Design Lesson
Retro, vintage, antique: What's the difference?
Photography, @dariodantonio, Instagram
Design Lesson
Retro, vintage, antique: What's the difference?
Do you know what the differences are between retro, vintage and antique furniture and decor?
Retro, vintage, antique—these words are thrown around constantly and sometimes interchangeably, but what do they actually mean? Are they synonyms? What do they refer to?
It turns out the terms fall into three distinct categories, and they're not that hard to differentiate!
Here's everything you need to know about the terms antique, retro and vintage for a whole new understanding of your furniture.
Antique
The word comes from French and means "old." More specifically, antique refers to items over 100 years old in the Canadian and American trade markets. Antiques are characterized by their craftsmanship, since many items in this category were made before factories became widespread. They also often hold sentimental value and are rare to find.
Find out how to decorate with antiques like a pro.
Vintage
Originally, the word vintage described the year and location of a wine's production. Nowadays, we use vintage to describe items from the early 1900s to the 1960s. Filled with nostalgia, vintage home decor and fashion has seen a surge in popularity. The idea of a lived-in item is more romantic than something that's been made in recent years. Shopping vintage also allows customers to reduce their environmental impact. Like antiques, vintage pieces often boast better quality and craftsmanship.
Retro
The word retro comes from the French word rétro, which refers to moving backwards. The first time retro was used as a descriptor was in the 1970s. It alludes particularly to recent nostalgia from the 1960s until the 1990s. Nowadays, any item that is at least 15 years old can be considered retro.
However, retro can also mean a modern-made item that is reminiscent of a past era.
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