Retro, vintage, and antique furniture and decorative accessories all have the potential to add character and interest to interiors. But while these words are sometimes used interchangeably, their meanings are different.

Knowing what each label designates will help you to create the desired look in a room design. It can also aid in budgeting for interiors, as you understand the age range of items involved if you choose to decorate with antiques or opt for the other categories.

Here, we’re explaining what each term means, and we’re also lining them up head-to-head to illuminate their differences and what they can bring to a room whether you decide to decorate with vintage, add a retro twist, or go antiquing.

Retro, according to Merriam-Webster, means relating to, reviving, or being in the styles and especially the fashions of the past. In other words, these items could be newer or older. It's quite a vague term. But what about the way the word is typically used in interior design? ‘Retro refers to items from or inspired by recent past decades, often the 1950s through the 1980s,’ explains Nadia Watts of Nadia Watts Interior Design. ‘Retro pieces are bold, playful, and graphic, perfect for adding a fun, unexpected twist to a more traditional or neutral design,’ she says.