Does A Traditional Style of Interior Design Speak To You?

Traditional style. Does it speak to you?

It is one of the most popular and time-tested styles of design. But it is often dismissed as regular or ordinary. One of the reasons for that is a lack of creativity on the part of those who have been picking it for a long time. Today, we look at the intricacies of traditional design which make it an effective choice for a home. We will also find out a little about its past and what makes it so brilliant.

The Main Traits of Traditional Interior Design

The word is rather generic because of the varied styles and eras that the traditional style of design encompasses. It is not dedicated to one particular time period or spirit. However, some of its roots can be traced back to European decor from the 18th and 19th centuries.

This design has a long and rich history which can easily be mixed with modern elements to make it elegant and sophisticated. It is enduring and is effortlessly elegant. And if you like antiques and classical art, there are many ideas waiting for you to implement them.

What’s to Love About Traditional Interiors?

• The traditional style of design is typically rich, warm and welcoming. The idea is to create lots of room so that you are free to interpret it in a way that works for you. This is one of the things that makes the traditional style unique and well judged.

• The traditional style appeals to people of all ages and tastes because a lot of old-world elements can be mixed and matched with new-age ideas in a rather easy manner.

• The mix and match also ensures that your home is a classy amalgamation of the best and the brightest which means it will never go out of style.

• This style is elegant while taking care of your comfort, all at the same time.

About Color in Traditional House Interiors

One of the best things about the traditional style is that it gives you the freedom to experiment and be playful. This means you get to move on from neutral colors and white walls that probably remind you of a sterile environment like a hospital. You get to pick powerful hues as the foundation for a room. You can also keep furnishings that are a random mix of colors. This reflects the uniqueness of your character and gives your home a fresh look.

The best way to do this is to avoid too much white or black. But you must also try to avoid too many bright colors in the same place because that won’t look like an eclectic mix. It will just be a mess.

The walls in this style are usually painted in beige, cream or ivory. But if that makes you yawn, you can create your own palette of colors. Just make sure they are in the same family of colors or at least in the vicinity of first cousins. If you want to do contrasting bright colors, make sure there’s not more than two colors in the mix. If you’re trying bold colors, pick one for a wall and let that be the accent wall of the room. It will also draw attention to one particular space instead of overpowering your sensory organs from all directions. You may also choose to put a large piece of furniture like the couch against that wall if it is the living room.

About Traditional Furniture Styles

Speaking of furniture, there is no exclusive way of doing this in the traditional style of design. Just remember that whatever you pick is a harmonious mix of pieces that look eclectic and luxurious at the same time. Ideally, the biggest piece of furniture in the room should have a touch of history to it and the smaller pieces near it must follow the same style.

Now, there are three popular ways of creating a traditional space. They are called Chippendale, Queen Anne and the Sheraton styles.

The first one is about straight lines and picking specific pieces of furniture that have a great deal of artistic work done on them.

The second style, Queen Anne is similar to that in the sense that it has almost the same level of artistic embellishment to the pieces. It is different from the Chippendale style because it features curved lines like violin-shaped chair backs and decorative finials (these are decorative pieces on top or corner of a structure).

The Sheraton pieces are items with straight and tapered legs with a contrast of veneers and inlays.

When you start decorating or designing, get rid of all the furniture that is of no certain time period in terms of style. If you have minimal pieces with a pared-down spirit, lose those too. Instead, get a couple of lovely period items that captivate your eyeballs and ooze character. The look gets better with pieces that have a little quirk in them. Find items that have architectural elements like fixtures and moldings. Avoid things that are made of laminate or lacquer.

What do Traditional Textiles Look Like?

The textiles used in this style of design need to be rich and varied. This helps you bring classic colors and patterns while allowing you to improvise as per your needs. You can go from antiques to fresh gingham to conjuring florals and chintz. This style undoubtedly gives you a vast selection of fabrics to choose from. And there is no joy greater than the one that comes from seemingly limitless freedom.

Try to make the scene as natural as possible when it comes to picking upholstery and cushions. Don’t hesitate to use bold stripes but avoid geometrical shapes and designs.

Traditional Home Accessories

The same concept of freedom works for accessories too. There is an endless cache of options when you want to celebrate traditional designs and their signature look. You can go from a mix of mid-century and modern to classic Chinese motifs. Because getting the final look depends on how you place them.

The frame is meant to be captivating and dramatic. To get that, you need to play with scale and accents. Choose decadent colors with rich and intoxicating vignettes. Think of all the ornate and high-quality items you have come across in your research about traditional homes.

Get a load of vases, candle stands and bowls. They are all big hits. If they have carved designs by artisans from the 18th or 19th century, you have hit the jackpot.

How to DIY (Do It Yourself)

While you have the freedom to go crazy, there are a few rules to remember when designing your home the traditional way.

Try to find a mix of extraordinary items that reflect the spirit of fun and adventure.

Don’t try to stick to the definition of the word. Interpret it in a way that matches your own style.

The best traditional design comes from building a timeline of different eras and styles. Just make sure no one style dominates the whole space.

You have to maintain symmetry.

Traditional is all about vibrant and maximalism while maintaining order.

You also have to be patient when designing your home. The traditional pickings take some time and lots of focus.

You have to wait till you find the right pieces. This can be like planning a wedding.

You have to find the right source, the right brand and the right item for the right space in the house.

Traditional Living Room Ideas

The living room is all about well-thought-out pieces that combine different designs and eras.

But you have to find a common denominator that will string all these pieces together harmoniously.

The decorative elements of the room must reflect the juxtaposition.

Start with a nice base color and build a mix of antique pieces and contemporary objects against it.

Keep the ornate items in powerful hues to make them look plush and unique.

Try doing this by highlighting a collection of mismatched but beautiful and head-turning items. The idea is to dazzle the eyes and stimulate the minds of those who are looking at it.

Traditional Bedroom Designs

This one is very easy. The way to do the bedroom right is to keep the floor and walls is to have neutral colors almost to the point of no colors at all.

This gives the room a soothing base for you to incorporate some vibrant elements into the room.

A strong main color with a collection of disparate design styles is all your need to get a cohesive and cool look.

Traditional Kitchen Decor

The kitchen is supposed to be warm and classic while incorporating an English and French style. Traditional kitchens are subtle with greens, muted creams and light grays.

Use contrasting elements of decor. Introduce a few elements of nature in an eclectic collection of patterns and prints. Try to keep the theme as close to flora and fauna that reflect the outdoors.

Concluding How To Achieve A Traditional Design Style

This style is a big fan of symmetry and the idea is to tie the old-world and new-age eclectic items together through clean and straight lines. The furnishings are meant to be practical and beautiful. Use inlaid wood and crystal fixtures.

Pick a few lovely pieces of decor and all you need to figure out is how to place them. Let your home tell a story.

If Traditional is, perhaps, not your cup of tea why not have a read through our list of Interior Design Styles to see if there is something else more suitable?