How to Mix Scandi and Vintage
Top tips from Guest Curator and blogger Katy Orme from Apartment Apothecary.
Image: Apartment Apothecary
Katy Orme's blog, Apartment Apothecary showcases her love of mixing white, bright Scandi furniture with vintage pieces—as well as easy and budget-friendly ideas for updating your home. Here, she gives us some tips on how to mix Scandi and vintage in any home...
Image: Apartment Apothecary
Tip One—Use Colour to Unify the Look:
One of the easiest ways to combine modern Scandi design and vintage pieces is through colour. Pick out feature shades like soft blues, pinks, greens and greys, which are typically Scandinavian, and find vintage pieces to match. This can create a seamless blend between different eras and unify a mismatch of objects or décor, as it will allow the eye to flow around the room without anything sticking out like a sore thumb. You can also paint old pieces of furniture to make them fit the look.
Tip Two—Keep Your Backdrop Simple:
The most important thing to achieve a Scandi look is to keep your backdrop light and bright, including your walls, floors and textiles such as window coverings and bed linen. This simple base is the perfect setting for interesting vintage pieces, which can add some contrast and character. Try to avoid too many modern patterns or prints as you need to allow the vintage pieces to shine, otherwise you will be at risk of confusing the look.
Image: Apartment Apothecary
Tip 3—Add Natural Textures and Plants:
Scandinavian interiors typically use a lot of natural textures like jute, earthenware, wood, wicker and green plants to break up all of the white and to bring a space to life. To incorporate vintage finds successfully, try to think of them as one of these textures that you are adding to the simple backdrop that you have created. You could use antique wood, tattered fabric, rustic pots, patterned china or rusty enamelware—all of these will add the texture needed to create some contrast against the pale walls and floors.
