How to Make Your Old Furniture Look Modern

A circa-1940s mahogany dresser feels a lot less formal when paired with black and gold accents, like a molded plastic chair and a glamorous lamp. Set against graphic wallpaper with pistachio green chevrons, the once-proper piece is instantly transformed. Adding to the fun: an area rug with huge pixelated blooms. 

Chair: Ariel Slope Series chair with Eiffel legs, $89, emoderndecor.com; Mirror: Tork Dripping mirror, $229, cb2.com; Lamp: Robert Abbey Dolly Wide lamp with shade, $304, ylighting.com; Rug: Serendipity EV25 Pixelated Floral 5' x 8' rug, $168, rugsusa.com; Wallpaper: Widenor Chevron wallpaper, $48 for a single roll, thibautdesign.com for stores

To tone down the French froufrou of an antique settee, team it with sleek pieces, like a marble-topped coffee table and a globe lamp. Walls in deep, moody charcoal help counter the sweetness of the pink upholstery and let the abstract print on the wall pop. Graphic pillows are surefire updates.

Coffee table: Marble-Topped pedestal table, $649, westelm.com; Lamp: Threshold Modern Globe lamp, $60, target.com; Art: Zara by Charlotte Winter print, $48, society6.com; Custom Gallery Collection frame, $143.50, pictureframes
.com; Pillows: (from left) Misty Red pillow, $52, luluandgeorgia.com; Elise Flashman Argyle pillow, $66, burkedecor.com; Momena pillow, $49, luluandgeorgia.com; Rug: Hand-Knotted Fez Shag 5' x 8' rug, $314.50, nuloom.com; Wall paint: Cyberspace by Sherwin-Williams