These 23 Vintage Furniture Swaps Give Every Room an Easy Refresh This Fall

Designers are consistent proponents of going vintage. “If everything in a room is new, it can feel less like a curated environment and more like a showroom,” explains AD100 designer Josh Greene. Incorporating vintage furniture pieces can reinvigorate any space, and it’s often as easy as a simple swap for a contemporary counterpart. Room by room, AD100 designers share the vintage swaps they would make to create an inviting, layered, and fresh-faced fall home.Bedroom“The bedroom is where a single vintage piece can do the heaviest lifting,” says AD100 designer Corey Damen Jenkins, who has a 19-century Federal-style bull's-eye mirror on display above the bed in his own New York City apartment. Photo: Andrew FraszRethink your standard bedside setup with the addition of vintage nightstands, “a great way to add charm and collected character into a bedroom,” says designer Young Huh. Look for pieces with excellent form, even if they could use refinishing. Hand-painted Greek key detailing refreshes the vintage nightstands in Huh’s primary bedroom in New York’s Hudson Valley. “We had more tolerance with imperfections in the finish, knowing it would be painted by a decorative painter,” she says.Vintage furniture can also help guide the mood of the sleep space. “If you’re going for a more casual vibe, look at painted options,” says designer Mandy Cheng. “If you want an added level of refinement or sophistication, look for rich wood stains or lacquered finishes.” Preloved furniture made from natural materials has a soothing effect. “Vintage seating, particularly in wood or rattan, is an easy way to soften a room and add a sense of history,” says designer Sara Story. “We look for strong silhouettes and quality joinery; upholstery can always be refreshed, but the bones need to be right.”Smaller decorative items amp up that storied touch. “Look to vintage mirrors, lamps, and small case pieces as your entry points,” says designer Corey Damen Jenkins. “These are the kinds of finds that reward patience at flea markets and estate sales, and they bring a layer of soul to the most personal room in the house.” Adds Cheng, “Consider a vintage vessel with a plant for a unique juxtaposition of materials.”Living RoomIn a more public space in the home like the living room, vintage furnishings can help tell a personal story. After all, “there's nothing really to talk about in a room where everything is brand new,” Jenkins says. “Antiquity and vintage pieces add layers of provenance, soul, and character that simply cannot be manufactured.”For a Korean-American client’s New York living room overlooking Central Park, Jessica Helgerson’s design scheme included an heirloom Korean cabinet. With ornate brass work and patinated wood, the piece “adds history and depth to an otherwise modern room,” says the designer. Jenkins also seeks out vintage seating with its original upholstery. It can be a chic way to tap into the current revival of old-world trimmings. “My top swap for the living room this fall is a vintage upholstered chair or sofa,” he says. “Look for pieces with original passementerie or nailhead detailing intact, which signals genuine craftsmanship.”Because the living room is meant for day-to-night gathering, a substantial lighting scheme is essential. Going vintage adds a bit of (welcome) drama. “Lighting is one of the most effective vintage swaps,” Story says. “It creates an atmosphere and often feels more distinctive than contemporary options.” Greene agrees. “A period chandelier or a groovy pair of old lamps will feel so much more special and unique than new production,” he says.KitchenTo embrace vintage in the kitchen, look beyond the basics. “Instead of thinking of storage with the go-to upper and lower built-in cabinetry, break down your space to allow vintage cabinets, side tables, and plate racks to do the work instead,” says designer Neal Beckstedt. “Add some decorative plates, folk sculpture, and art to the room as well to give your kitchen just as much style as your living room.”Designer Leonora Hamill also sources vintage art to decorate cooking spaces. In her kitchen in London, she has “a witty little framed poster of an Italian sponge cake complete with beautiful old glass, which I sourced at a Milan flea market.” A wall of vintage plates can create a chic, personalized focal point, while vintage glassware elevates the everyday. The latter “is always so pretty, especially in an open storage cabinet,” Hamill says.Dining RoomThere’s no right or wrong style in the dining room, says designer Jeremiah Brent. “For me, it’s a space that offers the widest range of creativity.” But, whether you take the “opportunity to go monastic or deeply layered,” vintage seating can assist.“The dining room rewards boldness, and nothing delivers it more authentically than a piece with real history behind it,” adds Jenkins. “A set of antique chairs with good bones can instantly shift the entire mood of a room.” But, don’t hesitate to recover pieces in need of a modern makeover. “Reupholstering a vintage frame in an unexpected fabric is one of the most satisfying moves in design,” Jenkins says. “You preserve the history of the piece while making it entirely your own.”Traditional furniture looks right at home in any dining room, notes designer Mark D. Sikes. “I love adding English wood cabinets and dining tables," he says. "The idea is to evoke feelings of nostalgia and timelessness.”BathroomSourcing salvaged, vintage bathroom fixtures, as AD100 designer Neal Beckstedt did in his Sag Harbor home, can be transformational, especially in a more overlooked room of the house. Photo: Stephen Kent JohnsonRather than opting for a sleek, minimalist bathroom, infuse it with historic charm. “Start by selecting vintage tubs and sinks instead of new—they instantly deliver more patina and soul,” Beckstedt says. “Use a vintage mirror instead of a medicine cabinet and utilize other areas in the bath for your necessary storage.” He recommends procuring such pieces at a local salvage company, if possible.Once you’ve covered the fixtures, don’t forget about whimsical accessories that add function. “I often source small woven baskets in flea markets in Provence [France] and at antique fairs in England; they are perfect for cotton balls and swabs,” says Hamill. “Old pharmacy jars, preferably with an original painted label in Latin can add another layer of visual interest to the space.”Love vintage, too? AD’s own Maddie O’Malley curated her favorite picks on eBay here.