16 vintage bedroom ideas that will inspire you to shop second hand

Vintage bedside table in a modern bedroom

I’m beginning to think, those who have an eye for styling vintage furniture are the most eco of all. Being able to see the value in something old and rejuvenate it – simply by placing it in the right setting, really is an art form. With this in mind, here are 16 inspiring vintage bedroom ideas from talented stylists, bloggers and homeowners.

No sanding, repainting or decoupaging required, sometimes a creative juxtaposition of vintage objects, colours and textures can work wonders…

Modern vintage minimalist bedroom

antique dresser in a bright modern bedroom

Avenue Design Studio is a Dutch studio run by interior designers, stylists and photographers, Holly Marder and Hedda Pier. They also have an award winning blog called Avenue Lifestyle. Pictured is Holly’s own bedroom where her and her husband’s harmonious capsule wardrobes somehow add to the covetable look.

Holly wanted somewhere that allowed her to see all the clothes she owns rather than having them all stashed away. The vintage cabinet belonged to her husband’s grandparents and provides storage for PJs, trousers, t-shirts and underwear, as well as functioning as a dressing table. The only update they made to it was a set of cognac leather handles.

Ideas for decorating the bedroom with neutrals

The picture collection above the bed combines old and new, including a lithograph of a tree and framed butterflies found at an antique market. Note the non-matching bedside tables – one being an antique find with a marble top and the other a more contemporary marble design. You can read all about this bedroom makeover here.

Vintage sideboard in a kids’ bedroom

Vintage shelving unit in kids bedroom

Nina Invorm is a talented ceramicist, illustrator and graphic designer, living in the Netherlands. Here, one of her heartwarming prints ‘You are so, so easy to love’ is displayed above a vintage sideboard, in her stylish, colourful abode.

Vintage patchwork bedspread

Eclectic vintage furnishings in the bedroom

This Barcelona home is owned by Crick King and Tommy Tang, founders of Federal Café. In the bedroom, the headboard is created with a shelf of personal mementoes. The vintage patchwork bedspread is livened up with a dash of animal print (the cat being the most stylish accessory of all of course). I love how the striped blazer in the framed portrait painting echo the candy striped pillow cases. Via Nuevo Estilo.

Vintage chair bedside table

Vintage chair as a bedside table

For a chic, laid back feel, swap your bedside table for a sculptural and elegant vintage chair. This chair is the iconic 209 design by Gebrüder Thonet – you can buy similar on Etsy*. The pink Hide blanket is by designer Nienke Hoogvliet – whose work explores sustainable textiles, and is made of mohair, linen, cotton and silk – available to purchase from her website.

Statement vintage wardrobe

Vintage wardrobe in the bedroom

I think probably every child dreams of owning a Narnia wardrobe, preferably one that leads to a wintery wood full of fauns, talking beavers and Turkish delight. Back in the real world, an armoire such as this one can still add magic to the bedroom.

Katja photographed this house for her Finnish blog Projektila, capturing a space full of carefully curated vintage pieces. Large furnishings, including the crystal chandelier make a bold statement in this modestly-sized bedroom and contrast with the modern graphic prints on the wall.

If the rug has sparked your imagination, check out Apartment Therapy’s 10 Commandments to Buying Vintage Rugs.

Vintage cabinet

Blue vintage cabinet in a kids bedroom

I found this project on the blog and homeware store Lottie is Loving. This beautifully styled girl’s bedroom is the work of Emily, co-founder of Singapore-based boutique Cuckoo Little Lifestyle. Check out more lovely modern vintage bedroom ideas in the full blog post.

Vintage posters for a kids bedroom

Vintage poster in a childrens bedroom

Johanna Karlsson is a mum of three living in Småland, Sweden. Passionate about recycling, she’s created many beautiful spaces for her kids, using vintage finds. Here, she picks out the yellow accents in the vintage tiger poster with furniture paint. See lots more of her home on her instagram.

Retro vintage curtains

Bedroom makeover with vintage curtains

This room is a great example of how a vintage fabric can look ultra contemporary. This guest room makeover is by San Francisco interiors blogger Sfgirlbybay and takes inspiration from old Hollywood. The floral curtains are vintage barkcloth drapery panels sourced from US Etsy seller Travelstitch, while the vintage table came from Etsy shop The Robot Parade.

Romantic vintage lace

Carved dark wood headboard in a white bedroom

Vanessa of  Vintage Whites proves that Minimalism isn’t all about a cold stark aesthetic. Chosing a clean and decluttered look for her bedroom, she achieves a soft romantic feel with vintage furniture, a wooden carved headboard and lace textiles. I love her use of a vintage lace tablecloth to cover the box-spring. Walls, trim and floors are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Regal Select paint in Glacier White (colour #OC-37).

Ideas for decorating the bedroom with vintage lace

Curtains were removed completely and the window covered with an antique lace bed coverlet for privacy. Where total darkness is required, the look could be combined with other window treatments such as a blackout roller blind.

Gallery wall of vintage pictures

Vintage bedroom ideas with thrifted paintings

Claire Brody is an interior designer in Austin, Texas, who created this shared kids bedroom for a client. Claire chose colours that felt ‘soft and gender neutral, but not boring’.

The gallery of thrifted pictures, some of which were bought from a shop called Room Service, is designed to make the space feel ‘collected and bit imperfect’. Colours in the pictures tie in with colour scheme, but also stray from it, creating the collected feel. And how great is that vintage rattan bench? 

Dark walls

Bedroom decorating with thrifted pictures and dark walls

There’s something about old paintings and portraits against dark walls that creates a sense of drama and grandeur in a room. A touch of velvet seems also to be part of the winning formulae. This room was styled by The Descendants for Incy Interiors.

Vintage 1950s shelving unit

Midcentury dresser in a kids room

Some great vintage bedroom ideas can be found in the home of Jenny Bäckström who runs the Swedish vintage homeware shop Your Daily Deco. This vintage shelving unit was picked up at a flea market and offers plenty of space to store toys and books in a kids bedroom. Adorned with fairy lights and complemented by the soft greens and pinks, it makes a great statement piece.

Picture shelf

Ideas for decorating with vintage frames and pictures in the bedroom

This bedroom belongs to Debi Treloar who mixes thrifted frames and pictures in different sizes to create a feature shelf. I love how the floral and botanical images are brought to life with floral light fittings and fairy lights in contrasting metallics. The bedroom was photographed by London photographer and stylist Carole Poirot who also has an inspirational portfolio and a great eye for vintage modern style.

Vintage storage trunk

Vintage trunks in kids bedroom

Here, interior designer Mariska Jagt mixes old and new, applying her vintage bedroom ideas to a new build property. The whole house follows a chic monochrome aesthetic, but features vintage finds throughout, such as these vintage trunks. The room has a cool, industrial feel, perfect for a teenage boy. Let’s hope he can keep it that tidy!

Curated details

Bedroom shelf styled with vintage finds

Another simple arrangement of objects that prove less is definitely more. This bedroom design forms part of a home renovation of a Revolutionary War home in the Hudson Valley (check out the whole house on Remodelista). Jersey Ice Cream Co are an interior design team headed up by Tara Mangini and Percy Bright. For this room they picked Farrow and Ball wallpaper* and added a few vintage accents above the bed. Photographed by Beth Kirby.

If you enjoyed these modern vintage bedroom ideas, you might also want to check out 10 of the best vintage home decor on Etsy. Until next time, sweet dreams…

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Author: Antonia Edwards

Antonia is the founding editor of Upcyclist. Based in the UK, she is the author of two books: 'Upcyclist: Reclaimed and Remade Furniture, Lighting and Interiors' (Prestel 2015) and 'Renovate Innovate: Reclaimed and Upcycled Homes' (Prestel 2017).