Vintage vs. Retro, what is the difference and decorative ideas

Vintage living room

Many people confuse these two terms. We are clear that these are things that evoke the past, but they are not synonymous, but each one has a meaning, so today we are going to clarify what we are talking about when we talk about vintage vs. vintage, because they are different things and we must take it into account to decorate with them.

Furthermore, they both encompassed in different trends, although of course you can mix objects that are vintage and others that are retro without any problem. If you like the fashion of objects that remind you of past decades and you want that nostalgic touch at home, you should not miss these two trends that are sometimes confused.

What is vintage?

Vintage Bar

We must keep what vintage is the real thing. That is to say, they are things that are not yet antiques, but that already have a certain tradition. Those things that have been manufactured before the 90s and that have the style of their time. Consoles from the eighties, dresses from the seventies, a piece of furniture from the sixties. All of this was manufactured decades ago in a style that has gone out of style, but which today has regained value and interest as something vintage, something from another era that gives an old-fashioned and original touch to any space.

Vintage is not only used in clothing, but also in decoration. If we want a vintage decor what we have to do is collect things from yesteryear. A grandmother's wooden furniture with that old style, a bookcase from the 70s. Normally these vintage objects need a review to update them a bit, since they are pieces from decades ago that have been damaged a little. In any case, we can restore them ourselves by watching tutorials or asking an expert to do it. So now you know, look in the storage room for those things from decades ago that can be a vintage trend again.

What is retro?

Retro living room

The retro trend, however, refers to those objects that are created today but that imitate other decades and past styles. The famous Smeg refrigerators for example are retro, because they imitate the appliances of the 50s but are totally current. We can find tables in the 50s style with that original modernism, or pieces that imitate mythical things, such as old cameras. There are a thousand ideas in this regard in today's decoration stores. You do not have to go to second-hand stores, since that would be vintage, but go through the stores where they create retro objects and get carried away by those ideas that are current but have collected inspiration in past decades.

We decorate with a vintage trend

People like the vintage trend more and more, but we have many ways to use it. On the one hand we can decorate a room with totally vintage pieces, with old wrought iron beds, restored wooden furniture and old pieces that we have recovered. On the other hand, we can simply give a vintage touch to a more modern environment. The mixtures are undoubtedly what triumphs the most, because we run the risk that the space seems too old-fashioned or even boring, so we can give it a more modern touch with some modern furniture, a bookcase or current lamps.

We decorate with a retro trend

Retro kitchen

The retro trend is much easier to pull off. Without a doubt, it is difficult to find authentic objects from different eras that are in good condition or have to restore them, but in the case of the retro trend it is simple because there are many stores where these types of objects are sold that evoke past trends. Furniture retro 50's style, appliances with that retro air like Smeg refrigerators and in general everything that imitates another era but is manufactured today. In general, you can easily decorate a room in a retro style and it will look great, we should not even resort to mixing, although retro objects can be added in modern and current spaces easily.

Styles that combine with retro and vintage

There are many styles that seem specially made to add retro or vintage touches. The industrial style It mimics the era of the industrial revolution, restored lofts and anything else that is inspired by the industry, so this is a retro style in itself and can accommodate a lot of retro things and even be combined with an old vintage furniture that has been restored. The Nordic style also uses vintage pieces on many occasions to give a more endearing and less designer touch to everything, working mainly with wooden pieces. As for the more classic style, there will always be room for vintage pieces from other times.


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