Vintage furniture is more popular than ever, either as a coordinated look or mixed with other styles. Whether it’s original or a modern copy, retro furniture looks great and is functional enough for any lifestyle.

The cool, stylish, modernist furniture designs that emerged mid-20th century have made a big comeback in modern interior designs. Many people now have a good idea of what you’re talking about when names such as Bauhaus, Eames and the Barcelona style are dropped, or Danish retro furniture is mentioned.

Original retro pieces tend to be highly collectable and surprisingly timeless, with their cool functionality and stunningly understated elegance, which of course means that they can also be out of many people’s price range.According to William Tarlo, collectables expert, many people are still after the originals, although there is no shortage of much cheaper copies. On the subject of discount retro furniture, he says: "There are a lot of copies coming out of China today, which makes it much more affordable. There’s a big market in fakes at a fraction of the cost of the original."

William reveals that there is also locally produced vintage replica furniture. "In the ’60s, Parker Furniture was the Australian company that used to replicate that deep teak, Danish look, so a lot of what was sold here was actually locally produced and there’s still quite a bit around," he says.

Retro furniture is great to have fun with as a decorating theme, but can also work well when combined with other periods and styles. "Furniture such as the Eames chairs are still popular, along with items like the Danish-designed sideboards and dining suites, but people are not being quite as purist as they once were," says William. "Where once people wanted all one style or look, they are now mixing it up. So, you might have a nice Danish sideboard with a really interesting Victorian chair. We’re definitely entering a much more eclectic phase."

It’s easy to see why retro furniture is so popular, whether as part of an overall look or as a stand-alone statement piece. With the almost trademark simplicity and functionality of low-slung, boxy couches, usually in leather, and the rosewoods and teaks of the occasional furniture, stylishly offset by big, bright chrome lights, furniture in a vintage style provides a fresh twist to more traditional pieces.

In addition to the furniture and lighting, Danish textiles and cutlery by Danish retro furniture designers such as Arne Jacobsen and Georg Jensen also made big waves, with many of their classic modernist styles still available today.

If you’re in the market for retro and you want an original, then a good way to check is to look for the maker’s mark, usually under the item, or make sure that you are talking to a reputable dealer. Alternatively, there are lots of good-quality discount vintage copies out there that will suit most pockets. Find new and second hand vintage furniture stores online.