Trend alert: Add flare to your kitchen with vintage furniture

Vintage, vibrant and eclectic furniture is back in – including in the kitchen. From hand-me-downs to heirlooms and curb-side pickups, nailing an eclectic aesthetic is about bringing together different elements and making them work.  

Here’s how to pick and style your pieces! 

Have a theme 

It’s easy to get carried away when decorating your kitchen with vintage or eclectic furniture. Start by picking a theme – whether it’s a colour scheme or style. This will help ensure every item or element you include stays true to your overall aesthetic. For example, if you’re going for a rustic look, you might make a shelf out of timber, find some old metal hooks to hang your pots and pans or paint an old tap black. NEFF’s oven range in graphite grey complements this aesthetic perfectly.  If you want your kitchen to be colourful, you could favour pastel-coloured furniture or stick to items in different shades of green to tie everything together. Don’t forget to make a mood board (this can be done online or by cutting out examples of colours and designs you like) to get inspiration! 

Mix materials/textures 

Combining a variety of materials in one space can be daunting, but when curated right, it’s really effective. Whether it’s wooden cupboards and a pressed-tin splashback, colourful ceramics or a feature wall of different picture frames – don’t be afraid to mix and match. Not only do eclectic materials and textures look good together, they can also provide your space with depth, character and practicality too.  

This can apply to everything from your benchtop to your décor and appliances. If you have an eye for vintage furniture, you could mix and match the shapes and styles of your breakfast bar stools to create a feature within your kitchen. A great way to find such pieces is to scour your local op shop or vintage collector store – you’re bound to find a hidden gem!  

You could also use your appliances to add a bit of flare, like combining NEFF’s built-in oven in stainless steel with a colourful kettle and toaster.  

Find space among the chaos 

With lots going on visually, it can be smart to include a space of calm among the chaos. If you’re undertaking a kitchen renovation, you can factor this into your initial design, for example, by repurposing an old window and using it as a feature. But if you’re redecorating or working with an existing space, it can take some more creativity. This might mean placing an old sideboard in front of a blank wall, or clearing a corner for an old pot and plant. NEFF’s fully integrated dishwasher can aid with this by integrating directly into your cupboards, meaning you can’t tell it’s there! You can also reduce visual clutter by opting for combination appliances, such as the NEFF built-in Slide&Hide® oven with steam function or compact oven with microwave function.  

Think about your layout  

One of the biggest kitchen renovation tips out there is to think about your layout. The layout can make or break your kitchen – and you don’t want your space to feel cluttered or closed off. If you’re designing a kitchen from scratch, think about where certain items will go, what decorations or feature elements you’ll include and where you might need to put in a visual break. If you’re working with an existing layout, consider how big the items you’re purchasing or recycling are and where they will best fit. There’s nothing worse than having to scoot around an edgy island trolley that’s too big for its space! This can also extend to where you put your appliances, like NEFF’s induction cooktop, which fits seamlessly on a bench without detracting from your overall look.  

Still looking for some inspiration? Take a look at some of our favourite customer kitchens before and after they were renovated. 

About NEFF     

NEFF is a German-engineered kitchen appliance brand, with a product range that includes ovens, cooktops, rangehoods, coffee machines and dishwashers designed to make life in the kitchen a daily pleasure. For people who love to cook, NEFF gives you the tools to create meaningful connections, express your creativity and make memories. Because real life happens in the kitchen.     

Learn more about NEFF here.