ways to make the pieces work together in a harmonious fashion, so that old complements new and new highlights old. If you’d like to add a slightly eclectic touch to your decorating scheme by mixing old and new pieces together, here are a few decorating tips you can use as inspiration.

Blending the Old and the New

When mixing old and new together, look for ways to create interesting color, shape and size combinations. For example, if you love the look of a traditional old-world style wrought iron bed, why not try contrasting the solid look of the bed with soft, silky, contemporary window treatments in the room? The beautiful look of the black wrought iron can also have a bit of contemporary appeal when contrasted against stark white walls or the simple, clean colors and patterns of contemporary decor. Conversely, a sleek and modern light fixture or an abstract piece of art could provide a refreshing contrast when paired with traditionally styled furniture pieces.

Create a Theme

Blending old and new pieces together to create an overall theme is also a great way to create visual harmony in a room. For example, you might want to create a garden room theme for your indoor patio. Traditional floral prints will look fresh and new when paired with bright contemporary colors such as melon and sage green. Or, give a vintage set of wicker furniture new life by giving it a fresh coat of paint.

In the kitchen, you could create a fun retro look that combines vintage diner decor with modern metal wall art. Or, add a bit of charm to your contemporary chef’s kitchen by pairing sleek stainless steel with the beauty of a vintage baker’s rack. Although the styles may be quite different, they’ll both work together nicely to create the look of a professional chef’s kitchen.

Use Color to Tie Old and New Together

Color can be another tool you can use to blend old and new together. For example, if your contemporary styled living room features primarily cool gray, blue and black, look for vintage pieces that will blend in while still providing a bit of a contrast. For example, and old blue speckled enamelware pot could look great displayed next to the fireplace, as long as the blue shade blends harmoniously. Or accentuate your sleek and modern dining room table with a vintage set of white china. When blending vintage pieces into a contemporary-styled room, try to avoid fussy prints and patterns. Instead, look for pieces that feature solid colors and simple patterns. If you’re adding modern pieces to a traditionally styled room, the same rule can work. For example, if your traditionally styled sofa has a small print, pair it with solid-colored contemporary decor. By doing so, you’ll be able to create an eclectic look that’s fun, harmonious and stylish.

About the Author: Jessica Ackerman, author and staff designer at WallDecorandHomeAccents.com, specializes in

large artwork

and

metal wall sculptures

.

Source:

isnare.com

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