Bringing the old and the new together – How to do it?

A classic style piece can work in a modern setting. Recycled or antique pieces in particular can add warmth and comfort to an apartment. Although not trendy, a classic piece can add a unique touch to a modern setting.

On the other hand, in a classic setting with a very distinct personality, the most modern furniture and decorative objects bring freshness and visually lighten the space. Dare with a fusion of styles! Remember that in the world of decoration – especially when it comes to style – there are no universal formulas: the only constant is that your home should tell you about yourself.

First stage

Before you want to throw everything away and start from scratch, take a moment to look around and think. The goal is to think now so that the end result of this mix makes sense.

Topic: Recommendations for decorating and preserving the charm of an old house

– Identify what characterizes your home. Look at the structure (ceiling height, floor condition, type of windows and doors, etc.) and take an inventory of the things you have (furniture, equipment, decorative objects…) and ask yourself what style they are in.

– What stays and what goes? If some items no longer suit you, don’t get rid of them yet: first think about whether they can be reused or repaired. If you absolutely will not use them, you can sell them or give them to someone to give them a new life. The important thing is that everything that remains in the house has value for you.

– Decide which of the two styles will be the main style and maintain it throughout the house. You can’t have a different style in every room. Whatever you do to redecorate your home, you need to apply it globally so that the end result is consistent and balanced.

But how is this accomplished?

Create a neutral foundation with the main style.

Do this with the elements that have the greatest visual weight in each room: the color of the walls and the rest of the wall coverings – such as ceramic tiles in the kitchen and bathroom, or wood flooring if you’re considering renovating – are one of those essential elements.

Help yourself with the essential pieces of furniture for each room: the sofa in the living room, the bed in the bedroom, the wardrobes in the dressing room or the bookcase in the office. These voluminous pieces are always the first to introduce when decorating a room and will determine the main style of your home due to their size and importance.

Maintain dimensions

Never lose sight of the 80-20 rule: this means that 80% of the furniture, equipment, auxiliary and decorative objects that make up your home must belong to the main style you have chosen. The remaining 20% ​​correspond to the secondary stylistic elements that, as we will see, will somehow become the protagonists of the story.

Do not add another style

At least in the beginning, it is important to play with only 2 styles at a time. Avoid buying furniture, accessories or decorative objects in other styles that may be visually appealing but may create a contrast that you do not like. Later, when the house is ready, you can add a different detail if you still feel like it.

Create a focal point to attract attention

Find the element you want to highlight from the secondary style (it belongs in the 20%, remember?) and place it in place. The only rule for it to take center stage is to give it the space it needs to breathe. This way you won’t be overshadowed by other objects and won’t get the wow! effect we’re looking for.

Remember that it doesn’t have to be a piece of furniture: maybe you live in a modernist apartment and you can hang a super striking lamp from the ceiling, or you have a very tall window that allows you to hang very eye-catching curtains. Speaking of textiles, why not a kilim rug in a living room with modern furniture?

You can also use the walls by placing an avant-garde painting in a modern living room or, conversely, by installing a classic paneling in a very modern house. At this point, anything can happen. You have created a neutral canvas on which you can express all your creativity: make the most of it!

Recycle, renew, reuse: it's sustainable and makes you feel good.

Almost anything in your home can be repaired, repurposed, and transformed into new decor. Pieces that you already own or have inherited are always valuable because they carry a story that you can tell by putting them in a room.

Not everything has to stay where it is: you can transform an old dresser into a bathroom piece, move a bench you no longer use from the dressing room to the kitchen office, or move a console table from the living room to the back of the living room to create a mini office for occasional use.

In this way, you will also develop a sustainable conscience: repairing, recycling and reusing a piece of furniture or other object will be your small contribution to a more responsible consumption in a sector where there is an overproduction of furniture and decorative objects designed to be (almost) used and thrown away. It will make you feel good, and that is the purpose of decoration more than anything else.