Traditional Interior Design

Home decoration’s ageless favorite

The comforting elegance of grander times and the classic furnishing designs of gracious living converge into a traditional style that is clearly America’s most popular decorating theme. Based upon styling first popularized in the 18th and 19th centuries, Traditional decorating’s long history and survival comes from an ability to adapt to lifestyle changes. Avoiding signs of aging is Traditional’s rare hallmark.

Traditional’s Decorating pedigree

Color or texture might be the primary element in some decorating styles. In yet another, it could be the geometry of the design. Traditional decoration relies upon the commanding presence of finely crafted woodworking for it’s pedigree.

Three hundred years after their introduction, Queen Anne colors, Chippendale and Thomas Sheraton furniture designs are conceded to be the universal benchmark of craftsmanship and lines of design.

Modern renditions have relaxed the historical code to suit. But, enough of the classic identifying remain.

Gracefully refined Queen Anne pieces are characterized by ball and claw footed cabriole legs, violin chair backs, inlay surfaces, s-curve lines, shell motifs and decorative turned finials. Some pieces are oriental lacquer finished, most are varnished.

Chippendale elaborated on the Queen Anne styling for his own distinctive fashion. Some lines were straightened but, in a gentle way. Greater and more elaborate use of artistic embellishment account for most of the recognizable differences. Motif and ornamentation come in more choices, greater use of carving and the addition of fretwork perfected the Chippendale trademark.

You should start with choice furniture pieces, then work out from there. Don’t be afraid to mix these two anchoring stylings. Antique and newer replica versions can be placed side by side.

A sofa addition for example, can even be a complete departure from these main stylings and still be a very nice fit. In fact, you should work toward developing a discriminating eye for pleasing yet versatile combinations throughout the entire breadth of your Traditional decorating project.

Lots of freedom

You’ll be happy to know once some choices have been made about furniture pieces, the door to the Traditional home is open for lots of personal preference. What’s right for you is probably one of the main reasons Traditional provides such personal warmth and has managed to keep it’s place against all comers in the popularity race.

Traditional Color and Texture

Key here is to keep in mind that most everything you do is designed to let the main furnishing stay center stage.

Paint for walls are generally in the mid-tone range –nothing startling. Rather than going to the color samples with a pre-determined idea of what you are after, try reviewing them with the idea of pausing on those tones which impart a feeling of comfort upon your mind. Once you have found the range, work combinations of wall colors which blend into one another in a manner that minimizes distinguishable transition lines. Room changes should be subtle as well. Let color flow through the home without jarring changes.

Generally use the lighter tones on your walls. Introduce slightly deeper hues in your choice of window covering and upholstery fabric. Deepen the hue ever so slightly again when choosing accessory fabric and floor coverings.

Fabrics in a traditional room tend to take the middle road as well. Texture isn’t coarse but neither are they too shiny. Commonly used fabrics are chintz, crewel, or velvet in solids, tone on tone, and faintly detailed all-over patterns.

Hardwood strip flooring with area rugs under furniture settings is a widely seen practice. Most homeowners continue to enjoy the warmth and sound damping qualities of wall to wall carpeting but, note that a shift to Berber is the popular way to go.

Accessorizing the Traditional way

This is your opportunity to give that comfy, homey, feel to the scene you’ve set. The most successful traditional interiors are those that accessorize somewhere well below the limit of becoming “clutterizing”.

You’re best striking a distinguishable balance by using objects in pairs. A pair of lamps. Two potted plants, two but not necessarily matched urns. A matched set of framed prints. Do things this way and you telegraph your personal sense of order to visitors.

Lighting is direct and classic. Lamps with plain shades, sconce lighting, a bankers lamp on a desk are all familiar and expected.

The dinning room and bedrooms will feature crisply clean linens. White for dinning and perhaps a muted plaid worked with slightly off white for the bed. Predictability is expected. Comfort food that’s by no means boring.

The final word

Your traditionally decorated home is a success if you can feel wrapped in a comfortably homey, understated ambiance. You will be using many of the same Traditional trademark items such as fine woodwork and graceful lines as others undertaking their own projects but you can still show your own underlining identity. cocoon?