Traditional Style
Traditional Decorating
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
While design trends are becoming more modern and minimalistic, you might not want your home to scream ‘urban’ or ‘vintage-chic’. You just want a home that feels like a place where family gathers and memories are made, all in a space that looks stunning. You don’t necessarily need to be the centerfold of your favorite home decorating magazine, but you would like it to feel comfortable and cozy. A home with a traditional style does just that, while embodying a classic sense of design. Below are some tips to enhance just such an atmosphere.
The first key of traditional decorating is that nothing should be over-the-top. The room should flow within itself, as well as match the rest of the home decorating scheme. While there can certainly be a focal piece to a room, like an elegant fireplace, the furniture and textiles should be of similar taste, preserving the identity of the room. Colors should be soft and muted, with limited amounts of contrast. Stark color differences are common in modernist design, but have no place in a traditional home. Common patterns include floral, simple stripes, and solids. Overall, the room should feel light and welcoming, while avoid loud or overwhelming additions.
The proper home furnishings are essential for capturing the traditional feel. Especially for your living room décor, the pieces should all match. Depending on what era you are interested in, the furniture will vary. You may favor a more linear style or the sleek curved look, either way you should be uniform in your selection. Stains are frequently darker shades, although lighter wood is occasionally seen. Another way to incorporate wood into the room is through hardwood flooring.
Accent pieces play a large role in completing a traditional home. Sweeping curtains that hang elegantly, large mirrors, and well-crafted crown molding will round out your room. Bookcases filled with antique novels and timeless reads will show visitors that the room is beyond design, and is also part of your daily life. Framed photos and ornate vases can also add beauty and a sense of personality. Remember to keep it simple though. Metal lamps with clean shades and oriental area rugs help keep your room functional, but have a subtle appeal to them.
Pick colors that you enjoy and carry them throughout your room. Take advantage of any unique attributes your home may have, such as an antique stair banister. Showcase these traditional aspects and let your home become a place of sanctuary.
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Traditional Furniture Pieces
By: Kelly Goldthorpe
Appropriate home furnishings can bring a room together and unite the theme within it. By choosing fitting living room décor you will establish your home, meanwhile creating a welcoming feel to it. With the traditional style of decorating each individual piece has a story and purpose. Use this historical background to enrich your room and build in natural conversation starters. Typically traditional decorating has very formal furniture choices with lots of character. Below are some furniture piece ideas that can make a spectacular addition to your living room.
Credenza:
This is a fancy word for any type of table or storage unit. A credenza is the perfect home furnishing because it can be used throughout the house. It can function as a buffet in the dining room or as storage in the living room. Credenzas can be built or found in a variety of styles, with drawers, shelves, or cabinets. Traditional credenzas have ornate woodworking that looks fabulous in a formal setting. There are sleeker versions that are an updated style available as well.
Secretary:
Secretaries are also multi-functional pieces for your home. Serving as both a desk and a bookcase, secretaries can keep you organized and hide your clutter, while displaying your book collection. They vary in size, to fit any living room décor. But again, these are suitable throughout the house, including the study or den.
Coat Rack:
Here’s a fun addition for your home. A coat and hat rack is a simple living room accessory piece that will impress visitors. It is classic and has an authentic feel from the traditional time period, but doesn’t just gather dust.
Fainting Couch:
Allow your visitors to kick their feet up without damaging your coffee table. A fainting couch brings comfort to your living room without sacrificing style. Sometimes a traditional living room can become too rigid; a fainting couch will solve this problem. Just keep to those solid or muted patterns to preserve the traditional sense to the living room furnishing.
Epergne:
You don’t see these often anymore. Impress guests with this living room accessory. An epergne sits atop a table with a center bowl and several hanging bowls. This is great for treats or potpourri. Usually these are sterling silver.
With traditional living room decorating you can use furniture pieces that are not typically seen within homes these days. Incorporating function and historic style, you will make your living room furnishings come alive and become an essential part of your daily life.
