A time-travel for your home

Get back the classic style by reusing your old artefacts to lend a vintage feel to your home, writes Simran Chhibber.

Home decor has witnessed a plethora of styles that have come, gone and even revisited time and again.

Some, however, have cast an impression so deep that the essence never faded with new trends joining the steadily flowing stream.

Vintage is one such style that has remained evergreen, perpetually evolving yet maintaining its antediluvian charm.

Vintage essentially involves reusing the ‘old’ or ‘antique’, with the decorating ideas focusing on reusing the existing items rather than investing in new ones.

Let me bring to your attention a few DIY projects that can help you reuse your old stuff to lend a vintage feel to your home.

Pep up the living space

Jute sacks were not just meant to carry grains to your house. Loosen up a bit, act bold and reuse these to make vintage cushion covers.

Go a step ahead and stencil bold alphabets or even historical edifices on these and let the vintage magic take over.

Those old bowls and enamelled casseroles that find no use in your kitchen can turn into prized flower pots sassily adorning your coffee table.

Old pocket watches or mariners’ compasses purchased from the weekend flea market can become interesting coffee table accents too.

Bottle these up in an old glass jar and multiply the charm.

Old glass jars can be turned into gorgeous antique wine holders. And just in case you happen to have one of those huge 1950s salon hair dryers that has gone bad, don’t despair! It can become the talk of  the town!

Mail mania

Those old handwritten letters and travel postcards from your ancestral uncle’s trip abroad need not lie shy, trapped within the pages of your old diary.

Take out these antique jewels and string them up with a jute thread to form a vintage vignette.
And while we are talking of snail mail, an old salvaged porch rail can be crafted into an interesting letter stack that helps you sort your mail efficiently.

Paint it red

Do you still own those grandma pots and pans? It’s time to refurbish them.

Pick up an enamel paint of your choice and paint these pots and pans in a singular bright colour.

Adding some serving spoons, forks and knives into them would be a great idea.

Once the paint has dried, display the assemblage on a blank wall and take credit for the splendid wall art!

Kitchen splendour

The old battery racks found in supermarkets can be turned into very vintage cup holders and towel racks.

A metal caddy, bought from a nearby thrift store, can cradle small steel jars that hold forks, spoons and knives for daily use.

Outdated toolboxes can hold spice jars if small in size, while the bigger ones can help organise the desk clutter.

Moving to the bedroom

Are you one of those fortunate few who have the privilege of owning a wooden mantel piece in your home?

And, are you worried that the old thing is rotting away?

If the answer to that is a yes, then worry not. This gorgeous mantelpiece can be turned into a stunning headboard with ample room to display your personal photographs on top of it.

An old salvaged door can also form an interesting headboard for your bed.

Recreate an unconventional bedside table by stacking vintage suitcases on top of another.

An inexpensive stand can provide for extra height and you can enjoy the splendours of a gorgeous nightstand.

Why leave the bathroom alone

Ever wondered what happened to those old soda pop coolers? If you are lucky enough to find one of these, then don’t miss the opportunity of carving out an antique looking sink out of it.

Having an old cola logo on a weathered backdrop would add to the appeal.

Outdoor decor

Salvaged iron articles like grills, grates and photo frame just look perfect on weathered outdoor walls and form an interesting decor.

Old salvaged doors can form a thought provoking swing base or even a stand-alone sculptural item and a coat of paint can turn an old chair into a fascinating flower pot stand.

You can even turn a stepladder into a garden highlight with a coat of bright paint, following it up by placing your favourite plants on its steps.

Old wagons and wheel barrows can also form very interesting compositions in your garden decor.

Where to find it?

Thrift stores, junk shops and flea markets are the best places to visit, when looking for cheap stuff that you can turn into classy looking vintage items.

In fact, you will be pleasantly surprised with the rich finds waiting for you at such small-time, less-frequently-visited stores.

So, let’s go vintage!