While most furniture pieces that are crafted with care will last for many years, they may begin to look outdated. There are many reasons to upgrade old furniture, including to fit your home design, modernize a piece passed down to you from a family member, or resell for a higher price. Updating parts of the furniture piece can make it look more modern without changing the integrity of the piece. From new hardware to updated paint colors, there are many ways to transform your old furniture.

If you want to update your furniture, here are some ways to tackle your first upcycling project. Changing up your current furniture pieces can be a great passion project and new skill to save our world from further waste. Especially if you have quality built furniture, upgrading old furniture is a worthwhile project.

Upgrade The Hardware

One of the easiest ways to upgrade an old piece of furniture is to change out the hardware. Upgrading to a more modern shape or style, or painting the existing hardware, is an easy way to make a piece more modern with minimal work. The hardware on your furniture goes through a lot of wear, so it will often be the first thing needing replacement. Updating hardware can not only improve the functionality of the piece but also its overall aesthetic. Brushed-metal handles or simple design handle pulls are best for a modern hardware upgrade. 

Restain Or Repaint

Another common way to change up the style of your furniture is to re-stain or re-paint the piece. Painting and staining are most often done on wood furniture, but other materials can be painted to fit your home’s color scheme. Especially for older pieces, stripping away peeling paint and applying a new coat is a great way to upgrade old furniture, giving it new life.

Many people may be scared to paint a furniture piece in an unnatural color, but some pieces can really shine with a bright color. Especially for non-wooden furniture, painting in a bold color can make a great conversation starter or focal point for the room. 

Convert An Infrequently Used Piece Into Something More Usable

Some furniture pieces are used less than others, especially if you live alone or don’t have many personal items. Unused pieces like chairs or an armoire can be used as extra wood or converted into something more useful for your home. Instead of buying a new piece, reusing and redesigning a furniture piece will reduce waste, preventing it from ending up in a landfill.

Some conversion options include:

• Convert a cabinet into a bar
• A dresser into a sink vanity
• Use an old door as a coffee-table top
• Large table into a kitchen island
• Make an ottoman into a low table

Add Upholstery

Another common way to change up your furniture is to change out the upholstery. Changing up the fabric on couches, chairs, or barstools is a great way to show your personality or have all your upholstery match throughout the home. Before reupholstering a furniture piece, make sure you choose a fabric that is durable and able to withstand daily wear. Changing upholstery is a more labor-intensive process, requiring measurements, reinforcing the frame, and stretching the fabric for a tight fit.

Keep The Furniture’s Original Character

Even if you want to give your furniture new life, it is important to keep to the character of the original piece. Older furniture pieces carry a lot of character, which should be maintained when updating parts of the piece. Even if you change the coloring or purpose of a furniture piece, you can keep parts of its original character through carvings, color undertones, or hardware. If you want your piece to be unique, keep part of the original furniture while adding modern elements.

Quality Pieces From Sugar House Furniture

Sugar House Furniture offers mission-style furniture that is crafted out of solid wood. Our team wants you to find pieces that are able to be passed down for generations. Sugar House Furniture is a family-owned and operated company that has been providing office, bedroom, and living room furniture since 1985. Whether you are looking for a new bedroom set, durable desk, or home accessories, we have hundreds of pieces to fit your home design. Look through our catalog of tables, barstools, cabinets, nightstands, beds, bookcases, and bathroom vanities to find a piece that speaks to you.

While more homeowners are adopting a modern home design, there are some ways you can mix a modern layout with vintage decor or vice versa. No matter your taste, mixing modern and vintage decor is possible and can look completely intentional. Balancing a home starts with finding pieces and a color scheme that you love, not just what is popular in home design magazines. 

If you want to mix pieces from different times inside your home design, you don’t need to hire an interior designer. You can decorate your home like a professional, with a few tips that will be covered in this blog. We will look at some large pieces to start with, while also covering what you should avoid if you want to achieve balance.

Use Minimalist Pieces As Anchor Points

The first step in blending modern and vintage pieces is to start with a good foundation. Modern anchor pieces can help set your home up for success because they often have clean lines and a sleek look. No busy patterns, minimal colors, and minimalist designs are often words used to describe modern pieces. Using these as the base of your home design can help other pieces to stand out and blend well together. Mixing too many patterns and textures may cause your home to feel overwhelming.

Modern And Neutral Couches

One anchor piece that can help create balance with your vintage decor is a neutral sofa. Solid color couches can set the tone for a living room or sitting room and make it easier to pair bold accents. Cream, brown, or white couches can be paired with a variety of other colors and patterns easily, making it easy to pair a vintage pillow, rug, or lamp without fear of clashing.

Wood Coffee Table

Another common anchor piece with a minimalist design is a wood coffee table. Thick wood with minimal grain is a versatile piece that you can dress up with smaller accents, books, and ceramics. If a wood coffee table is not your style, a glass top coffee table with minimal legs can also provide a solid base to let your vintage pieces shine.

Add Character With Small Vintage Pieces

Once you have a solid foundation, you can layer in items with more personality and vintage flair. Vintage pieces create contrast and warmth in your home, so combining them with your modern anchor pieces makes your home unique. Bold finishes, unique shapes, and vintage colors can layer well with your modern pieces. Timeworn charm that comes from vintage pieces could get overwhelming when you don’t find a minimal anchor piece. Below are some pieces you can use to mix modern and vintage decor.

Mid-Century Accent Chairs

If you have chosen a modern table, you can choose more vintage chairs to create some contrast. Accent chairs with a vintage pattern can be a great contrast to a solid colored couch. Not only should you find an antique or accent chair that adds character to your home, but also comfortable ones. Chairs can be functional and comfortable to make a living room more inviting.

Vintage Frames And Mirrors

One of the best ways to include vintage decor in your home is through frames, mirrors, and accessories. Vintage finds like candlestick holders, accent bowls, large mirrors, and art are easy ways to incorporate some vintage flair without going overboard. Gold and ornate frames or wooden-lined mirrors can be layered on top of a modern table or fireplace mantel. 

Skip Matching Sets

One of the easiest ways to ensure that your mix of modern and vintage furniture looks intentional is to avoid matching sets with a few vintage pieces thrown in. Getting a matching couch and chair set or coffee table and end table set will often look too perfect. Pair your clean and modern sofa with a mix of textured pillows and chairs, or choose different metal finishes across the home.

Focus On Contrast

The biggest thing to remember when purchasing furniture and mixing and matching is to create contrast. Too much of one thing, color, or texture can feel overwhelming. If you are mixing and matching, you want it to feel intentional, creating rhythm and visual balance. 

Another way to add contrast is to mix different shapes and edge styles. Use a curvy armchair and have a sharp modern coffee table. Use a structured and ornate frame and place a clock or fake plant nearby. Visual balance is key when mixing modern and vintage decor.

Give Your Home Character By Mixing Modern And Vintage Pieces

Sugar House Furniture loves to see homeowners mixing eclectic pieces with modern touches in their home. Our mission-style furniture is a sturdy wood option that will last you for many years and bring a sense of warmth into the home. From living room pieces to quality bedroom sets, Sugar House Furniture has something that will fit your personal style. Visit our store to see products in person or shop online to see specs and details about each piece from the comfort of your home.