Today's home design is all about incorporating personal elements. And one way that designers are seeing many homeowners personalize their space is with antique furniture. While these pieces are often beautiful, they can require some specialized care. We tapped designers for their vintage furniture tips than can help your antique pieces stay in good shape.
In some ways, vintage furniture can actually be more durable than modern pieces. "They have been around since before central heat and air were invented and many have survived being shipped from other countries," explains Debbie Mathews LeRoy, owner and principal designer of Debbie Mathews Antiques & Designs. "So they are often sturdier than pieces made today!"
That being said, you'll still need to be mindful when it comes to maintaining antique furniture. Things like moisture, sun exposure, and harsh cleaning products can damage a piece, and repairing it may be costly or even impossible. Choosing the right piece for your space and understanding how it needs to be maintained will go a long way. When in doubt, ask an antique specialist for tips on cleaning things like upholstery or wood.
Here's everything to know about choosing, arranging, and protecting vintage furniture so it lasts a long time.
Mind Moisture
Water might be the ultimate ingredient to clean most things, Mathews LeRoy says to use it sparingly on your antique furniture. "It's extremely harmful to wood and can cause it to warp or change the finish," Mathews LeRoy explains. "Even a glass of water can leave a discolored ring." If you must wipe up a dirt or debris, do so with a slightly damp rag.
Choose Cleaners Carefully
Conventional cleaning sprays and wipes might be suitable for your newer pieces, but when it comes to your antiques? Not so fast. "It's always best to stay away from chemicals or products that you would pick up at the grocery store," says Will Hunt Lewis, owner of Hunt & Bloom. "To maintain the shine of a piece, simply waxing it a couple of times a year with a natural, high-quality wax will do wonders for finish and shine."
Lewis polishes his pieces with Paste Wax by Christopher Pourny, while Mathews Le Roy reaches for The Original Bee's Wax Polish.
Stay Away from the Sunshine
We love a sun-drenched room as much as the next design lover, but the same can't be said about your antiques. "You want to be careful about placing antiques in a window where there is lots of direct sunlight, as this can lead to discoloration or fading, and also dries out the piece," Mathews LeRoy explains. "I often find that an antique chest that is cracked on one side has usually lived near a window."
Same goes for heat and humidity. "Fluctuations in temperature and humidity can cause irreversible effects on wood, including mold and mildew," Lewis says. Instead, store your time-honored wares in a climate-controlled space that's cool and dry. "I know it's tempting to just throw the pieces in the garage, but if it's not climate-controlled, don't do it," he notes.
Take the Utmost Care of Upholstery
According to Lewis, upholstery is far trickier to care for than wood. "Many fabrics used generations ago do not have the composition or new technologies modern fabrics do, which cause them to last much longer," he explains. "Often, pieces are recovered since the original upholstery becomes torn, worn, or just too tattered." If you do happen to find older upholstery in good shape, tender, loving care is a non-negotiable. "
"It is incredibly important that you take great care to make sure any sort of compromising event that could damage the fabric is avoided," Lewis explains. "This includes eating and drinking, smoking, or reading something with transferable ink such as a newspaper."
Keep an Eye Out for Insects
Vintage furniture can hold up for decades—even centuries!—so how do you know if a piece is past its prime? "One of the biggest red flags is when you see what looks like piles of fine sawdust near a wooden antique piece," Mathews LeRoy says. "This is a telltale sign that your piece is infested with powderpost beetles." In fact, she says that seeing bugs in the vicinity of your wares should be alarming.
The solution? "You must immediately remove this piece from your home to prevent these flying insects from feeding on another piece of wooden furniture," Mathews LeRoy recommends. "Additionally, call a professional exterminator to get rid of the beetles and prevent them from spreading."
Reach for Rustic Wares
Starting your vintage collection from scratch? When in doubt, opt for a patinated piece. "Start out with a rustic piece of furniture where the finish is not perfect and the scratches and blemishes only add to the character," Mathews LeRoy explains. "Certain types of wood, like oak and mahogany, are heartier and more dense, making them sturdier." Bonus points: If your purchase already has scratches and discoloration, there'll be less pressure to keep it in tip-top shape. "Perfectly imperfect," she adds.
Kelsey Mulvey is a freelance journalist who has over a decade of experience in print and digital media. She covers interior design and lifestyle content for a breadth of publications, including Good Housekeeping, Country Living, House Beautiful, Veranda, and more. Her hobbies include themed spinning classes, Netflix, and nachos.
