Mixing Old and New: How to Use Antiques in Modern Interiors
Mixing old and new is the secret sauce to a home that feels layered, intentional, and yours. Antiques don’t have to be stiff or stuffy—they can slide right into your modern interior and instantly make it feel more soulful. Here are seven effortless (and very chic) ways to work antiques into your everyday life.
1. Take Your Vitamins in Style
Those amber or colored glass jars you see at antique shops? They’re perfect for storing daily vitamins and supplements. Instead of a clunky plastic bottle, you get a little vintage moment on your vanity or kitchen counter. Suddenly your morning routine feels luxe instead of clinical.
2. Upgrade Your Bath Storage
Crystal glasses and cut-glass dishes aren’t just for special occasions. Use them to hold Q-tips, cotton rounds, or makeup brushes. They sparkle on a bathroom shelf and make even the most boring essentials feel indulgent.
3. Antique Trays, Everywhere
Trays are the unsung heroes of good styling. Use an antique silver tray on your coffee table to corral remotes, a mirrored tray on your nightstand for skincare, or a brass tray in the kitchen for snacks. They make everything feel pulled together instead of messy.
4. Trinket Dishes for Every Room
I’m always misplacing rings, earrings, or hair ties—so I stash tiny antique dishes around the house. One by the sink, one on the dresser, one by the front door. It’s the easiest way to add charm and keep your jewelry from disappearing into the abyss.
5. Beautiful Bowls as Catch-Alls
Keys, sunglasses, mail—it all needs a landing zone. Instead of a plastic bin, drop it in a vintage glass bowl or milk glass dish. Suddenly your entryway clutter looks like part of the design.
6. Stack Antique Books as Decor Risers
Books aren’t just for reading—they’re styling gold. Stack antique books under a lamp, candle, or vase to give your decor some height and dimension. Mixing old spines with new hardcovers keeps it from looking too themed.
7. Silverware That Works Overtime
Those tarnished silver water pitchers? Gorgeous as vases filled with branches or greenery. Tiny silver creamers? Perfect for strike-anywhere matches on a coffee table. Repurposing silver makes your home feel collected, not cookie-cutter.
✨ Pro Tip: Start small. You don’t need to overhaul your house with antiques—just peppering them in gives your modern home warmth and character.