From the Victorian to Art Deco and everything in between, the history of house design is filled with charming examples of home architecture. Old-fashioned homes have a certain appeal that cannot be replicated in modern builds, but you don’t have to live in an old house to get that cosy, vintage feel. 

From eclectic wallpaper and throwback appliances to subtle lighting and vintage accents, you can add a touch of vintage charm to any home no matter how new it is. There are plenty of ways to incorporate vintage touches into your home without looking like you just stepped out of a horror film. 

Here are 11 delightful ideas for bringing the charm back into your home with vintage touches.

1. An old clock or two

Old clocks are not just for banks and living rooms where they’re expected. They also look great in any bedroom, kitchen, or even on a coffee table. They don’t have to be fancy either. This cheap bit of decor can instantly add a sense of charm to your home, especially if you choose one with an antique design. They’re also great conversation pieces and can liven up a room that might otherwise be a bit boring. 

If you want a way to liven up a boring room, an old clock is a great way to do it. If you want a good antique clock, check out antique stores, rummage sales, and flea markets. You can also buy vintage clocks on sites like eBay. Vintage clocks are often affordable and make great decorative pieces that are sure to be a conversation starter in any room.

2. Go for an Art Deco touch

If you want to add a bit of vintage charm to your home, go for an Art Deco touch. This style flourished in the 1930s and 1940s, and you’ll see it in buildings, furniture, and even architecture and design. This is a great way to add vintage charm to your home without making it look as if you’ve stepped out of a horror film. 

If your home is a bit modern, or if you have a modern aesthetic, but still want a vintage touch, Art Deco is a great place to look. This style leans towards geometric designs and silver accents, both of which are elements of vintage charm. 

If you want to add an Art Deco touch to your home, the first thing to do is look at the architecture of your home. If it has a modern design, Art Deco might not be the best fit. If it has an older design, though, you can add vintage charm by incorporating geometric designs, silver accents, and geometric patterns into your home.

3. Decorate with throwback artwork and patterns

If you want a vintage touch in your home, there’s no better way to do it than with patterned throwback artwork. Vintage artwork is often printed on different types of paper and has a certain aesthetic that can’t be replicated in modern artwork. 

If you’re aiming for a vintage style in your home, throwback artwork is a great place to start. You can find vintage prints almost anywhere. If you want to visit a vintage store, there are plenty out there. You can also find vintage prints online and in speciality vintage stores, like Etsy. 

If you want to go with modern artwork, though, that’s fine. You don’t have to go for throwback if you don’t want to. You can still add a vintage charm to your home without going for throwback artwork.

4. Bring in shabby chic furniture

If you want to add vintage charm to your home, there’s no better way to do it than with shabby chic furniture. Shabby chic furniture is furniture that’s been distressed and has a vintage look that’s perfect for adding vintage charm to any home. 

You can find shabby chic furniture almost anywhere these days, but if you want to go for a vintage touch, you might want to check out vintage stores and antique stores. If you want brand new furniture, though, don’t worry. You can easily find shabby chic furniture that’s been newly designed. 

If you want to add vintage charm to your home, shabby chic furniture is one of the best ways to do it. It’s not just retro, it’s charming and cosy. If you want to add vintage charm to your home, shabby chic furniture is a great place to start.

5. Add brass appliances & fixtures

If you want to add vintage charm to your home, you can’t go wrong with vintage-style kitchen appliances and fixtures. This can apply to just about anything in the kitchen, from your appliances to your countertops, and even to your cabinets. If you have the budget for it, you can even go for vintage-style cabinets. 

If you want to add vintage charm to your kitchen, one of the best places to start is with appliances. If you have the budget for it, you can go for vintage-style appliances. You can also go for retro-style appliances if you don’t want to go all the way with vintage appliances. It’s up to you. If you want to go with retro appliances, you can find them just about anywhere. You can even find retro-style appliances online.

6. Install sconces and lanterns

Sconces and lanterns are great vintage accents that can give your home a retro charm. If you want to add vintage charm to your home, sconces and lanterns are a great place to start. They’re very inexpensive and can be used just about anywhere in your home. 

You can find sconces almost anywhere, from hardware stores to furniture stores. Lanterns are rare, but they’re still out there. If you want to go with vintage sconces or lanterns, you can easily find them in vintage stores or online. You can also find retro-style sconces and lanterns at many big-box stores.

7. Bring in a few throwback pieces

If you want to add vintage charm to your home, but you don’t want to go all in, then it’s best to bring in a few throwback pieces. If you want to add vintage charm to your home, you can’t go wrong with a few vintage-style pieces. Pick a few pieces and incorporate them into your home. 

If you have a particular theme in mind, you can even pick vintage-style pieces that fit with your theme. If you want to add vintage charm to your home, the best thing to do is to bring in a few vintage-style pieces. There are plenty of vintage pieces out there and you can find something to fit just about any aesthetic.

8. Add a chandelier or a ceiling lamp to your dining room

If you are looking for ways to add vintage charm to your home, you can also choose to add a chandelier or a ceiling lamp to your dining room. Such elements are perfect for creating an old-school charm in your home. You can also go for a combination of vintage and modern elements in your home to create a balanced vintage look.

9.  Add a rug to your home

If you want to add vintage charm to your home, you can also go for a rug. A rug is an ideal way to add vintage charm to your home without spending much money. You can choose to pick a rug with a floral or geometrical pattern that goes well with your existing decor.

10. Repurposed furniture

Whether you’ve re-painted or re-stitched an old piece or repurposed an antique, repurposed furniture can add some vintage touches to your home without having to buy an entirely new collection. You can find pieces at thrift shops, antique stores, or even on eBay and other online marketplaces. 

Whatever pieces you choose, make sure they have a place in your home before you commit to re-working them. An old side table can be great for a guest room or hallway, but an old armoire will take up most of your living room.

11. Bring in natural light

Old houses don’t have the best lighting and new builds can sometimes feel like they’re underground. Natural light can be wonderful while you’re outside but less ideal when you want to read a book indoors. 

You can add a vintage touch to any home with the help of curtains and windows. If you want to bring the charm of the outdoors in, you can use sheer curtains to let in lots of light without sacrificing privacy or total darkness in the room. You can also use this method to add a vintage feel to your home. Draperies with vintage prints or retro colours can help you achieve that vintage look along with shutters, wooden blinds, and stained glass. If you want to keep your privacy intact while also letting in lots of light, you can use blackout curtains to block out light while maintaining a private space.

Final thoughts

The charm of an old-fashioned home can be difficult to find in new builds. With these vintage house decor ideas, though, you can add a retro charm to any home without having to buy an old house or completely renovate it. 

There are plenty of ways you can incorporate vintage touches into your home without re-building or using tacky kitschy decorations. Whether you add repurposed furniture, bring in natural light, or install vintage wallpaper, you can add charm to your home with vintage touches.