Being old, wrinkled, lined and somewhat cracked is not a personal selling point. To admit even to possessing any of those characteristics in this youth-obsessed age, where perfection is the holy grail, would be akin to social suicide.
So it's strange, but true, that the opposite is the case in our homes. Frankly, no chic room nowadays is complete without something that shows the passing of the years, or reflects the design glories of a bygone age.
Take care though - a nostalgic room stuffed exclusively with heirlooms inherited from granny is not the vision. Instead, this style is conjured by a clever blend of "old and new".
That means a modern setting with sleek, contemporary decor and furnishings, that avoids the bland and gains instant character and personality with the addition of perhaps an antique, gilded mirror, or an ornate French chest.
Similarly a period room benefits from a quirky injection of mid-century modern - designs from the 1960s and 1970s are currently the most desirable. So show off an iconic 1950s chair, a lava lamp or even a retro phone.
What's particularly appealing about this trend is that it's in tune with the way ordinary people live and create their homes. Our homes are constantly evolving - things wear out or go out of fashion, we get bored with them or they're no longer useful.
An old-and-new approach to decorating is a realistic way of tackling these challenges, of celebrating the eclectic mix that surrounds us, and of creating a beautiful, comfortable, characterful response.
If you've got all the essential ingredients you may simply need to reorganise your rooms so that the colours, shapes and styles of your furnishings combine and contrast beautifully.
Or perhaps you need something "new" or something "old" to give a shot of trend-savvy glamour to your home.
Follow our guide to giving your rooms a fashionable facelift (it will cost you far less than giving yourself one!).
Old and new rules
For most of us, decorating isn't simply a question of taking an empty room and filling it with brand new, coordinating furnishings, nor is it a case of inheriting a matching set of priceless antiques.
Usually, we're somewhere in the middle. A couple of hand me downs here, some chain-store pieces there, perhaps a few things picked up in a junk shop and maybe a special item we've saved up for. It's all in the way we use and display them.
Keep it simple - don't try to cram too much furniture into a living room. When mixing pieces from different periods, you need only a few examples of each.
• For old pieces to work with new ones, they should have a similar feel. Choose clean-lined, pared-down items, and look for shapes that echo each other, such as gently curving lines or boxy silhouettes.
• Look for good quality furniture with a timeless style. Robust natural materials and excellence in craftsmanship and design provide common factors that unify different pieces, whatever their age.
• Old chairs, from any era, look marvellous re-upholstered in white or off-white fabric, or a bright modern print. Alternatively, have loose covers made, for a more informal look.
Track the style
In the same way that a great outfit might combine a high-street buy with couture and a vintage accessory, interiors with soul show the same confident blend.
One of the keys to successful collecting is to make it personal and buy the things that you really like. For lovers of vintage, the fun is in the search. The internet - eBay in particular - has really exploded the market for contemporary classics.
Also check out auction houses, dealers specialising in 20th century furniture, junk shops, markets and car boot sales.
Get the look
This style has taken the high street stores by storm and they're brimming with desirable pieces so that you can express your design preferences in your home - ancient or modern - without breaking the bank.
So it's strange, but true, that the opposite is the case in our homes. Frankly, no chic room nowadays is complete without something that shows the passing of the years, or reflects the design glories of a bygone age.
Take care though - a nostalgic room stuffed exclusively with heirlooms inherited from granny is not the vision. Instead, this style is conjured by a clever blend of "old and new".
That means a modern setting with sleek, contemporary decor and furnishings, that avoids the bland and gains instant character and personality with the addition of perhaps an antique, gilded mirror, or an ornate French chest.
Similarly a period room benefits from a quirky injection of mid-century modern - designs from the 1960s and 1970s are currently the most desirable. So show off an iconic 1950s chair, a lava lamp or even a retro phone.
What's particularly appealing about this trend is that it's in tune with the way ordinary people live and create their homes. Our homes are constantly evolving - things wear out or go out of fashion, we get bored with them or they're no longer useful.
An old-and-new approach to decorating is a realistic way of tackling these challenges, of celebrating the eclectic mix that surrounds us, and of creating a beautiful, comfortable, characterful response.
If you've got all the essential ingredients you may simply need to reorganise your rooms so that the colours, shapes and styles of your furnishings combine and contrast beautifully.
Or perhaps you need something "new" or something "old" to give a shot of trend-savvy glamour to your home.
Follow our guide to giving your rooms a fashionable facelift (it will cost you far less than giving yourself one!).
Old and new rules
For most of us, decorating isn't simply a question of taking an empty room and filling it with brand new, coordinating furnishings, nor is it a case of inheriting a matching set of priceless antiques.
Usually, we're somewhere in the middle. A couple of hand me downs here, some chain-store pieces there, perhaps a few things picked up in a junk shop and maybe a special item we've saved up for. It's all in the way we use and display them.
Keep it simple - don't try to cram too much furniture into a living room. When mixing pieces from different periods, you need only a few examples of each.
• For old pieces to work with new ones, they should have a similar feel. Choose clean-lined, pared-down items, and look for shapes that echo each other, such as gently curving lines or boxy silhouettes.
• Look for good quality furniture with a timeless style. Robust natural materials and excellence in craftsmanship and design provide common factors that unify different pieces, whatever their age.
• Old chairs, from any era, look marvellous re-upholstered in white or off-white fabric, or a bright modern print. Alternatively, have loose covers made, for a more informal look.
Track the style
In the same way that a great outfit might combine a high-street buy with couture and a vintage accessory, interiors with soul show the same confident blend.
One of the keys to successful collecting is to make it personal and buy the things that you really like. For lovers of vintage, the fun is in the search. The internet - eBay in particular - has really exploded the market for contemporary classics.
Also check out auction houses, dealers specialising in 20th century furniture, junk shops, markets and car boot sales.
Get the look
This style has taken the high street stores by storm and they're brimming with desirable pieces so that you can express your design preferences in your home - ancient or modern - without breaking the bank.