Don’t Be So Afraid to Put Your Antiques to Use!

As an interior designer, I am always interested to see how people interact with the furniture in their homes. And over the years my observations have led me a recurring theme: when it comes to antiques many people tend to “baby” them, almost as if they were afraid of hurting them! Too often, antiques are seen strictly as showpieces that aren’t meant to be touched, sat in, or worked on. In short, they aren’t being used for their intended purpose and that’s a shame. So I’d like to offer my humble opinion on why antiques should be seen as decorative AND functional furniture and not just something pretty that sits in a corner gathering dust.

First, I’d like to disagree with the perception that antiques are frail. Sure, there are antiques that need to be handled with considerable care – but those are usually museum-quality antiques, and for the most part people are not buying museum-quality antiques for their home. This type of antique is more likely found in a place like Versailles, or, unsurprisingly, a museum! The reality is that most antique furniture was not made for a king’s palace, it was made for country living - where a premium was placed on durability.

Think about it – furniture that was built a couple hundred years ago had to be capable of withstanding harsher home conditions than what many of us experience today. In cool climates, furniture had to reside in cold, drafty places with no central heating or humidifiers. In some warmer climates, furniture had to withstand excessive humidity. Either way, the antiques that are still around today were built to last, and if properly maintained, they are more than capable of handling another hundred plus years of use.

This high degree of durability exists in many antiques due to the craftsmanship that was required to create furniture without the aid of technologically advanced tools (like a pneumatic undercut saw) or some not-so-technologically advanced tools (like a nail). Hundreds of years ago, before fancy saws and simple nails, woodworkers were required to master the art of the dovetail joint, which is renowned for its tensile strength. In lay person’s terms that just means that it’s hard to pull apart two pieces of wood, once they’ve been connected with a well-made dovetail joint. It’s this type of skill that should not be discounted by people who are in the market for sturdy furniture that can be “lived in” for many years to come.

The second reason why I believe that antiques should be seen as “active” pieces of furniture is more of a personal preference: imperfections can add character – especially when you’re dealing with antiques! After all, what’s the point of having a beautiful antique table if it’s always being hidden by a tablecloth? When I see a ring mark on an antique desk I don’t see it as a defect, instead it makes me wonder about who made that ring mark. What were they doing and when did it happen?

In short, try not to take your furniture so seriously – you might just get more enjoyment out of letting go and having a little bit of fun. And for those of you who can’t quite stomach the thought of any harm coming to a treasured piece of furniture, I’d advise you to take solace in the fact that antiques tend to be very forgiving to everything from minor spills and chips to more involved restoration and repair needs.

For more interior design insights, you can visit www.lentrepotdesign.com – this site is maintained by the author and contains additional information on interior design and antique furniture. In addition, the site contains a full catalog of antiques that ready to be put to good use!