19 cheap ways to add retro charm to your home

Sentimental steals for the home

Not everything in your home needs to be brand new. By introducing reclaimed and vintage furniture into the mix, you can create a unique and eclectic scheme that tells a stylish story. It can even save you money, too!

From retro-patterned bedspreads and statement lighting, to antique bathtubs and characterful knick-knacks, check out these original vintage homewares that add instant charm and don't cost the earth.

Click or scroll to peruse yesteryear's furnishings...

Vintage tea sets

Probably one of the easiest old homewares to find, vintage tea sets have dainty designs and affordable prices. And the beauty of this kind of delicate Victorian china is that the more you mix and match them in your display cupboard, the better they look.

Sought-after and high-quality brands to look out for are Royal Doulton, Limoges, and Wedgewood.

Eiderdown and bedspreads

Bedspreads and comforters filled with soft, light, and insulating eiderdown feathers were extremely popular before central heating became mainstream.

Their high-quality and handmade nature means they were often passed from generation to generation. Delicate fabrics and pretty stitching, like this vintage floral and geometric printed quilt, make them an asset to any country-style bedroom scheme.

Pick them up from your local charity shop or antique market. Make sure to wash them thoroughly before use, however, avoid harsh cleaning products and hot machine cycles.

Bathtubs

Roll-top baths are the epitome of bathroom luxury, so what better way to create the washroom of your dreams than with a stand-alone original cast iron tub?

Whether you want to embrace the aged look or have it restored and repainted in an on-trend hue, a vintage roll-top bathtub will create a stunning focal point full of character.

Vintage storage crates

Vintage wooden crates and boxes can look beautiful when repurposed. They are incredibly versatile and make many rustic storage solutions, such as for fruit and vegetables in the kitchen, shoes in the hallway, or they make interesting planters in the greenhouse.

Look out for ones that have been treated and still have various degrees of original print that adds to their historical character. Alternativley, add a coat of matt clear varnish to help them to last longer, especially outside.

Rotary dial telephones

If you don't have the budget for large pieces of vintage furniture, look out for ways to accessorise your home with smaller statement items. A rotary dial telephone not only looks the part, but if it's been lovingly restored, it'll be in full working order, too.

With text messages and email being such a big part of our lives, it could be a welcome digital detox if all you want to make are calls.

Dressing tables

Wooden furniture can look stunning when polished or repainted and arranged with accessories from a similar era.

This decorative dressing table in the 18th-century Elizabethan manor house, Canons Ashby, has been well maintained. Featuring a removable mirror, it's a beautifully restored piece. Find similar at your local antique store and have fun arranging all your toiletries and beauty products.

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Retro technology

With technology moving so fast, you don't need to go back too far in time to find audio systems that are now obsolete.

From an antique wartime wireless to a funky 1960s HMV radiogram, a vintage music system that has been restored can become a treasured possession that looks as impressive as it sounds.

Some reproduction models have even been upgraded to enable Bluetooth or connect to your Spotify account, and they're relatively affordable.

Mantelpiece treasures

Learn the true art of display with vintage homewares. Tie objects together from across various eras. You could try gathering items from a hobby, like these vintage cameras and books, or go with a colour theme.

There really are no rules with this one, which means you can set your budget, too.

Antique beds

An antique bed will make a luxurious vintage focal point in a bedroom scheme, and many modern frames made to look antique are more than affordable if you want to get the look for less.

Before you buy an antique, though, be sure it is suitable for sleeping; it will probably have had a new base. This Louis XVI-style wooden frame has been upgraded with a lick of paint to bring it up-to-date in a pared-back bedroom.

Antique sofas

A good-quality antique sofa will look better with age and will instantly give your living room a historical character. Look for reupholstery ideas that will preserve its authenticity while incorporating the piece into modern-day living.

This item may not be the cheapest, but local auction houses may throw up a few surprises, and it's an excellent investment piece.

This striking Chesterfield-esque sofa is upholstered in a rich leather and would look amazing in almost any home... but the golden retriever is sold separately.

Vintage rugs

Vintage rugs are probably one of the cheapest ways you can add vintage charm to your home.

As they have lasted this long, they are probably made with materials that are meant to stand the test of time and can be cleaned over and over. Look for those made in Turkey and Morocco, countries renowned for rug making. Alternatviely try Etsy or eBay for steals.

Art Deco trolleys

Drinks trolleys have made an on-trend comeback of late, and so what could be better than a genuine article that looks as though it has been rolled straight from one of Gatsby's cocktail parties?

Look out for opulent and curvy styles that have an Art Deco vibe, and don't be afraid to use them in different ways. These two are living life as bedside tables.

Statement chairs

If you need a statement seat for your living space, vintage is the way to go. This is an Eero Aarnio bubble chair, but wood-framed occasional chairs are iconic to the mid-century era and look striking as a stand-alone feature or as a pair.

G Plan or Ercol are other classic brands to hunt for, but you'll pay more for the designer status.

Graphic signage

Signage taken from commercial properties of the past makes intriguing artwork for walls and sideboards; the more weathered, the better.

Typographic pieces that pay homage to particular rooms in your house work especially well. This 'hours of business' sign on a bedside table is a lighthearted play on work vs rest and looks great coupled with some vintage shoe trees.

Pendant lighting

Pendant lights make striking focal points when hung over kitchen islands and dining tables. Give your scheme an industrial look with antique enamel versions that started life in mid-century factories.

A vibrant colour choice will add a touch of fun and pick out other kitchen accessories of the same shade. Keep a lookout at car boot sales and antiques stores for bargains.

Wooden sideboards

Ercol is an iconic British furniture brand that was started in 1920 by Italian designer Lucian R Ercolani. The pioneering furniture had a particular boom in the 1950s and 1960s.

Its ethos was to create quality, affordable furniture that could be collected slowly for the home, and so its pieces remain practical and stylish, even now.

A classic sideboard like this one is a classy way to store bits and pieces in its drawers, or, of course, on top for a display.

Vintage art and posters

Add character to your walls with a display of vintage artwork. Create a truly eclectic gallery by mixing and matching art, posters, and photographs in vintage frames or use wooden dowels in a roll-down map style. Vintage fairs are also a great place to find old maps, postcards, and magazines, which are perfect for sourcing illustrated advertisements.

Statement floor lamps

A large-scale floor lamp will add stylish task lighting and turn your living room into an effortlessly stylish space. Look out for brands such as Arco for 1960s chic. This beautiful teak floor lamp from the 1970s has a minimalist form, which would appeal to fans of Danish design.

Retro wallpaper

Wallpaper is a striking way to add a decorative vintage pattern to a room. From floral William Morris Arts and Crafts blooms to bolder geometric retro prints, there is an era to suit all tastes and schemes.

Genuine vintage wallpaper can be hard to come by, but many manufacturers now base designs on historical archives, so you'll have plenty of choice without the heft of a vintage price tag.

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