These are the vintage pieces that might actually be dating your home
While it’s always important to honor your tastes and fill your home with meaningful decor, if you’re a fan of vintage, it’s worth knowing that not all pieces elevate a space; some preloved gems can date the home (and I don’t mean in a good way).
Many of us rely on decorating with vintage to bring character, depth, and that all-important sense of patina. While I like to think that with some clever styling and a keen eye, almost any vintage piece can be given a trendy status, some second-hand styles can make a home feel a little tired and dated.
1. Media consoles
(Image credit: Neptune)
Admittedly, I wasn’t surprised when I heard that rather retro media consoles are vintage pieces that can date the home. A 1990s interior design trend, there was a point in time when every house was decked out with one. However, these days they’re more like time vessels than examples of timeless furniture.
Thrifting expert Rachel Leonard Kennedy says, ‘Avoid using pieces that were originally for items we no longer use (like large stereo systems or deep cabinets that were made to hold boxy style TVs) as bookcases or coffee tables because they can make your space look dated really fast.’
She adds, ‘The upside is that these solid and glass consoles are typically easy to find and cheap. However, they feel dated because their dimensions were created for tech that no longer exists. To fix an outdated-looking media console, paint it a trending color like black, tomato red, or sage green and use it as a display cabinet for your collection of shoes and handbags instead of as a modern TV stand or bookshelf.’
2. Tuscan style furniture
(Image credit: Benjamin Moore)
A style that you’re unlikely to see featured in this year’s furniture trends, Tuscan style pieces feel a little overdone and pastiche, reminiscent of interiors from the 1980s and 1990s.
Interior designer, Rebecca Hughes explains, ‘Vintage elements can bring character and charm, but certain pieces, especially from the ’80s and ’90s, can unintentionally date a space if not balanced with more current design cues. Overly ornate Tuscan-style furniture, faux-distressed finishes, and heavy cherry wood cabinetry are examples that can make a home feel stuck in the past.’
Vintage home blogger at Dabbling & Decorating, Ann Couser Kittredge, agrees. ‘Heavy dark wood finishes, wrought iron scrollwork, and faux-aged pottery had their moment, but that moment was 20 years ago. These pieces can still be beautiful in the right setting, but used all together, they tend to pull a space backward rather than giving it a fresh or timeless feel.’
That doesn’t mean all your Tuscan-style decor needs to go in the trash. Fundamental to transitional design, Rebecca advises mixing the old and new. ‘The key is not to eliminate vintage entirely, but to curate it. Pairing older pieces with clean lines, updated color palettes, and modern textures helps preserve their story while keeping the home feeling fresh and intentional.’
3. Floral soft furnishings
(Image credit: TROVE by Studio Duggan)
You can’t beat a timeless, heritage print. Whether it’s a classical stripe or a disty floral, these charming patterns have been used in interiors for years and are unlikely to date the home. However, loud floral soft furnishings have a tendency to dominate and make a home feel a little kitsch.
Don’t get me wrong, decorating with vintage fabrics is usually a good idea, but you might want to avoid the jacquard florals that featured in our grandmother’s homes. Rachel says, ‘Even though cottage core and grandmillennial aesthetics are trending, having too many floral prints in one space can take the room from trendy to tired and dated really fast.’
She adds, ‘Embody the “less is more” mindset when choosing vintage pieces that are suddenly trending like floral print couches, curtains, rugs, or pillows. Choose a simple color palette like white and yellow, or cream and blue, to make sure the cozy prints don’t become suffocating and end up making your home look dated.’
You can’t beat a delicate floral print. This Toile de Jouy-inspired pillow is classically elegant and will give a sofa or armchair a heritage feel without straying into the dated.
Painterly Stripe Linen Pillow
by Sarah Sherman Samuel
When florals fail, stripes succeed. Unlike outdated and unflattering bold florals, this bold yet timeless striped pillow will provide a dose of charm that’s unlikely to date.
Malyn Indoor/Outdoor Pillow
This heritage pillow is the perfect choice to elevate your outdoor dining set-up or your indoor armchair. It’s a sophisticated design that combines two classic prints, florals and stripes. The result is an elegant pillow that exudes rustic charm.
4. Too many collections
(Image credit: Future)
From shelves of collectible china to cases of rare books, displaying collections is a classic way of decorating the home. There are many ways to make clutter look beautiful, but showcasing too many collections can make a space feel overwhelmed and dated.
Sarah Pickard, founder of Dallas-based interior design firm Pickard Design Studio, says, ‘Vintage pieces that may be dating your home are too many collections. While collections that are carefully curated and mixed well with other design elements can work, anything in excess can make your home feel dated.’
Thrifting vintage glassware is always a good idea, says Sarah. However, other collections might not be quite as chic. ‘For example, a collection of vintage cut glass can be beautiful, whereas a collection of dolls or cups can look old-fashioned.’
5. Matching furniture sets
(Image credit: Future)
There are furniture styles that can increase the value of your home, and others that do quite the opposite. While some matching sets can work, schemes that are decked out in pieces made from the same material and style can feel a little cookie-cutter and lacking in sophistication. Furniture sets are often associated with the latter end of the 20th century, meaning they can give homes of today a dated feel.
Lauren Winsor, founder of House of Winsor Interiors, says, ‘A full dining room or bedroom set, for example, is something that I would stay away from. Instead, try grandma’s table with some updated chairs as a fresh way to breathe life into the table without creating a room that feels like a flashback in time. Similarly, in the bedroom, if you’re using an old dresser, pair it with a new headboard or new side tables.’
6. Vintage wicker furniture
To some, retro wicker furniture is highly prized and collectible, reminiscent of 1980s interior design trends. However, vintage wicker furniture can feel a little incongruous and isn’t always the easiest to style, dating the home rather than elevating it.
‘I love wicker, it’s one of my favorite elements to decorate with, but the oversized, orangey-brown sets that were popular a few decades ago can feel tired today,’ explains Ann. ‘Think wide-armed chairs with thick braided edges and overly lacquered finishes. They tend to weigh down a space rather than add charm.’
If you have wicker pieces, don’t be too quick to throw them out, though, as a quick DIY can entirely reimagine a tired chair or table. Ann explains, ‘That said, with a fresh coat of paint and a new cushion, even these pieces can be brought back to life.’
Pineapple Rattan Side Chair in Natural Brown
Not all wicker furniture is a no-go. This chic rattan side chair is the perfect addition to a dining room or home office, providing texture and that all-important characterful touch.
Bamboo Cordless LED Table Lamp
With a bamboo stem and woven shade, this charming lamp draws upon vintage styles. It exudes elegance, and it can be moved from one surface to another.
Alford Brown Woven Rattan Centerpiece Bowl 16.5″
This vintage-inspired bowl is classic in shape and is the perfect way to honor the heritage style without going down the dated route.
While vintage pieces are perfect for bringing history and heritage into the home, not all of them are guaranteed to elevate a space. Bear in mind these outdated styles when shopping at the thrift store or flea market, as they could make your home feel a little behind the times. Although whenever shopping second-hand hand my main rule is if it speaks to you, chances are it’s going to work in your home and add character, so take all advice with a small pinch of salt.
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