How to Style Indian Antique Furniture in Modern Interiors

29 OCTOBER, 2024

Incorporating antique and vintage furniture into contemporary spaces provides a great way to imbue them with an undeniable sense of character and charm. In particular, beautifully crafted antique Indian furniture invites you to embrace intricately carved, traditional pieces that tell a story and elevate your interiors beyond the everyday.

The timeless appeal of handcrafted Indian furniture from bygone years works wonderfully in modern interiors – provided you consider how to harmoniously blend the old and the new. Consider our top tips on the best ways to style traditional Indian furniture in your home.

1. Pay Attention to Patterns

Lots of traditional Indian and Southeast Asian furniture makes careful use of intricate patterns and different decorative motifs. Pay close attention to the artistry present in your chosen antiques, whether this is carved or painted, and consider how you can embrace complementary patterns throughout your space for a sense of cohesion.

This might include things like displaying art, wall hangings, accessories, rugs or throws that have similar patterns to those on your traditional Indian cabinets or tables. Finding even a small commonality can be an easy way to tie disparate pieces to an overarching theme, creating a harmonious, intentional look.

Antique Indian sideboard with intricate patterns

2. Utilise Various Natural Materials

Like with patterns, the strategic use of complementary materials is a great way to make a space feel more thoughtful and cohesive. Traditional Indian furniture is often made from stunning natural wood, including teak, jackfruit wood, roheda wood, kair wood and more. Consider the tones and finishes of the natural woods present in your antiques, and think about other natural materials that would combine well.

Rattan, cane, wicker and natural textiles like linen are all ideal for adding warmth and character to the home. In this regard, they can function wonderfully as a bridge between antique and more contemporary pieces.

Or, styling a range of houseplants alongside your antiques could be another way to complement the handmade, more organic quality while keeping your interiors feeling fresh and current.

3. Be Playful With Contrasts

Get creative with how you highlight the contrast between antique and contemporary pieces. Styling sleek, minimalist spaces with one or two statement antiques allows for an impactful look and gives your traditional furniture items room to shine.

Pairing vintage Indian shelves with eclectic trinkets or using them as room dividers is ideal if you want to make your interiors feel stylish yet lived in.

A living room with various piece of antique Indian furniture

4. Embrace Functional Pieces

Utilising highly functional pieces of furniture ensures they become integral to your home, helping to set the overall tone for your interior design. For instance, reclaimed Indian doors give you the chance to incorporate traditional Indian craftsmanship into the very fabric of your home, making styling any additional Indian antiques much simpler.

Not only are they obviously very functional, but they can also make quite the statement. If you don’t want to replace your existing doors, these pieces can also be hung up as wall art for a more decorative take.

Embracing other functional pieces – like Indian coffee tables or cupboards and chests – ensures you can meet the everyday storage requirements of the modern home while infusing it with a bit of antique charm.

5. Invest in Pieces of Similar Quality

Each of our handcrafted Indian pieces showcases an exemplary level of traditional craftsmanship. We select and restore every item to ensure its quality, providing pieces in only the very best condition.

If you are going to proudly display furniture like this in your home, investing in modern pieces that also showcase high levels of quality and expertise is another great way to bring consistency and unity to a space.

6. Style With Authentic Indian Accessories

Pair your statement furniture pieces with authentic Indian accessories and decorations to evoke a broader sense of cultural appreciation and create a cohesive through line with common shapes, materials and motifs.

Lanterns, vases, small statues and other forms of decorative Indian art will all add little hints of a traditional Indian aesthetic to a room, tying back to your antiques. Even a few little finishing touches like this can help your furniture feel more integrated into your home.

7. Enjoy the Timeless Characteristics of Indian Furniture

With exquisite handcrafted designs and abiding appeal, antique Indian furniture has a wonderfully timeless quality, meaning that with just a bit of consideration, you can easily incorporate it into a range of contemporary styles.

Indian furniture works particularly well in rustic and farmhouse-inspired interiors, allowing you to blend these popular looks with distinctive Indian flair. Play to the strengths of your antique furniture and find interesting ways to use it alongside contemporary trends for an enduring sense of stylishness.

We are proud to stock an extensive selection of handpicked Indian antique furniture, mostly sourced from Rajasthan, Gujarat and South India. Whether you just want to add a single characterful piece to your interiors or are after something to complete your collection, we’re sure to have the perfect antique for you.

From Indian cabinets, tables and chests to mirrors, jewellery boxes and accessories, discover a range of stunning additions for your interiors.

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