PROPERTY NEWS - Interior decorators and designers make mixing modern and antique furniture look easy, but just how do they do it?

The 80/20 rule
When layering contemporary items with vintage pieces, following an 80/20 rule is a good guide. Keep your space on-trend by making roughly 80% of your items modern and the rest vintage or retro. This creates a balance and helps highlight those special pieces, especially if you can stick to a colour palette for the room. Estelle Nagel of Gumtree SA says that dining room tables, chairs and cabinets are the primary second-hand items available online for the style-conscious. Solid wood furniture is an excellent example, because its second-hand prices are very affordable and it comes with lots of character.

Accessorise with smaller decorative items
You can also make creative use of smaller decorative items like vases, side tables, lamps and light fittings, all of which are readily available second-hand. For the more adventurous, an antique record player, an old neon light or a rocking chair can make a big statement.

Revamp antiques
Whether shopping at a charity shop or online, you can find stylish gems at a very good value, especially if you're prepared to give them a facelift.

New upholstery can transform an old chair or an ottoman and make the piece seem current and vintage at the same time. It also means that you can match the item with your room's colour scheme.

For wood, sanding down and re-painting with lacquer, a sealant or a stain will achieve the same revitalising effect.

For silver and brass items, never underestimate the effect of elbow grease. A good hard rub with a proper cleaning solvent can often bring about a miracle.

You also shouldn't be shy about painting old items. If an item has "great bones" - which means you like the shape or the functionality - but you feel the colour is out of place, then simply splash on a new hue that pleases your eye.

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