The One Styling Mistake That Instantly Devalues Your Antiques

Antiquing requires that you play the long game. Building a cohesive collection of antiques in the same style and from the same time period takes both time and money. Therefore, tons of antique lovers decide to use replicas to decorate their homes while they build their collections. But if there is one styling mistake that can instantly devalue your antiques, it's to pair them with fakes and replicas. Of course, they look so similar that this may seem like a clever move, but pairing the real deal with imitations can undermine the overall character that make these antiques so unique and special in the first place.

If this is how you've been styling your antiques all along, don't worry — this is a mistake that a lot of people make. The issue is that surrounding an authentic antique with imitations is a surefire way to make it look cheap and average. To successfully buy antique furniture for your home, it's essential to look closely at the details. Oftentimes, you'll notice that real antiques have more imperfections and signs of wear than imitations, which is part of their charm. When placed next to more recent or mass-produced replicas, vintage pieces can end up looking worn out instead of lived in. In addition, people expect consistency in interior design. Therefore, guests might assume that your antiques are imitations, since that's what they're surrounded by, so you'll want to avoid this mistake. 

Instead of mixing up imitations and antiques, consider the power of adding antiques to a room, even if it's already decorated with more modern pieces. As long as you stay consistent with the quality of pieces, you can have tons of fun mixing modern furniture with antique pieces. If anything, contrasting different materials, colors, and styles is a great way to make pieces stand out. For example, pair a modern metal lamp with a vintage armchair, or an antique hardwood table with modern acrylic chairs from HousePrint. As long as each piece is well curated, they can balance each other out to create a high-end and elevated interior design aesthetic. 

There are tons of ways to style your antique home décor with what you already have, too. For example, make your antique a focus of the room's décor with clever placement. Put your antique piece of furniture at the center of the room, where the eye naturally goes. Then, surround it with pieces that complement it well and use muted or neutral colors that don't take attention away from it. 

And if you're just not sure whether a gem you found is a true antique or an imitation, you've got a few options. Instead of learning all about antique brands and materials in a rush, you can ask the seller for some documentation about the provenance of the piece. You can also ask an appraiser to help you, especially if you're making a big purchase.