Yes, There's a Difference Between Retro and Vintage—Here's How to Use Each in Your Home, According to Experts
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links."
When it comes to all things old, interchangeable words get thrown around a lot. Some that you might hear often are “retro” and “vintage.” And while it’s perfectly natural to think that these two descriptive words are one and the same, they’re actually not.
In fact, there are key differences between the two, and learning about these dissimilarities can aid you in your quest for bygone decor. Here, the differences between retro and vintage furniture and furnishings.
Retro vs. Vintage, Explained
Vice President of Merchandising at Chairish Noel Fahden Briceno says that “vintage” refers to items that were actually made during the era and are at least 20 to 99 years old.
Sotheby’s Head of 20th Century Design, Carina Villinger, has a slightly different definition of vintage. She says, “Something that is from the 1990 is vintage if it is from the period. If pressed, I would say anything before 2010 [is vintage].”
After writing dozens of articles about vintage furniture and furnishings, we realize that everyone defines it a bit differently. But thankfully, retro items are much easier to distinguish.
Villinger says, “To me, retro is exactly how it is defined in the dictionary: imitative of a style or fashion from the recent past.” It can refer to everything from bright colors and midcentury Americana to ephemera and kitschy pieces. “Vintage, on the other hand, means that the piece is of the actual period and not trying to be anything else,” she adds.
Generally, retro items are less than 50 years old and have their own distinct vibe, as Leah Ashley, interior stylist and vintage expert explains.
“When I think of retro, I think of midcentury modern pieces or things that give off a bright, funky, or psychedelic vibe,” Ashley says. “Retro may also not be old at all, but instead has been made to look like it’s from a different era.”
Another difference between the two? Ashley says that most of the time when dealing in vintage versus retro items, there will be a price difference. “Vintage is usually going to be more expensive because it’s older and a lot of times it can be of better quality,” she notes, though you can certainly find well-made retro pieces.
Vintage Sofa
chairish.com
$3417.00
Retro Mushroom Ottoman
theexpert.com
$2250.00
Examples of Retro and Vintage Pieces
As mentioned, retro pieces can also include newly made items. As Michael Mitchell, founder of Michael Mitchell Interiors, points out, refrigerators and many kitchen appliances on the market right now are considered to be retro.
“Companies such as SMEG are producing retro refrigerators with modern conveniences,” he says. “You can get an ice maker in one of the SMEG refrigerators today that the original likely did not have. The color tones of these fridges are even coming from the 1940s and '50s.”
Fahden Briceno says that these retro items feel “distinctly nostalgic and often blur into the material culture of the past.” She adds, “They may not be ‘important’ design pieces, but they are often imbued with a collective memory and familiarity. As such, they can also bring a sense of fun,” citing examples such as a powder-blue midcentury phone or a flowery chaise in throwback hues.
Other examples of retro pieces can include record players, art, and funky barware, Ashley says.
On the other hand, those 20- to 99-year-old vintage pieces can span several decades, styles, and genres. Ashley says that some examples of vintage pieces include pottery, rugs, colonial and primitive furniture, and textiles. These pieces often have a more sophisticated, classic air about them, as Fahden Briceno shares a silver plated swan centerpiece and chinoiserie wall sconces as examples.
Retro Clock
rejuvenation.com
$129.00
Vintage Candelabra Sconces
chairish.com
$749.00
How to Use Retro and Vintage Decor in Your Home
In her designs, Ashley enjoys decorating with a mix of both retro and vintage pieces. Since the eras do blur together a bit, they can often be made to work jointly within a singular space.
“It really is all about your preference and your personal style,” she says. “I usually lean toward collecting and decorating with vintage because there is more of a timeless feel to the aesthetic, whereas retro interiors can feel trendier and of the moment.”
On the flip side, Fahden Briceno says that retro pieces can bring a sense of fun and nostalgia to a space.
“Buying retro items that are also vintage is smart, chic, and kinder to the Earth,” she says. “Vintage also brings character, uniqueness, and one-of-a-kind style to a room.”
Conversely, Mitchell makes a case for buying new pieces that are retro but have a bygone look.
“It’s more applicable to the way we live today,” he says. “Some vintage dining tables could have a seat height of 16 inches, which isn't comfortable for people today—it's unnatural to sit that low. The replica of that design would bring the seats to 19 or 22 inches, for example.”
Mitchell goes on to say that while new, retro-style pieces have their strong points, he loves using vintage items in his designs for their wear and sense of history.
“Vintage pieces help bring soul to a space,” he says.
You Might Also Like
