How to capture an old-meets-new interior style in your home

Knowing how to achieve the perfect balance between old and new in interior design is a skill in itself, but with the correct styling choices and an understanding of what makes each style so unique, you can create a stunning aesthetic within your own home. Combining classic period features with contemporary design is a look that many homeowners aim to achieve, as not only does it look classy, but the warm and welcoming atmosphere really helps to turn a house into a home. 

General tips throughout the home: Classic styles meet modern efficiency

When updating the home to unlock an old-meets-new style, it’s important to get the essentials under control. This will create consistency throughout the home and provide a solid framework to work from when decorating other rooms. 

Several items feature in every – or at least most – rooms of the home. Heating units from Radiator Village help you unlock improved efficiency and a more complete aesthetic in the home. Better still, there are plenty of rustic and old-style designs available. Yet, they are manufactured with superior materials and function without compromising on style.

Luxury furniture made from sustainable materials like wood and stone are great options. As well as a timeless appeal, they fit the agenda for greener living. You can additionally use veneer walls if looking for a modern twist that saves money. Meanwhile, classic window designs supported by thicker glass should set a far better tone.

With those features in place, it’s time to look at specific rooms.

The living room: Cosy, comfortable and chic

When you think of a traditional old interior style, you instantly think of a warm, cosy environment that makes you feel right at home. Similarly, when people think of contemporary interiors, it’s often more of a fresh, vibrant feel that combines modern furniture pieces with bright colours, so you want to combine the two to really create a sitting room that’s comfortable and warm yet contemporary.

Make the most of traditional materials such as stone and wood, often utilised through the flooring within the living areas, then compliment these with chic metal finishes through an iconic log burner, grand mirrors and other essential fittings. 18mm Engineered Oak Flooring replicates the quality and durability of hardwood; however, owing to its manufacturing process, it incorporates up to three layers of timber with a durable top-surface veneer. It gives the perfect classic timeless hardwood look and feel to a house while being more practical and bespoke.

Modern, minimalist furniture, a feature gallery wall or a chic rug are also ways to add a touch of contemporary amongst the classic backdrop. Or, you can add a themed or abstract wallpaper to bring the contrast to life – Photowall have a fabulous collection of designer wallpapers, wall murals, canvas prints and posters.

Alternately, if your living room flooring and overall feel is minimalist and modern, there’s nothing like a good old fireplace to add the quintessential classic warmth to the space.

The kitchen: The heart of the home

In the kitchen, often considered the heart of the home, you can really capture an old meets new feel with a contrast in furniture choices and materials. For those lucky enough to introduce alcoves to the space, you can really give an iconic old country-style feel, adding depth to the space without taking away from the overall style. Using materials such as brick and rich wood combined with a fresh colour palette of whites and creams will marry the old-meets- new idea perfectly, giving the right balance.

You can also really bring the kitchen to life with some key hardware choices, as choosing the right finish and metal can really enhance that contemporary feel which will complement your traditional choices beautifully. Take a look at Glotech Kitchens for more ideas and inspiration.

Add a conservatory or orangery…

A conservatory/ orangery adds much to a home – besides space, it lends it character and is the perfect room to blend the old-meets-new interior style.

You could either go with a sleek modern flooring and neutral shades of paint, then decorate with classic pieces of furniture or vice-versa – give the background an ‘old’ look with stone or tile flooring and update the overall look with the décor.

The bedroom: Intimate and personal

Your bedroom should be the one space in the home that you can escape to and relax in, and with the right interior style you’ll be able to do just that. Capturing an old-meets-new aesthetic within the bedroom can be quite an easy achievement, as the moment you add crisp linen sheets with some bold scatter cushions, you’re already on your way. Think about the different materials that make up the bedroom, from glamorous silk curtains to luxury duvet covers, and combine both traditional and contemporary styles.

Similarly, you can work with timeless oak furniture pieces and inject a modern twist through eye-catching light fixtures, contemporary paintings and so on.

The bathroom: Modern design with classic fittings

With a little planning, creativity and shopping around, you can even create a blend of classic and contemporary aesthetic in your bathroom as well.

Choose a contemporary design with modern bathroom units (for instance a wall-hung washbasin or vanity unit) and add a brass or metal free-standing bathtub, or copper/ brass finish taps and handles to give the classic ‘old’ look to your bathroom.