Vintage Posters to Decorate Modern Interiors

Most of us tend to outgrow our fascination for posters as soon as we step out of college and into the real world. Yet, posters are not just additions relegated to kids’ rooms and college dorms. They can be meaningful part of modern interiors bringing in color, contrast and exclusivity.

One of the first instances when posters caught the eye of yours truly was when watching the sitcom Friends in the late 90s. The vintage French poster advertising a rocking horse in Monica’s apartment and a less attractive one in Chandler and Joey’s apartment regularly caught the eye.

Bright posters add color to a chic contemporary bedroom in black and white

by Lisa Petrole Photography

Poster of Les Mystères de New-York and the Jouets poster of Aux Buttes Chaumont were an integral part of the famous sets that have been replicated in parts, world over. Posters have this innate ability to steal the show and give any interior a unique sense of individuality. Here are a few contemporary homes that use them with style and sophistication –

Give wings to your dreams in a colorful panache! — Give wings to your dreams with a colorful panache!

by Moody Design

Beautiful contemporary living room with the Noguchi table and framed posters

by Shirley Meisels

Stylish dining room with an intoxicating poster and Saarinen's design icons — Stylish dining room with an intoxicating poster and Saarinen’s design icons

by Eleven Interiors

Collection of posters from a few iconic flicks framed in black

by John Goldsmith Photography

by Lori Smyth Design

Dash of red and a touch of orange brought in by the bold posters next to the bookshelf

Recessed lighting puts the framed posters in focus beautifully

by Viscusi Elson Interior Design

Posters can be great conversation starters in the living room or dining area

by ABCD Design

A Must have for the Modern Media Room

Designing a modern home is much more than just the basics. Media rooms and elaborate home theaters are now far more common than ever before. A vintage poster of a classic from cinema’s golden era or a dazzling poster from the latest blockbuster is a perfect fit here. There are several different ways in which you can use movie posters in media rooms. Illuminated poster boxes clearly create an ambiance that is as close to a grand theater as possible.

Gorgeous media room entry with illuminated posters - Exquisite! — Gorgeous media room entry with illuminated posters – Exquisite!

by Designtech Custom Interiors

Riding into the sunset - Posters and lighting combine to create stunning ambiance — Riding into the sunset – Posters and lighting combine to create stunning ambiance

by Billy Beson Company

Contemporary media room is a perfect place to showcase your poster collection

by Bliss Home Theaters & Automation

While some of your favorite posters might be easy to find, replicas of others could be far more difficult and pricey to bring home. But once you do have them, custom crafted niches highlight them in an elegant and effortless fashion. Add to this simple recessed lighting or elegant lamps and your fabulous media room is complete.

Modern home theater is never complete without a poster or two on the walls

by Jeffrey King Interiors

Lighting is the key when it comes to highlighting posters just right

by M.J. Whelan Construction

Create a trim around posters for greater visual impact

by Level Design Studios

Off the beaten path - College of posters on the wall is both creative and cool! — Off the beaten path – College of posters on the wall is both creative and cool!

by Michael Trahan Interior Design

Remind yourself of everything you can BE!

Positive Space Staging and Design

Framing and Lighting to Perfection

It is not just important to find the right poster. Framing it and using proper lighting play a crucial role in placing the necessary emphasis. When decorating with more than one poster, maintain uniformity in size and style to paint a pretty picture. The size of posters that you choose should depend on the dimensions of the room and the décor that is already in place. Place emphasis on proportion and balance. Lighting options most often vary between track and recessed lighting. It is advisable though to use track lighting only when can lights are hard to incorporate.

Get the lighting spot on for your favorite poster

by Hillis Bolte

Large and neatly framed posters exude a sleek and modern vibe

by Casey Design/Planning Group

Decorate your bathroom walls with a vintage advertisement poster

Do not spray around your posters in an eccentric fashion. Repetition lends emphasis to any collection. This is precisely why posters need to be placed and arranged in proper fashion. They can be a bold expression of one’s own personality, choices and thoughts. No matter what you select, make sure that the walls of your house are a reflection of your individual taste and persona.

Accentuate the central theme of the room with appropriate posters

by Salinas Lasheras

Starry Eyed - Posters need not always borrow from cinema alone — Starry Eyed – Posters need not always borrow from cinema alone

by Laura Manning Bendik

Track lighting is another great option to shed some spotlight on the posters

Frame those posters and line them up on a floating shelf for uniqueness

by Clayton&Little Architects

Kids' bedroom allows you to add bright and bold posters with ease — Kids’ bedroom allows you to add bright and bold posters with ease

by Shannon Malone

Accentuate Existing Themes and Colors

Posters are not just for homes with traditional and vintage interiors. They work equally well in semi-minimalist and contemporary spaces. Key is to ensure that the print does not disturb or interfere with your existing color scheme. A lovely poster in dashing red and bright orange brings much needed color and contrast to a neutral setting. On other occasions you can pick a print that seamlessly blends with the room’s color scheme and enhances the already present shades. They are also wonderful conversation starters and tend to add a warm and inviting charm to any area they adorn.

Let simple and elegant posters enhance the color scheme of the room

by Elizabeth Gordon

Vintage posters in the bedroom see Charlton Heston make a rare appearance!

by SÜZA Design

Staircase landings are great areas to display your favorite posters

by Kelly & Stone Architects

Once you have made up your mind on where to place them, posters are not very hard to work with and often take little time in putting up. They make a bold and exclusive statement in an exceptionally fun and playful manner. From Rock and Roll to memories of an exotic foreign land and from Gone with the Wind to The Godfather, posters capture a multitude of worlds and moods in a few framed delights!