A Closer Look at the Differences Between Retro, Antique, and
Vintage Furniture.
Photo by Timothy Buck on Unsplash
By 2027 the secondhand furniture market is expected to reach a whopping 27.19 billion dollars. This massive boom in secondhand sales is likely due to the rapidly increasing appreciation for vintage, retro, and antique items. These unique finds offer a sentimental and unique way to personalize your home while adding a touch of history.
Not only do older items offer a stylish design aesthetic, but antique and vintage pieces offer an environmentally friendly alternative to modern furnishings that often require energy-intensive production processes. As such, these timeless items are enjoying newfound prominence in interior design.
Secondhand furniture sales are at an all-time high due to these newly adopted sustainability practices, but do you always know what you’re buying? Understanding the difference between vintage, retro, and antique can help you select the correct item for your home.
The difference between vintage, retro, antique
When designing the perfect home and selecting furniture, the terms Retro, Vintage, and Antique can sometimes be confusing. While all three terms describe a particular style or design era, essential distinctions should be considered when choosing pieces for your home. To help you make an informed decision when decorating your space, we’ll delve into what these different terms mean and discuss how they can create an aesthetically pleasing atmosphere in your home.
Vintage
Vintage items are typically defined as those at least 20 years old but not more than 100. Today that would mean items from the mid-20th century, between the 1930s and the 1990s, would be considered vintage. These pieces are usually chosen based on their aesthetic qualities and stylistic elements, not necessarily their age or status as antique items typically are.
For example, a pair of Dittos jeans from the 1970s would be considered vintage, as would the velvet furniture and animal print rugs of the time. In addition, vintage pieces often have unique features not found in modern furnishings, such as handcrafted details, interesting textures, or intricate carvings. The appeal of vintage furniture lies in its unique charm and the fact that it has a history of its own rather than being brand new from the store. They are also often found in thrift stores, making them more cost-efficient and sustainable than buying items new.
Antique
Antique is a term used to describe an item at least 100 years old. It usually refers to furniture and other pieces from the 18th and 19th centuries. The main difference between antique and vintage pieces is their age. Antiques are much older and have more delicate construction, while vintage items are generally newer but still decades old.
Antiques have become popular among interior decorators because they bring an instant sense of sophistication and history to any space. In addition, they often come with intricate details and craftsmanship that you won’t find in newer pieces of furniture, making them stand out as truly unique pieces. While antique items may require extra care due to their delicate nature, many people find that their beauty more than makes up for any added effort required in upkeep.
The age of the piece also adds to its value, so many people are willing to pay a premium for an antique piece of furniture. These expensive investments can often increase the overall value of a home or office building when properly maintained.
Retro
Retro is a style of interior design that refers to the look and feel of design elements inspired by trends from the mid-20th century, specifically the 1950s to 1970s. For example, retro furniture often features bright colors, geometric patterns, and clean lines. Think 50s-style diner chairs, 70s-style sofas, and other iconic designs.
The main distinction between retro styling and vintage or antique pieces is that retro items are newer and have been created with modern materials. While vintage and antique items have to be from a specific period, retro pieces can be manufactured in modern times as long as they have the look and feel of an older period. For example, a polaroid camera or a 1950’s inspired jukebox could be manufactured today and considered retro but not vintage or antique.
Why it’s essential to understand the differences between these time periods
Understanding the differences between retro, vintage, and antique items is essential when creating a cohesive home or purchasing new items because each design style has unique characteristics. Knowing the difference between these styles allows you to select pieces that complement each other instead of clashing with one another.
Additionally, being aware of the differences between antique, vintage, and retro items helps ensure that you are purchasing the right piece for your style preference while also ensuring you don’t overpay for something that might not be what it claims. For example, an antique wooden chair from the 18th century will be rare and, therefore, more valuable than a modern-day replica of the same chair. The difference in quality and craftsmanship between these two items will be drastic, and the value of the retro replica cannot possibly match that of the original antique. Keeping these distinctions in mind can save you money while helping you create your own atmosphere.
Distinguishing the difference
To differentiate between retro, vintage, and antique furniture pieces, it is essential to note that all three styles are distinct and have their characteristics. Of course, there are a few tips to consider when it comes to finding out where your piece comes from and what it’s worth.
Check the piece for marker’s marks
When determining whether a piece of furniture is retro, vintage, or antique, one of the most important steps is to check for maker’s marks or stamps. Older furniture was typically marked with a company name and other identifying features that can help determine its age and value. If a piece is labeled with a manufacturer’s name or stamp from the 19th century or earlier, it would be considered an antique. The same goes for any pieces marked with goldsmiths’ marks from that period.
Any pieces bearing labels from the first half of the 20th century would likely be classified as vintage — especially if they also bear a company label. This is because many companies began producing mass-market furniture in the early 1900s. Some examples include G plan and Ercol in England or iconic American brands like Knoll and Eames.
Retro items will usually have labels with more modern fonts than those on vintage items. So, for example, if the furniture has a label such as “Made in China” or “Made in India,” then this would indicate that the piece is more likely to be considered a reproduction or “retro” item.
Research online
Researching online to determine if a piece of furniture is retro, vintage, or antique and what it is worth involves going beyond just looking at the visual design features of the piece. It is essential to use various resources to get an accurate picture.
Begin by looking up the maker and searching for information on when the furniture was produced and where it was made. Knowing this can help narrow down which category the piece may fall into. After determining when a piece was created, research its condition and compare similar items sold online via auction houses or other websites such as eBay or Etsy to get an idea of its value. Finally, read reviews from buyers and sellers to gauge its quality before making a purchase decision.
Look for dovetail joints or dowels
When looking for vintage, antique, or retro furniture, one of the simplest ways to tell them apart is by looking for dovetail joints or dowels. Dovetail joints are usually used to join two pieces of wood together and are formed by interlocking “teeth” in a wedge shape. This type of joint was commonly used in furniture during the 18th century, which means that if a piece has dovetailed joints, it is likely to be antique or vintage.
Likewise, dowel joints were popular in the 19th century and became even more common during the early 20th century when modern production techniques came into play. This means that if you find dowelled joints on your furniture piece, it could very well be vintage or retro, depending on how old it is.
However, it is worth noting that just because a piece contains dovetail or dowelled joints does not necessarily mean it is either vintage or antique – some modern pieces may have them too! Therefore, working out which era your furniture pieces come from requires more than just inspecting their joinery – looking at other elements such as hardware, finish, and design can all help pinpoint which style they belong to.
Look for solid wood over laminate
Determining whether a furniture piece is made of solid wood or laminate can help distinguish it as antique, vintage, or retro due to the different materials used in each period. Solid wood is often found in antique pieces from the 18th or 19th century and usually has hand-carved details made by skilled craftsmen.
Vintage furniture from the mid-20th century is often made from either solid wood or plywood with a veneer finish and is characterized by ornate detailing and minimalistic designs. Retro pieces from this period typically use laminate instead of solid wood, as well as bright colors and unique shapes that set them apart from other items.
Assess the damages
Furniture pieces that have been around for a long time can often feature noticeable signs of aging, including scratches, dents, cracks, water damage, discoloration, and fading. These damages can significantly reduce the aesthetics and value of the item.
Potential Issues such as warping, splitting, cracking, and insect damage should be carefully examined before purchasing anything. Additionally, look for signs of rust or corrosion on metal pieces, as this can indicate how much work will be required to restore them. Finally, ensure that whatever you buy is worth the repair cost and that any refurbishment will not decrease your piece’s value.
Understanding why secondhand furniture is so popular today
Secondhand furniture has seen a massive resurgence in popularity today because it is much more affordable than buying brand-new furniture while still offering a unique and timeless style.
For example, vintage furniture offers unique designs that are difficult or impossible to find in contemporary stores. Many vintage furniture pieces have exciting stories, making them great conversation starters. Additionally, antique furniture can be perfect for those looking for something extraordinary — like a beautiful mahogany dining table or an intricately-carved armchair — as it often features craftsmanship that cannot be replicated with modern technology.
Thrifting for secondhand items also helps contribute to a sustainable lifestyle by reducing waste and energy consumption. This makes secondhand furniture popular among those who want to reduce their environmental impact without sacrificing style.
Besides being sustainable and ethically sourced, buying from consignment shops can provide economic benefits by helping people make money from used items they no longer need rather than creating waste by throwing them away. These repurposed secondhand items are becoming more accessible to consumers since it doesn’t require paying for the cost of labor and materials that went into making the item. This means shoppers can often get fabulous pieces at a fraction of the cost.
With so many resources and platforms offering secondhand furniture today, customers have plenty of options for finding the perfect piece for their home. As the secondhand market continues to grow in popularity, constantly changing as new items become available daily, allowing everyone to be able to source affordably.
Shop Kaiyo
Kaiyo is the ultimate resource for secondhand shopping. We offer customers a wide selection of high-quality vintage, antique, or retro furniture, and homeware items at unbeatable prices. With Kaiyo, you can rest assured knowing that the items you purchase have been authentically sourced and carefully curated, ensuring the highest quality products available on the market.
With a vast selection of unique and stylish options, Kaiyo has something to suit every style and budget. At the same time, every item is backed by Kaiyo’s commitment to sustainability and repurposing perfectly good, lightly used items. Shopping on Kaiyo means getting the best of both worlds – authentic and sustainable antique goods without leaving home!
