How to Get the Vintage Look with Flooring *

*This is a collaborative post.

With the fast-paced technology-focused modern world, sometimes we find ourselves lusting after something from a bygone era. The vintage vibe can give you just that, but isn’t just restricted to outdated styles; you can achieve the gorgeous look without having to sacrifice your modern comforts. There is however a fine line between your interior pulling off the fab vintage look to it looking worn and outdated. You want to make a fashion statement, but you don’t want to look like you’re stuck in the 1950s! It’s not just furniture that comes into play when achieving this look, flooring is always an important feature. We’re going to show you how you can strike the right balance between stylish and vintage.

Flooring

We’d always recommend thinking about flooring first no matter what interior theme you’re looking to achieve. It’s disruptive and expensive to change, so make sure you’re in love with it before you install it! Typically, solid wood is associated with older style homes and still continues to maintain its popularity today. It presents us with a beautiful, timeless appeal that will work well with nearly all colours and themes. But with there being so many types of wood, grades finishes and species to choose from, which exactly is the best fit for a vintage interior? We’d recommend a rustic grade wood with plenty of knots and grains running through it. A whitewashed wood works perfectly for that shabby chic appearance or even a parquet style floor to boast luxury. Not only do these options look fabulously vintage but are at the height of fashion at the moment.

With this being said, solid wood is not a budget-friendly choice and many of us need a cheaper fix. Engineered wood offers the same authentic appearance at a much more affordable price, as well as coming with better practical benefits such as its compatibility with under-floor heating. Laminate and Luxury Vinyl Tiles also come in very convincing replicas of real wood and again at a more affordable price. 

Furniture

Once you’ve settled on your flooring, it’s time to have a look at the furniture. Antique furniture is the foundation of any vintage home. Distressed white wood always works and will keep your home from looking too dingy with the classic dark wood furniture. Don’t get us wrong, we love dark wood but make sure you mix it up and throw different shades in there to keep it bright!

Like anything, you have to be careful with quality. Although the majority of antique furniture is well made, something its age can work against it and end up falling to bits. There are ways you can check you’re getting something that’s good quality – usually the heavier the better. Check that all the joints are attached properly and no loose screws. Rust and decolouration are another thing to look for – although a bit of fading from the sun can actually add to the look. 

An important rule to follow – don’t think the more antiques the better. They do add vintage character, bit it’s certainly possible to overdo it. When mixing modern and traditional elements, consistency is key. Pick a theme and stick to it!

Patterns vs Plain

When it comes to vintage style, it’s not entirely clear whether it favours pattern or plain. The truth is there’s no right answer, which is good news if you like both equally! Again, mix and match – a room with too much plainness can appear too contemporary for what you’re trying to achieve and a room with too much pattern can look too outdated.