5 ways to give your home a vintage vibe

They say that trends come and go in cycles – but when it comes to quirky, vintage-inspired interiors, they never go out of style to begin with. Just ask content creator Amy Davies Pereira, who’s spent more than two decades lovingly curating a bright and beautiful home that’s packed with personality, and falls more in love with her interior design choices each day.

‘Home means the world to me – it’s my safe space, my sanctuary, my very own piece of heaven,’ she says of the Victorian terrace she shares with husband Alex, teenagers Roman and Ava, cats Missy Meow and Rocky Road, and cavapoo puppy Bea-Bea. ‘I moved here for the light that was streaming in as we entered the house – it felt like home from that moment. We also loved the period features and the magnolia tree in the garden. That was 23 years ago!’

Amy’s playful, colourful approach has helped her to design a house that feels distinctly traditional without feeling dated – a trick that’s not easy to master when it comes to going retro. Here are just some of the secrets to her success, so you can use them to add a little heritage chic to your own space too.

1. Mix and match the decades

Amy’s house is a period property, which means she inherited some highly desirable features, and she uses them in creative ways. ‘I love to mix up old and and new,’ she explains. ‘I use the picture rails to display all of my modern and vintage art, and chose a roll-top bath for our bathroom, which really sits well with the more modern style of the pink vanity unit.’ In short, don’t be afraid to use classic and modern styles alongside each other – it always leads to a cooler, more contemporary finish.

2. Get excited about colour

‘When I started my interiors journey, I was quite scared of colour, so tended to just add “pops”, like cushions and lamps,’ Amy admits. ‘Now, I’ve fully embraced it and it brings me so much joy. I’m a big believer in choosing things that make your heart sing. My favourite colours are dusky pink and baby blue – hence my azure velvet Printmaker sofas from the Cath Kidston collection at DFS.’

3. Choose big items carefully

Sizeable pieces of furniture like sofas should be your most considered purchases, and it’s important to think in terms of both style and substance. ‘A great sofa should meet your needs over time, not just in the moment,’ Amy details. ’The mid-century style of our sofas mean they’ll always be stylish. And the compact size ensures we can move them between our two sitting rooms easily if we fancy a change.’

4. Breathe new life into old pieces

‘One of my best home buys is my vintage dresser, which I bought secondhand for £15. I upcycled it and I know I will have this piece of furniture for the rest of my life,’ Amy says. Scour your local charity shops, antique markets or even the likes of eBay for hidden gems just waiting to be restored – their classic lines and your fresh updates will generate one-of-a-kind items guaranteed to earn you compliments from guests.

5. Go with what you love

‘My best decorating advice is to let your personality shine through in your interiors,’ Amy concludes. ‘I don’t follow trends, I just furnish with what I love and what’s practical for small-space living and my family. I want to be surrounded by what makes me happy.’ And if that’s not a design philosophy for the ages, we don’t know what is.

For more inspiration and advice, and to find your sofa style using the ‘What’s Your Style Thing?’ quiz, visit dfs.co.uk