Have you always dreamed of living in a charming cottage filled with antique items and décor elements, spending your days drinking tea out of vintage cups? If yes, then check out this little guide on how to achieve that nostalgic atmosphere in your home.

Be bold

The first thing you need to realize when decorating with vintage finds is that you must forget all about traditional ideas of home décor. Vintage is so much more than just a piece of décor you can buy at IKEA. It’s unusual, unique, and unexpected. If you want to unleash its potential, you need to start thinking outside the box. It might be hard at first, but after a while, you’ll start to see beyond the conventional use of stuff and imagine new roles and purposes for them.

Search for your perfect pieces

You can start browsing flea markets and antique stores, but one great place to check out is your parents’ or grandparents’ home. Look around their houses and ask if they have some goodies you can borrow or buy from them. You’ll probably find plenty of beautiful vintage pieces that are both gorgeous and meaningful.

Don’t try to hide their past

When choosing vintage décor pieces, you have to embrace all of their flaws, cracks, irregularities and damage. It’s their past and character that make them special. If anything, try to emphasize their history and charm and not hide it.

The color palette

If you want your vintage finds to be the center of attention, it’s best if you provide a neutral backdrop for them, so that their unique shapes, colors and textures are able to stand out. If you have a home with an open floor plan, you can paint an accent wall that will serve almost as a frame for displaying your prized possessions.

Give old books a new life

One super easy and cheap way to introduce vintage décor into your home is by using old books. Their worn covers, thick yellow pages and that beautiful smell make them the perfect vintage decoration. You can put them on your coffee table, wrap them in twine or burlap or stack them on your shelves.

Signs, signs, signs

Vintage signs are great decorating pieces and they add charm and character to every space, whether it’s the living room, bedroom, kitchen or bathroom. Their beautiful graphics and history make them unique pieces of art, only much more affordable than the stuff you can find in galleries.

Spice up your lighting

Lighting is a very important element of every space, and if used right, can be a great piece of décor. For instance, sconces and other wall-mounted fixtures are super attractive but often neglected lighting options that have a great vintage feel to them. Also, oil lamps have that Victorian quality and they simply look amazing. Additionally, antique chandeliers with drippy crystal shards add so much drama, sparkle and charm to every space. Although they are usually used in hallways and dining rooms, they look amazing wherever you put them. Another great lighting idea could be vintage ceiling fans. They don’t cost a lot of money and a ceiling fan installation is quite easy if you call the right electrician.

Know where to draw the line

Decorating with vintage décor doesn’t mean you have to put everything that’s old and faded into your home. You have to learn the difference between what a valuable vintage piece is and what’s junk. It’s definitely a subjective feeling, but unless you have boundaries, your home will turn into an antique store.

Feel free to try these tips when decorating your home. Remember to be bold and unique and you’ll manage to create the home of your dreams.