I mix vintage and modern decor all over my home—here’s how I keep it from looking dated

The right pairings make even flea market finds feel elevated.

Many people ask me how I manage to weave so many vintage and antique finds into my apartment without it looking stuffy or feeling dated, and the answer is simple—I make sure to add plenty of contemporary accents into the mix, too! I'll admit that I prefer storied spaces filled with secondhand finds, and I'm not always immediately drawn to more contemporary pieces, but any home design expert will tell you that mixing eras, at least to some degree, is essential to achieving a well-designed room.

Below, I'm sharing some of the specific ways that I've fused together old and new throughout my apartment to create a seamless look that doesn't read as old-fashioned.

Pair Vintage Lamps with Contemporary Shades

I was so thrilled when I stumbled upon this duo of ceramic lamps at my local flea market a couple of years back—these mid-century beauties add so much dimension to my living room. While they didn't come with shades included, that didn't deter me from making my purchase; oftentimes, secondhand lamps will need new shades anyway as a result of years of wear and tear.

I decided to purchase my shades from one of my favorite contemporary lighting brands, Pooky, and love how the soft blue complements the colors of the bases so well. New lampshades truly work wonders in making a space feel more fresh and full of life.

Vary Your Art

Trust me, I'm a major advocate for vintage art. After all, going the secondhand route makes it much easier to score original works that you won't spot in other people's homes, and you can come across some stunning older frames, too.

When it came to this gallery wall in my bedroom, though, I chose to display both current and vintage pieces (I wanted the wall to resemble a chic art gallery, not a museum!), while sticking to a particular color palette (black and white art paired with gold frames) for cohesion. I find that older and newer artwork can blend together seamlessly when there's a larger common thread in place.

Mix Old and New Books and Accessories

Mixing old and new is also crucial when it comes to your accessories. Here, on my living room built-ins, I've displayed stacks of new coffee table books alongside many of my collected treasures from flea markets, thrift stores, and the like.

If I paired these pieces with tattered older books, the vignette might read as a bit too formal or old-fashioned for my taste; instead, I appreciate that the colorful, crisp spines really pop next to some of my most treasured pieces.

Pair an Older Table with Modern Seating (or Vice Versa)

In my dining nook, I styled a vintage bistro table that I scored on Facebook Marketplace along with a set of mod bouclé chairs from Lulu and Georgia. I selected these because their low profile and petite size complemented the small table perfectly, but also because I want my apartment to appear cozy and welcoming, and the bouclé fabric offers that effect to a T. I want people who come over to feel like they can sit down and stay a while!

You could also pair a more sleek, modern table with beautiful vintage upholstered chairs to create a similar result, but no matter which approach you take, I think that blending old and new in a dining area is wise.