Shopping at antique stores can be one of the most inexpensive and effective ways to add charm and character to your house. But, like anything else, it can definitely be overdone. Some people totally have an eye for this kind of thing and can spot the perfect antique piece that will make the room complete but some people have a thing or two to learn about the art of restraint when choosing antiques for the house. There are a few main principles that I like to keep in mind while antiquing to avoid going overboard!
Less is More
This definitely isn’t the last time you’ll hear me say, “less is more” on this blog, mostly because my aunt Patti has been feeding me this line since the time I could crawl. This is one of the most important things to remember when you’re getting dressed in the morning, putting on your makeup, and especially when decorating a room. Using the same principle that I discussed in Simplicity Makes a Statement, you need to determine when the look needs a lot of accessories and details or if it’s better to keep it simple. Especially in the case with antiques, it is important to practice the art of restraint and always remember that less is more. If you are very new to antiquing, I would say to stick to a maximum of one major antique furniture piece per room. A beautiful rustic dresser or a solid wood coffee table mixed in with your other furniture will accomplish the charming look you’re after. By doing this, you ensure that your room remains modernized despite the added historic piece. As far as accessories go, you don’t have to be quite as strict with yourself. My favorite antique accessories are old, distressed books which are usually a really easy find. Try to find ones that fit your color scheme and don’t have too much cover art so that they remain versatile. Adding something like an old-fashioned camera to accessorize the shelves in your photography studio will have meaning to you but won’t appear kitschy. You want your home to feel cultured and cozy but you certainly don’t want it to feel like a museum or old country store. There is definitely a balance and finding that is key!
Diversify
When you’re trying to design a homey space, the goal is to make it look like you’ve collected all of the perfect things over the years instead of doing a one-stop-shop trip to your nearest home decor center. This way, you avoid making your house look like a carbon copy of the showroom you visited and you allow every piece to have its own story. Collecting pieces from different shops and even different eras will keep your room from feeling one-dimensional. Believe it or not, this will also extend the life of your design by making it a bit more timeless. The reason for this is that if you purchase every single item from one store in 2009, that’s exactly where the room will stay. Trends change a lot, even in interior design, so using a mixture of pieces helps the decor not to stay stuck in one decade.
Focus on Scale
I would say this is the biggest mistake people make when they shop at antique stores! Many people find miniature accessories and purposeless items and think that is going to add the character they’re looking for. Chances are, when you go to antique shops, you are looking for unique pieces that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to find anywhere else. This is the perfect way to add conversation pieces and items that really make a statement. Whenever you’re trying to make a statement in design, it is important to remember what is going to have the most impact on the overall look. Take a step back and think about what’s going to be striking when you walk in for the first time. Don’t get bogged down with little tiny accessories and trinkets that won’t do anything for the design besides make it feel cluttered. Avoid the feeling of a chaotic space by looking for things that are larger in scale and therefore more likely to shape the overall design of the room. Try to find large pieces such as furniture, artwork, or chandeliers! These are the types of things that you won’t likely be able to find in today’s modern stores and they’ll give you the most bang for your buck in terms of impact.
What are the most important lessons you have learned when it comes to shopping for antiques?
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