Never been a fan of the most contemporary design trends? Let's turn your living room into a tasteful time machine that matches your definition of vintage.
Retro vibes, a shabby chic twist, inspiration from the 60s or perhaps even the roaring twenties: there are so many different ways to add a vintage touch to your living room.
To help you embrace the right vintage nuance for your own preferences, our interior design experts have scouted for a large variety of examples and tips that you can experiment with.
From small nostalgic accents to a living room that will make your guests wonder if they've accidentally traveled back in time, here's what your vintage vision could look like.
1. Start with a mid-century modern sofa
With it being the core element of your seating area, opting for a mid-century twist for your sofa is an excellent way to introduce a strong vintage vibe in your living room.
The most important part is a horizontal feel, so focus on a long design with a slightly lower back height.
Other iconic mid-century modern elements are slanted wooden legs, warm-colored fabric upholstery, or brown leather.
2. Add a Persian rug…

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Living room with a vintage rug

Living room with a vintage rug

Living room with a vintage rug

Living room with a vintage rug

Living room with a vintage rug

Living room with a vintage rug

Living room with a vintage rug
Persian rugs are both timeless and full of nostalgic vibes, so they can be the perfect addition to your vintage living room.
Choose a decorative design full of ornate patterns and harmonious lines, but don’t forget to take your palette into consideration to keep it consistent.
An aged or faded effect wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
3. … or make a retro rug the star of the show

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Black and white geometric rug

Black and white geometric rug

Black and white geometric rug

Black and white geometric rug

Black and white geometric rug

Black and white geometric rug

Black and white geometric rug

Black and white geometric rug
Bold geometric patterns were extremely popular with different 20th-century interior styles, and especially in mid-century modern homes from the 50s and 60s or with trends from the 70s, too.
From recognizable shapes to more creative geometric patterns, these rugs can really tie your living room decor together while showcasing your retro inspiration.
How about one that creates a bold contrast like with this black and white design?
4. Use geometric shapes as accents, too

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Sofa with cushions including geometric patterns

Sofa with cushions including geometric patterns

Sofa with cushions including geometric patterns

Sofa with cushions including geometric patterns

Sofa with cushions including geometric patterns

Sofa with cushions including geometric patterns

Sofa with cushions including geometric patterns
Geometric shapes and patterns were so popular with retro interiors that it’d be a shame to only introduce them through a rug!
Think of smaller but noticeable accent items too, such as cushions, artwork, vases, or lamps.
For the best results and to avoid an overwhelming feel, introduce them against a monochrome background.
5. Include a vintage mirror frame

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Vintage living room with shabby chic elements

Vintage living room with shabby chic elements

Vintage living room with shabby chic elements

Vintage living room with shabby chic elements

Vintage living room with shabby chic elements

Vintage living room with shabby chic elements

Vintage living room with shabby chic elements

Vintage living room with shabby chic elements
An extremely ornate mirror frame will instantly showcase your vintage inspiration, so don’t be afraid to go big!
As for styles, we especially recommend decorative designs in a golden or silver hue. Oval shapes are especially popular with vintage living rooms, but you can also experiment with more creative ones like this stunning example.
And, if you’re really obsessed with these frames, choose similar ones for your pictures, too.
6. Include a modern console table or cabinet

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Mid-century modern living room corner

Mid-century modern living room corner

Mid-century modern living room corner

Mid-century modern living room corner

Mid-century modern living room corner

Mid-century modern living room corner

Mid-century modern living room corner

Mid-century modern living room corner
For a stronger mid-century modern vibe, don’t forget to include a console table that embodies this vintage style’s iconic features.
For example, a horizontal feel can be achieved both by choosing long but short designs and by including drawers in the same style. Consider warmer or darker wood finishes, a combination of wood and glass, thin or slanted legs, and an asymmetrical mix of open and closed storage.
7. Consider an apothecary chest

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Vintage living room with an apothecary chest

Vintage living room with an apothecary chest

Vintage living room with an apothecary chest

Vintage living room with an apothecary chest

Vintage living room with an apothecary chest

Vintage living room with an apothecary chest

Vintage living room with an apothecary chest
This is a vintage living room idea that can convey more of a nostalgic and antique feel rather than a modern retro vibe.
With their range of small drawers, these pieces are the opposite of the clean lines and minimalist elements that characterize contemporary furniture, so display them proudly.
You can add to their intrinsic vintage feel by opting for a wooden model with a distressed finish.
8. Include eye-catching chairs

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Modern living room chairs

Modern living room chairs

Modern living room chairs

Modern living room chairs

Modern living room chairs

Modern living room chairs

Modern living room chairs

Modern living room chairs
Rather than the bulkiest armchairs with an attention-grabbing backrest, choosing smaller chairs is a wiser idea in vintage living rooms where space isn’t a luxury: they’ll help you inspire an airier feel instead of getting in the way of your visual flow.
An instantly recognizable modern design includes the combination of a wooden frame with clean lines and some leather upholstery.
9. Use the right mixture of painted walls and wallpaper

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Nostalgic vintage living room section

Nostalgic vintage living room section

Nostalgic vintage living room section

Nostalgic vintage living room section

Nostalgic vintage living room section

Nostalgic vintage living room section

Nostalgic vintage living room section
If, when thinking of vintage living rooms, you instantly picture the most decorative wallpaper, go on and cover your main walls with it!
Worried that it’s gonna feel too overwhelming?
Here’s a practical compromise: stick to white or monochrome walls in most of your living room but use wallpaper on an accent wall or a separate section, like in this delightful example.
10. Create a warm vintage palette

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Living room with warm colors and wood

Living room with warm colors and wood

Living room with warm colors and wood

Living room with warm colors and wood

Living room with warm colors and wood

Living room with warm colors and wood

Living room with warm colors and wood

Living room with warm colors and wood
This isn’t to say that cold hues can’t work in vintage living rooms.
However, warm colors like yellow, ochre, orange, beige, and brown are especially tactical when it comes to inspiring a nostalgic retro vibe.
Plus, they’ll work divinely with the wooden finishes of your vintage or modern furniture.
11. Include dark wood finishes

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Living room with white walls and dark wood

Living room with white walls and dark wood

Living room with white walls and dark wood

Living room with white walls and dark wood

Living room with white walls and dark wood

Living room with white walls and dark wood

Living room with white walls and dark wood

Living room with white walls and dark wood
While lighter options make more sense in contemporary homes, dark wood finishes were definitely more popular in modern and vintage living rooms.
They’ll easily help you maintain a nostalgic feel that blends coziness and sophistication.
However, dark wood finishes can also make a small room feel even more cramped, so we mainly recommend them in large or, at least, particularly bright settings.
12. Create some contrast against dark walls

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Vintage living room with navy walls

Vintage living room with navy walls

Vintage living room with navy walls

Vintage living room with navy walls

Vintage living room with navy walls

Vintage living room with navy walls

Vintage living room with navy walls

Vintage living room with navy walls
If you’d rather opt for darker walls in a strong saturated hue, decorate them wisely with lighter-colored items or some on the opposite side of the wheel.
That way, you’ll create a visually interesting contrast while avoiding a heavy feel.
See how well it works for this living room with a hay-style mirror, bright yellow lamp, and salmon sofa against a navy wall?
13. Sit around a corner sofa

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Vintage living room with a corner sofa

Vintage living room with a corner sofa

Vintage living room with a corner sofa

Vintage living room with a corner sofa

Vintage living room with a corner sofa

Vintage living room with a corner sofa

Vintage living room with a corner sofa
If the layout of your living room allows it, the introduction of a corner sofa could help you further emphasize the warmth behind your cozy nostalgic inspiration, allowing your household and guests to gather together.
The most logical ways to position a corner sofa are along two perpendicular walls or, in larger settings, the middle of the room to separate your seating area from the rest of the living room.
14. Blend a neutral base and colorful accents

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Vintage sofa with bright cushions

Vintage sofa with bright cushions

Vintage sofa with bright cushions

Vintage sofa with bright cushions

Vintage sofa with bright cushions

Vintage sofa with bright cushions

Vintage sofa with bright cushions

Vintage sofa with bright cushions
A beautiful, balanced idea for your vintage living room palette is to choose light neutral colors for larger items, such as a beige or light gray sofa.
Then, help them pop by introducing smaller accents in attention-grabbing hues, like these fuchsia and green cushions.
15. Make a bold statement with a large artwork

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Retro room with an artwork above the fireplace

Retro room with an artwork above the fireplace

Retro room with an artwork above the fireplace

Retro room with an artwork above the fireplace

Retro room with an artwork above the fireplace

Retro room with an artwork above the fireplace

Retro room with an artwork above the fireplace

Retro room with an artwork above the fireplace
Whether that’s your largest wall or the spot above your fireplace or console cabinet, decorating the main focal point in your living room could help you reinforce its vintage vibes.
For example, you could introduce a large print consisting of a design with geometric shapes or a charming, nostalgic painting.
16. Brighten it up with some vintage lighting fixtures

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White living room with colorful furniture

White living room with colorful furniture

White living room with colorful furniture

White living room with colorful furniture

White living room with colorful furniture

White living room with colorful furniture

White living room with colorful furniture

White living room with colorful furniture
There are so many different vintage lamps you can experiment with depending on what decades you’re drawing inspiration from.
For example, scout for Tiffany lamps for an art nouveau or art deco vibe, simple geometric shapes for mid-century modern twists, or bold patterns and plastic designs for a 70s touch.
Overall, empire lamp shades never fail to convey a more generic vintage feel.
17. Try a vintage living room with a shabby chic twist…

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Vintage shabby chic living room

Vintage shabby chic living room

Vintage shabby chic living room

Vintage shabby chic living room

Vintage shabby chic living room

Vintage shabby chic living room

Vintage shabby chic living room
With vintage vibes being a core element of shabby chic interiors, why not embrace the rest of this style, too?
We especially recommend it if you love feminine and highly decorative interiors.
Start with a palette including an abundance of white, light pastel colors, and pink, fuchsia, or red accents. Choose furniture and items with an aged feel, harmonious lines, and heavily ornate elements.
18. … a colorful boho take…

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Vintage room with boho elements

Vintage room with boho elements

Vintage room with boho elements

Vintage room with boho elements

Vintage room with boho elements

Vintage room with boho elements

Vintage room with boho elements
70s interiors in particular were characterized by heavily saturated elements and sections.
The same bold color choices are found in bohemian interiors too, so you could blend the two to create your own take on boho vintage living rooms.
Think patterns, natural wood finishes, and some more iconic boho elements such as rattan furniture and eclectic decorative items.
19. … or a Hollywood regency room!

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Bold and opulent Hollywood regency living room

Bold and opulent Hollywood regency living room

Bold and opulent Hollywood regency living room

Bold and opulent Hollywood regency living room

Bold and opulent Hollywood regency living room

Bold and opulent Hollywood regency living room

Bold and opulent Hollywood regency living room

Bold and opulent Hollywood regency living room
Does your idea of vintage living rooms stem from the opulent homes of movie stars and directors from Hollywood’s golden age?
Then impress your guest with interiors where each piece looks as if it were one of a kind, and don’t hold yourself back when pairing up contrasting colors.
Other iconic Hollywood regency choices are animal prints, different textures, and glam, golden, glass, mirrored, or lacquered surfaces and accents.
20. Make your vintage living room more eclectic

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Vintage living room with different styles

Vintage living room with different styles

Vintage living room with different styles

Vintage living room with different styles

Vintage living room with different styles
If you’re not a fan of perfect symmetries and cohesive results, you might want to consider drawing inspiration from different decades rather than fully embracing a specific vintage style.
For example, get creative by including eye-catching elements that, as well as different time periods, look as if they had been found in quirky shops or markets in other parts of the world.
21. Keep it cozy

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Vintage living room with wooden furniture

Vintage living room with wooden furniture

Vintage living room with wooden furniture

Vintage living room with wooden furniture

Vintage living room with wooden furniture

Vintage living room with wooden furniture

Vintage living room with wooden furniture
While specific styles and influences make all the difference, at the end of the day your living room is still the place to gather with your family and friends: so, don’t sacrifice coziness in favor of decor.
Consider sticking to wooden furniture, a warm palette, and tactile textures that inspire comfort (for example, woolen blankets and fluffy pillows).
22. Include some Danish modern elements

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Vintage living room with Danish chairs

Vintage living room with Danish chairs

Vintage living room with Danish chairs

Vintage living room with Danish chairs

Vintage living room with Danish chairs

Vintage living room with Danish chairs

Vintage living room with Danish chairs

Vintage living room with Danish chairs
Here’s a creative take on vintage living rooms that brings style and coziness to the next level: some Scandinavian inspiration.
Danish modern design, in particular, offers the most possibilities since it boomed between the 40s and 60s.
As well as chairs with pure but creative lines, choose lighter wood finishes for more of a Scandinavian influence and warmer or darker ones to focus on the mid-century modern side of things.
23. Blend glass and wood

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Vintage living room with bold colors

Vintage living room with bold colors

Vintage living room with bold colors

Vintage living room with bold colors

Vintage living room with bold colors

Vintage living room with bold colors

Vintage living room with bold colors

Vintage living room with bold colors
Furniture that includes both wood and glass elements is another staple of retro interiors (mid-century modern and 70s homes in particular!).
Your coffee table is a central spot to experiment with this combination of materials, but you can find it in other pieces of furniture too, such as console tables and storage cabinets.
24. Gather around the fireplace

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Vintage living room with a fireplace

Vintage living room with a fireplace

Vintage living room with a fireplace

Vintage living room with a fireplace

Vintage living room with a fireplace

Vintage living room with a fireplace
A cozy fireplace would certainly help reinforce the warmth and familiarity of vintage interiors.
If your living room includes one, position your retro furniture so that you can all gather around it, and use the mantelpiece to display a carefully crafted selection of items that add to your palette and vintage style.
25. Consider an antique kind of vintage living room decor

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Antique vintage livi

Antique vintage livi

Antique vintage livi

Antique vintage livi

Antique vintage livi

Antique vintage livi
Perhaps your idea of vintage goes further back than 70s glam and mid-century modern homes?
Then prioritize much darker furniture and wooden accents for an antique feel.
Heavily ornate pieces (for example, including cabriole legs or wood carvings) and sophisticated accents (like pendulum clocks) are the kind of elements you’re after. Curio cabinets are also a must with this type of vintage decor.
26. Showcase your attention to detail

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White vintage living room

White vintage living room

White vintage living room

White vintage living room

White vintage living room

White vintage living room

White vintage living room

White vintage living room
You don’t necessarily need to go overboard with your vintage living room! If you’d rather opt for a more subtle nod to this decorative style, channel it through smaller items and elements.
For example, this living room involves a fairly traditional decor style, but it’s made nostalgic through more ornate elements like the column-style layout of the fireplace, cupboard doors with recessed panels, and thoughtfully placed decorative items on the shelves.
27. Make the most of your coffee table

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Vintage living room coffee table

Vintage living room coffee table

Vintage living room coffee table

Vintage living room coffee table

Vintage living room coffee table

Vintage living room coffee table

Vintage living room coffee table

Vintage living room coffee table
Glass and wooden designs, ornate legs, aged finishes, retro pastel colors, mid-century modern legs… There are lots of different coffee table designs that you can consider for your vintage living rooms!
Because it’s right in the middle of your seating area, though, it’s the items you place on it that’ll make all the difference: be sure to include some retro or nostalgic ones, from old book editions to ceramic souvenirs.
28. Include some starburst designs

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Vintage living room with a starburst mirror

Vintage living room with a starburst mirror

Vintage living room with a starburst mirror

Vintage living room with a starburst mirror

Vintage living room with a starburst mirror

Vintage living room with a starburst mirror

Vintage living room with a starburst mirror

Vintage living room with a starburst mirror
It’d be hard not to find any of these shapes in 50s and 60s homes!
The iconic starburst design is an immediate giveaway of your vintage inspiration, and you can use it through one or more of these strategic elements: mirrors, picture frames, overhead lights, clocks, and smaller decorative items on shelves.
29. Relax on some leather upholstery

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Vintage living room with leather seats

Vintage living room with leather seats

Vintage living room with leather seats

Vintage living room with leather seats

Vintage living room with leather seats

Vintage living room with leather seats
Leather furniture is sophisticated and timeless, but there are certain designs and colors that were particularly popular over the past decades.
For instance, consider brown and tan leather, tufting or channeling, long horizontal shapes, wooden legs, or instantly recognizable sofa designs like the chesterfield.
30. Include a showstopping floor lamp

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Vintage living room with a 70s floor lamp

Vintage living room with a 70s floor lamp

Vintage living room with a 70s floor lamp

Vintage living room with a 70s floor lamp

Vintage living room with a 70s floor lamp

Vintage living room with a 70s floor lamp

Vintage living room with a 70s floor lamp

Vintage living room with a 70s floor lamp
As well as a vintage table lamp and a starburst overhead light, you could impress everyone with a bold floor lamp that’s both functional and decorative.
Colorful and rounded dome shades are a great starting point for a 70s vibe, especially if paired up with nickel finishes. Victorian lamp shades (perhaps with fringes) convey more of a nostalgic vintage feel, or just focus on retro designs with geometric shapes.