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Mixing Eras: How Collectors Are Finally Getting Credit for Blending Old and New

For years, I’ve been that person—the one mixing my grandmother’s mahogany side table with a sleek West Elm sofa, hanging vintage oil paintings above industrial shelving, watching friends politely nod while secretly thinking my living room looked like an upscale yard sale.

But something shifted.

Suddenly, what felt like my quirky collecting habit became… trendy?

Walk into any design-forward home today and you’ll find 18th-century landscapes casually leaning against concrete walls, Art Deco mirrors reflecting minimalist sculptures, and Persian rugs anchoring rooms filled with contemporary furniture.

The eclectic mix that once required an apologetic “I know it’s a lot” has become the gold standard of good taste. Welcome to the era of heritage maximalism—where collectors like us finally get our moment.

The Rise of Heritage Maximalism

The design world has coined a term for what many of us have been doing all along: heritage maximalism. Unlike the stark minimalism that dominated the 2010s, this approach celebrates abundance, personality, and the art of the mix (Homes and Gardens).

 

Heritage maximalism blends classic traditional decorating with the expressive vibrancy of maximalist style, creating spaces that feel collected over time and bursting with personality. It’s about curated abundance—not clutter.

 

The trend aligns perfectly with how younger collectors are approaching art and decor. As we’ve seen in the art market, there’s a growing appetite for what some call “maximalist” or idiosyncratic styles, where older artworks, antique furniture, and contemporary pieces all sit together (Artnet News).

For those of us who’ve always collected this way, it’s validating. We weren’t confused about our style—we were just early.

The Rise of Heritage Maximalism

The design world has coined a term for what many of us have been doing all along: heritage maximalism. Unlike the stark minimalism that dominated the 2010s, this approach celebrates abundance, personality, and the art of the mix.

Heritage maximalism blends classic traditional decorating with the expressive vibrancy of maximalist style, creating spaces that feel collected over time and bursting with personality (Homes and Gardens). It’s about curated abundance—not clutter.

The trend aligns perfectly with how younger collectors are approaching art and decor. As we’ve seen in the art market, there’s a growing appetite for what some call “maximalist” or idiosyncratic styles, where older artworks, antique furniture, and contemporary pieces all sit together (Artnet News).

For those of us who’ve always collected this way, it’s validating. We weren’t confused about our style—we were just early.

Why Everyone Suddenly Gets It

Several factors are driving this eclectic approach becoming mainstream:

Sustainability: People are buying more antique pieces than ever before because they’re typically well-made, can be brought home the same day with no wait time, and they’re a much more sustainable choice than buying new furniture (Veranda).

Rejection of Sameness: After a decade of identical white-walled, minimalist interiors flooding Instagram, homeowners are craving individuality. Maximalist interiors are characterized by eclectic décor that mixes personal heirlooms, quirky art pieces, antiques and the latest contemporary furniture (Moores Interiors).

The Experience Economy: Collections tell stories. Whether it’s a vintage find from a Paris flea market or an inherited piece with family history, these objects create narratives that mass-produced furniture simply can’t.

Social Media Inspiration: Platforms like Pinterest and Instagram have made it easier than ever to see how design professionals mix eras successfully, giving DIY decorators the confidence to experiment (Catherine Jordan Design).

How to Mix Without Looking Like a Thrift Store Exploded

So how do you blend a Louis XVI chair with a sleek modern coffee table without your living room looking like a confused antique mall?

Here’s what actually works:

Quality Over Everything

Whether you have something from the 18th century, the 1960s or today, the quality of craftsmanship and workmanship must be in harmony with everything else in the room, according to celebrated interior designer Bunny Williams (Schumacher). The quality must all be complementary to each other.

Start with Lighting

Williams recommends beginning with contemporary lighting when mixing eras. There are extraordinary modern lighting designers making beautiful fixtures that can anchor a room filled with antiques (Schumacher).

Use Color as the Unifier

One of the best ways to foster cohesive interior design, regardless of design era, is by uniting styles with similar colors (Extra Space Storage). Think jewel tones like emerald green and sapphire blue, or stick to a neutral palette that lets statement pieces shine.

Layer Textures

In maximalist design, antique furniture sits comfortably beside modern pieces, and bold prints find harmony with intricate textures (Hommes Studio). Combine velvet, linen, silk, leather, and natural woven materials for a rich, visually appealing space.

Create Focal Points

Rather than scattering antiques throughout your home, concentrate them in a single area to create an accent space that draws the eye (The Honeycomb Home).

What’s Actually Selling at Antique Markets Right Now

The antiques market is experiencing interesting shifts, with certain categories gaining traction among younger buyers:

Gustavian Furniture

This Swedish style rooted in French Neoclassical design has always had a cult following, but its appeal is becoming more widespread in 2025 (Veranda).

Folk Art

There’s exciting interest in art forms that were historically categorized as “domestic arts,” “applied arts,” or “craft” to differentiate them from high art (Veranda). These pieces pair beautifully with contemporary interiors due to their clean lines and simple shapes.

Murano Glass

Decorative Murano glass pieces—ranging from mirrors and chandeliers to lamps and glassware—have been made in Italy for more than 1,500 years and are beloved for their playful elegance (House Beautiful).

Dark Wood Furniture

After years of bleached and lighter wood dominating design spaces, there’s a resurgence of interest in traditional dark woods. Layering contemporary art combined with fine porcelains and other antique accessories can breathe new life into these historically important pieces (Veranda).

Art Deco and Art Nouveau

There’s strong demand for Art Nouveau and Art Deco decorative objects, lighting, and collectibles, as well as antique case pieces and tables with hand-carved, hand-painted, and ornate details (Veranda.

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The One Rule That Actually Matters

The key to successful era-mixing isn’t following rigid rules—it’s developing an eye for balance and understanding your own taste.

Designer Emily Henderson, who built her career mixing vintage and modern, offers this wisdom: Adding a few contemporary or modern pieces elevates vintage finds and gives needed context. Without that mix, a space can look more like a thrift store than a curated home (Style by Emily Henderson).

The sweet spot? Big furniture pieces—sofas, beds, dining tables—should typically be new and comfortable. Use vintage, handmade items, and antiques for art, ceramics, small furniture, and textiles (Style by Emily Henderson).

We Were Right All Along

This movement toward mixing eras represents something deeper than a design trend. It’s a rejection of the idea that our homes should look like showrooms or Instagram feeds. Instead, collectors are creating spaces that reflect actual lives—layered, personal, and full of stories.

As one design expert puts it: Maximalism is about using lots of color, painterly print, and rich textures—not just accumulating lots of stuff (Peachtree Building Group).

For those of us who’ve always collected this way—mixing inherited pieces with flea market scores and contemporary splurges—this moment feels less like jumping on a trend and more like finally being understood. The eclectic approach we’ve championed is no longer the exception. It’s become the rule.

And honestly? It’s about time.

Sources

Aunia Kahn, Editor In Chief

Aunia Kahn is an artist, gallerist, curator, and collector. She co-owns Poetic Tiger Gallery, serves as Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Hyperlux Magazine. As an award-winning painter, her work has been featured in My Modern Met, Colossal, Create! Magazine, Yahoo, Prevention Magazine, Beautiful Birarre Magazine and Authority Magazine. She has published various books and curated projects through Red Feather Publishing and US Game Systems and has also been a contributing writer for Better Marketing and Just Creative.

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