Having an older house doesn’t necessarily mean that your décor needs to be old fashioned. You can easily preserve the past and respect your property’s traditional character. Whilst still bringing out the best of its period feature using modern ideas. Follow these top 5 modern design tips and your old-fashioned house will be brought bang up to date.  

1. Table of Contents

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   Use Colour Well 

Using colour to your advantage may be more challenging when you have an older home. However if you get it right, you can achieve a unique style that’s sure to impress. One contemporary trick is to paint your trims, ceilings and walls in a single colour. This will hide all of the imperfections that are so often found in older homes. But with a glossier version of the same shade of paint on the trim, you’ll subtly attract attention to this stylish feature.  

With contemporary neutral walls, trims and ceilings, you can then highlight and showcase beautiful features such as original doors, ceiling roses and coving by painting them in a more striking colour. For example you could use dark grey, to draw the eye and create a unique feature.  

2. Dealing With Windows 

Windows can be problematic in an older home. Often placed awkwardly, or having an unusual shape that is difficult to cover with blinds. Windows in period properties can present a headache to the homeowner. However, rather than struggling to make your windows conform to the modern ideal, embrace their uniqueness. Instead work with them in a contemporary way to turn them into a feature.  

Stained glass windows are often found in older homes. Far from being old fashioned and unattractive, they can actually become a dramatic feature when paired with minimalist white walls, pale floors and light furnishings. They help bring colour and artistic creativity to your rooms. 

If you have vintage window trims, make the most of them by using modern in-window shades. These will look up to date, bring elegance and style into the room. But take nothing away from the period integrity of your home. 

If you have windows that are located in odd places which lead to your rooms looking lopsided, why not cover them with feature drapery? Modern fabric wall panels can effectively cover quirky windows. This will still allow light into the room while giving it a cleaner look. 

3. Choose the Right Furniture 

While some modern pieces look wrong in an older property, there’s no need to go all-out with vintage dark-wood pieces. Minimalist contemporary furniture in light colours with clean edges look incredibly stylish, even in the oldest room, and adopting rich textures and a soft colour palette is the key to blending old and new.  

Mixing modern and traditional is essential in some rooms where cutting-edge equipment such as TVs and computers are found. By pairing these advanced features with a few other modern items will give more cohesion to the space, as long as the colour schemes are continued throughout and the items complement each other in feel and design. 

Choosing rustic pieces made from natural materials like wood and rattan direct from a reputable supplier is a wonderful way of making your older home appear weathered yet stylish. Beautiful rattan sofas with matching tables from Rattan Direct encourage this warm, soft vibe in your living spaces.  

4. Contemporary Zoning

Open plan homes are a very modern idea, however similar concepts with regards to zoning can be applied to period homes too. Older properties which have odd room layouts may be tricky to work with, especially if the spaces are long or narrow. However by breaking up a rectangle into several square zones, you will be able to obtain greater functionality in your room just by using area rugs to visually define zones paired with furniture with open sides such as benches to bridge several adjoining seating spaces. 

5. Storing Collectibles 

One of the best things about older homes is that you are more likely to have extra space for storing your collectibles, unlike in most smaller modern properties. The biggest problem however, is that you won’t want to hide original architecture and stylish vintage features.  

Avoid this problem by using contemporary open shelving units as this will give you enough room to store all of your essential bits and pieces without having to worry about what you’re concealing from view.   

If you’re ready to furnish your period property, visit Rattan Direct and discover stylish furniture for every home.