7 Vintage Design Trends With Staying Power, According to Pros
Instead of following the trends, embrace these vintage pieces that will never go out of style.
We’re calling it: vintage decor is huge right now. Truthfully, vintage has always been in style, but now it’s surging in popularity—and it’s all about what it represents.
“I actually don’t think people are chasing vintage itself. They’re chasing authenticity,” says Philip Thomas Vanderford, founder and principal designer of Studio Thomas James. “There’s also a growing appreciation for craftsmanship. Many vintage pieces were built with a level of quality that’s difficult to find today. They carry history, patina, and a sense of permanence that instantly gives a room depth.”
Like other interior design crazes, vintage decor has its own trends, thanks to making the rounds on social media. But instead of going down the rabbit hole, why not opt for vintage pieces that will stand the test of time, making your spaces ageless and chic for years to come?
Checkered Floors
Black-and-white checkerboard floors are making a comeback, but they’ll never leave completely—this type of flooring has been around for decades.
Calling it a “classic pattern,” interior designer Darlene Molnar says that checked floors are a “great way to incorporate a graphic element into a space that is versatile and timeless.” She recommends turning to these floors when refreshing an entryway or bathroom, and you can even go beyond black and white and play with colors for “an updated, personalized look.”
Antique Wood Furniture
“For years, dark wood antiques were pushed aside in favor of painted furniture and pale oak—that’s changing,” Vanderford says. “Rich walnut, mahogany, and oak furniture brings warmth, depth, and a sense of permanence that newer furniture often struggles to achieve. Whether it’s an English chest, a French commode, or an antique dining table, these pieces instantly make a room feel layered rather than decorated.”
Saying that antique wood furniture isn’t “defined by a decade,” Vanderford says that you can start with one exceptional wood piece in a room and then pair it with contemporary artwork, or mix a vintage wood dining table with modern chairs.
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Vintage Rugs
Molnar believes that vintage rugs are trend-proof, and “are a great way to bring a timeworn element into a space, and they can work just as well in modern interiors as they do in traditional.”
She says vintage runners in front of a vanity make almost any bathroom feel more cozy, and vintage area rugs layered over a sisal rug is a popular way to incorporate this trend, “so you get the custom effect of a large rug with sisal while being able to incorporate a smaller vintage rug.”
Handmade Textiles
Vintage items such as embroidered linens, hand-blocked fabrics, and handwoven textiles won’t be lagging in popularity anytime soon. Vanderford shares that they can perfectly “introduce texture and subtle imperfections that machine-made products simply can’t replicate.”
He advises, “Invest in one heirloom-quality rug or textile and let it anchor the room. One beautiful handmade piece often has more impact than filling a room with trendy accessories.”
Vintage Dining Chairs
Brittney Blanton of B. Blanton Design says, “Vintage dining chairs, specifically from the Regency, Greek Revival, or Georgian eras, offer a fun and unexpected opportunity to invite a piece of history into the space. We love the curved backs, ornamentation, and detailing, along with the darker woods these were typically produced from, such as mahogany, or more exotic woods in the Regency style, such as zebra wood.”
Curved Furniture
Molnar observes that curved furniture has “surged in popularity” alongside other Art Deco motifs. “This is a versatile trend that suits a variety of room styles, from old Hollywood to French country,” she says. “The key is to incorporate curved pieces among straight lines. All curved furniture in a space can be very 1960s. I think a mix of silhouettes, both curved and linear, is a great way to incorporate this trend in a timeless way.”
Original Art
Original vintage art is simply timeless, and Blanton says that she’s seeing a lot of it these days. She says that vintage art that features landscapes, animals, or still life scenes shine most brightly. Pair these classics with vintage contemporary art for interesting visual tension.
Shelby Deering is a freelance lifestyle writer who frequently covers home design and decor for national publications. She has worked as a full-time freelance writer for over a decade, and has worked in the industry for nearly 20 years, writing home tours, interviewing top designers, and beautifying her own home. She holds a master's degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and when she's not writing, you can find her at thrift stores and flea markets, running, or exploring local trails in Madison, Wisconsin, with her husband and corgi, Dolly.
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