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…
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The minimalist 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.
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.
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Vintage sideboard
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. You can purchase her fantastic work on Etsy* and be sure to check out her vintage plate designs too.
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Eclectic stripes
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) but also, the candy pink striped pillow cases. Note how the striped blazer in the framed portrait painting also ties in with the overall look. Via Nuevo Estilo
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Vintage chair 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 at Vinterior*. 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.
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Statement wardrobe
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.
The whole house was photographed by Katja for her Finnish blog Projektila. It’s full of interesting vintage pieces that have been carefully curated. I love the use of large pieces in this modestly-sized bedroom, including the crystal chandelier, especially when combined with modern graphic prints on the wall.
If the rug has sparked your imagination, you might want to read Apartment Therapy’s 10 Commandments to Buying Vintage Rugs.
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Vintage cabinet
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.
You’ll find plenty of vintage bedroom ideas for kids in the full blog post, where a vintage midcentury sideboard is mixed with modern elements such as chunky textiles, bright pinks, a gallery of black frames, a patterned Moroccan style rug and Aztec cushion.
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Vintage posters for a kids 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. I particularly liked the way she picked out the yellow accents in the vintage tiger poster. You’ll see lots more on her instagram.
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Retro vintage curtains
This room is a great example of how a vintage fabric can look super 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. The scheme also includes a vintage table from Etsy seller The Robot Parade.
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Romantic vintage lace
Vanessa of Vintage Whites proves that Minimalism isn’t all about a cold stark aesthetic. She chose a clean and decluttered look for her bedroom but creates 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).
Curtains were removed completely and the window covered with an antique lace bed coverlet for privacy – a contemporary take on the net curtain. Where total darkness is required, the look could be combined with other window treatments such as a blackout roller blind.
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Vintage picture gallery
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?
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Dark walls
There’s something about old paintings and portraits against dark walls. It immediately 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.
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Vintage 1950s shelving unit
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.
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Picture shelf
This bedroom belongs to Debi Treloar and 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 full of vintage modern style – well worth a look.
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Vintage storage trunk
Interior designer Mariska Jagt applied 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!
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Curated details
Another simple arrangement of objects that proves 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’s Beautifully Woven Wallpaper and added a few vintage accents above the bed. Photographed by Beth Kirby.
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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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