Difference Between Vintage And Antique: Comparison Between Antique, Vintage And Retro Furniture

Comparison Between Antique, Vintage And Retro Furniture

Most likely, the terms vintage, antique, and retro conjure up a particular aesthetic or mental image. You might envision an antique, ornate dresser, pieces from a thrift shop, or an eccentric 80s décor item. But what do these phrases used in interior design actually mean? Is the old dresser you purchased vintage or an antique? What precisely is included in retro? Although these terms are frequently used interchangeably, each has a distinct definition of its own. Learn how to categorically define each style as well as how to combine elements from these groups to create your own distinctive aesthetic. Each of the terms—vintage, antique, and retro—includes many objects and historical eras and has its own distinctive stylistic traits. To make things simple, here are some definitions.

Antique	Vintage	Retro
Anything at least 100 years old is considered an antique. Therefore, in order to be commonly regarded as antique in 2022, a piece must date from the year 1922 or before. Examples could include handcrafted wooden furniture, artwork, or other home accessories.	When compared to antiques, vintage furniture and other pieces can be any age as long as they give off the impression of being from a previous era. This would cover objects that range in age from 20 to 99 years old. Vintage things frequently evoke nostalgic sentiments and may even be collectible.	It's possible that retro furniture or décor isn't exactly that ancient. Retro items are frequently available at today's well-known stores. Despite being brand-new, some things are created to resemble old or antique. For instance, you can come across a pair of "vintage" shoes or a "old" light that appear to be from a bygone era but are actually more modern.

Vintage Vs. Antique

Because of its age, vintage is distinct from antique. Vintage products, however worn, are not as old as antiques, which are typically at least 100 years old. An antique might be something like a vintage gramophone or a handcrafted dresser constructed of wood in the early 1900s.
A 1960s wall clock or a midcentury dresser are examples of vintage items. Mixing antique and vintage pieces can result in a variety of styles due to the large range of goods that fall into these two categories. These things can also be harmoniously combined and matched in the same space.
Combining an antique picture or decorative item with vintage furniture, such as a modern Eames chair, is a wonderful illustration of this. Both antique and vintage items have a backstory, and it is popular to combine them to create a space rich in history and conversation pieces.

Vintage Vs. Retro

The difference between vintage and retro is age—or the lack thereof. Items that are considered vintage are at least 20 years old and evoke fond memories of the past. Retro things are more recent products that evoke the fashions of the past but do not truly originate from that period.
Retro products are frequently more affordable than true vintage items, making them a perfect option for anyone on a tighter budget who want to give a space an aged charm. Since retro things are designed to resemble vintage items, they go together wonderfully.
A kitchen and dining room combination with a retro cooker or refrigerator that is styled to look like it is from the 1950s or 1960s would be the ideal example of combining these two eras.

Antique Vs. Retro

As previously said, a retro object has only recently been developed or created, but antiques are often approximately 100 years old (or more). Antique objects might be handcrafted wooden furniture or vintage home furnishings and accessories like vases and gramophones.
All contemporary products that imitate vintage fashions, such as furniture with an 80s flair, are considered retro. Since retro things are frequently created to seem vintage, they can coexist harmoniously even though they have various styles and were produced in vastly different historical periods. This is similar to how vintage and antique items can be utilized together.
An antique painting in a vivid blue hue hung above a curved retro sofa, or a retro alarm clock set on an antique nightstand, all of which were inspired by the maximalist bright-color styles of the 1970s and 1980s.