Antique vs Vintage vs Retro — What Is the Actual Difference? And What That Means for How You Should Style Them

Image of a white living room in a mid-century modern style. There is an antique console table and vintage decor pieces around the room. There is a white curved sofa facing two light gray accent chairs with a square, glass coffee table in between.

Few topics spark more spirited debate than the difference between antique vs vintage vs retro. In the world of interior design, these labels are far from static categories — they ebb and flow, evolving with time and the way we choose to look back.

But, if we were to put a label on them (and that's exactly what this article is doing) the differences between each term boils down to the time period an object was made in. Livingetc's vintage and antiques expert, Virginia Chamlee, explains, "By definition, an antique is an item produced 100 or more years ago." That's why, slowly over time, new styles will become antique.