The Vintage + Personal formula for a soulful home

I’ve seen it happen over and over again.

Someone moves into a space and fills it with brand-new everything.

Then they wonder why it doesn’t feel right.

Everything is nice and new, but the room feels cold. Flat. Soulless.

And that feeling? It lingers.

You start spending less time in the room. You can’t relax. You keep shifting things around and buying more decor that doesn’t help.

You know what’s missing?

History. Character. Soul.

Vintage pieces and personal treasures bring that in.

Why Some Pieces Never Go Out Of Style

There’s a reason why people keep going back to mid-century credenzas, ornate gilded mirrors, and antique tables.

Good design endures.

It’s not just because those old designs feel nostalgic. It’s quality craftsmanship, good proportions and high-quality materials that make these pieces last.

And unlike most fast furniture, quality vintage pieces age gracefully.

A few nicks on an antique solid wood sideboard? That’s called patina. It’s character. Not a flaw.

The same applies to personal items. That weird ceramic bowl your kid made in art class? The driftwood you collected on your honeymoon? The brass compass that belonged to your grandfather?

These aren’t just objects. They’re tangible memories.

Mixing Old, New & Personal = Instant Timelessness

But I don’t want you to go to extremes with your decorating approach.

• Too much vintage? You risk looking like a period drama set.

• Everything new? You risk looking sterile.

• Too many personal items? You risk creating a chaotic shrine instead of a home.

Here’s the formula: pair vintage or antique pieces with your more modern pieces, then weave in personal treasures that tell your story. Suddenly, your space will feel layered, meaningful, and completely unique.

Photography by ​Milo Hutchings​

👉 Look at this dining room. Notice the mix here?

• The yellow armchair with the teal cushion (It’s the chair that sparked a career change for the owner of this house, and eventually sparked her entire business)

• The travertine oval dining table

• And all this contrasts with the modern painted ceramic vase, black floor lamp, and abstract artworks (They found this during their travel to Valparaiso, Chile, in a cafe)

• Plus, the staircase slat partition is inspired by some restaurants they saw

​Kiritin​

👉 Same with this bedroom. They didn’t buy everything from the same store, they curated it.

• The secretary desk in the corner, the Cesca chair with the chrome cantilever base, and bedside table lamps - All sourced from Facebook Marketplace

• The fluted chest of drawers? That’s from ​CB2​

• The rug is from Etsy

• And the floor lamp? ​West Elm​ + a new shade

How To Start Bringing Vintage & Personal In

Don’t overthink it. The goal isn’t perfection. Start by swapping in just one vintage piece and displaying one meaningful personal item.

• A vintage lamp base with a new shade.

• A modern painting in an old frame.

• That object you bought on your first solo trip.

• The handmade ceramics from your pottery class.

• A framed ticket stub from the concert where you met your partner.

Notice the vintage glass lamp on the wooden stool, and the glass candlesticks that juxtapose with the organically shaped coffee table by ​Janet Lollar​ (left) & The gold mirror commands the room and juxtaposes with the overall white and clean aesthetic. Also, notice the wall lamps (right)

This dining room is quite eclectic with lots of contrasting elements. Credit: ​Kiritin​

The Real Secret? Patience & Mindfulness.

This isn’t about walking into a showroom and grabbing the whole set.

Curating a home with character takes time and awareness.

You wait. You dig. You reflect on what matters to you.

Then you’ll come across pieces that click and items that resonate.

Then your space doesn’t just look good, it’ll tell your story – the real one, not the sanitized Instagram version.

Here’s where you can start looking:

• Weekend flea markets

• Local Facebook Marketplace listings (Pro Tip: Search at higher-end neighbourhoods, there are often treasures to be found)

• Estate sales

• Thrift stores

And here’s where to look for personal treasures:

• Things you’ve created or collected through your hobbies

• Books that shaped your thinking

• Your travel souvenirs (the real ones, not just gift shop magnets)

• Your family heirlooms

• Objects from meaningful life moments

So stop chasing the latest Instagram trend. Stop trying to make your home look like everyone else’s.

Go vintage. Go personal. Go meaningful. Go timeless.

Cheers,

Reynard