You Can't Trash It: What to Do with Grandma's Furniture

We're accustomed to treating Soviet furniture with disdain and wanting to get rid of it at the first opportunity, but we're wrong. We tell how to successfully incorporate an old armchair or cabinet.

1. Carpet

There have always been special relationships with wall carpets in the USSR, but they deserve a second chance. The most successful option is to put a colorful grandmother's carpet on the floor, as Oksana Panteleeva did. To avoid eye strain, other elements of the interior should be kept in a monochrome palette.

Apartment of decorator Oksana Panteleeva

2. "Wall" Cabinet

The advantage of the "wall" cabinet is that it usually consists of several sections – they can be arranged in any way. You can adapt one narrow vertical section for storing dishes on the kitchen, and open shelves in the living room.

By the way, if you repaint the doors, the cabinet will change beyond recognition, but if you leave it in its original form, it will give the room a cozy and vintage atmosphere.

3. Armchair

With an old armchair, you don't even need to come up with anything – it can look great in almost any interior by itself. If you want a change, you can reupholster it with fabric with a bold pattern, use covers, or simply cover it with fabric, as designer Natalia Anakhina did.

Apartment of designer Natalia Anakhina

4. Console Table

A very functional piece that largely solves storage problems. It fits perfectly into a room with smooth light-colored walls – whether it's a bedroom, kitchen, or living room. Those who love shabby chic should paint the old console table white, and those who want more sunshine in their apartment should cover it with wallpaper scraps.

5. Table

It can look completely different depending on whether you place it in a minimalist interior or want to create an atmosphere of a traditional study. In the first case, such a piece will stand out and draw attention, in the second – it will become an organic part of the decor.

Apartment of designer Maxim Tikhonov

6. Lamps with Shades, Chandeliers, and Floor Lamps

Such lighting fixtures look especially well in eclectic interiors. Unusual chandeliers and solid shades become a bright detail that makes the room more interesting and can completely change its mood.

If you want to emphasize their role, hang several such lamps nearby or remove the fabric from the shade and decorate the frame with bright elements.

Apartment of designer Nadi Zотовa

Also read:

• How to Refresh Old Furniture: 9 Bright Ideas
  
• 7 Simple Ways to Incorporate Old Furniture into a New Interior
  
• Vintage in Interior Design: An Inspirational Example from Scandinavia