DISCOVER AND DEVELOP YOUR DECORATING STYLE

Study Decorating Styles to Develop a Home Decorating Idea

Studying different decorating styles will help you in the development of a home decorating idea.  Here you will find a brief description of various home decorating styles including accessories and colors that traditionally accompany each style.  Art Deco - Art Deco is a streamlined, elegant, and geometric style of home furnishings popular in the 20's, 30's, and early 40's.  Vibrant colors were predominant as well as neon, chrome, and inlayed furniture in this decorating style.  Art Nouveau - A forerunner to art deco.  Developed in France between 1890 and 1910, art nouveau includes furnishings and accessories such as Tiffany lamps, ornate and flowing lines and shapes taken from nature and feminine form. Classical - Classical style is reminiscent of ancient Greece.  Use of pillars and columns in both interior and furniture design.  Marble table tops, tapestries and crystal chandeliers are suitable accents used in the classical style. Colonial - The colonial style dominated the designs of American furniture from the 1700s up to the Revolutionary era.  Unfinished wood was used for floors and walls.  Spindle forms were used for chair legs and backs instead of fancy ornamentation.  Delicate embroidery such as crewel and needlepoint along with pewter and family portraits were used as accessories. Contemporary - Styles developed in the latter half of the 20th century were considered contemporary.  Pieces feature softened and rounded lines.  Use neutral colors for walls and furniture but bold color for accessories. Cottage - The cottage style is a colorful, comfortable look characterized by painted and/or decorated furniture with graceful lines and accessories which add texture such as baskets, wicker, natural fiber rugs and window shades.  Weathered finishes and pastel colors are widely used. Country - A general term that depends on geographical location.  The country style includes antique cotton quilts, stoneware bowls, and enamelware.  Wood and vintage cotton fabrics prevail. Eclectic - The style that most people use is eclectic!  It encompasses a variety of styles brought together through the use of color, texture, shape and finish. French Country - Rustic versions of formal French furnishings of the 1600 and 1700s.  Chairs feature caning for the backs and seats instead of heavy upholstery.  Yellows, blues, rooster collections, tiles on the floors and walls are all considered French country.  Natural materials like stone and terra-cotta are used abundantly, in addition to wire and wrought iron. Mediterranean - This style is often referred to today as Spanish Modern.  Furniture style is simply functional to extremely formal.  Use colors such as terra-cotta, warm yellows and other earth tones with distressed finishes and simple patterns.  Blue and gold accents as well as pottery aquatic pieces complete the look of the Mediterranean style. Modern - Futuristic looking using concrete, stone, metal and glass with lots of open space, bright lighting and square as well as sleek geometric shapes.  High tech also comes to mind!  The main colors in the modern style are basic and cool with splashes of bright colors.  Abstract art work as well as unusual hand blown glass pieces complement this decorating style. Oriental - Simplicity, balance and practicality best describe oriental decor.  Rooms are usually sparsely furnished with dark wooden pieces standing out against light walls.  Accessories include beautiful oriental rugs, delicate tea sets, jade, ivory, coral, onyx, elephants, dragons, fans, teak and lacquered wooden pieces and luscious silk prints. Rustic - The log cabin-type rustic decor featuring a simple style typical of country life.  Interiors are primitive with exposed walls, wood paneling, rough-hewn beams and stone.  Red, green and black should be displayed in plaids with this look.  Accessories may include bear skin rugs, antique snow shoes hanging on the wall, old woodsman tools,  and oil lamps. Shabby Chic - This style has become popular in recent years because of its accessibility and affordability.  White painted furniture, painted motifs, muted colors, slipcovers and vintage fabrics are all part of this comfortable, eclectic shabby chic look.  Southwestern - Think desert when thinking of this southwestern style.  Adobe, leather, bold colors, such as orange, purple, bright turquoise as well as earth tone colors mix well with this style.  Accessories include silver items, terra-cotta, cactus and maybe even a lasso! Traditional - The traditional style has classic elegance, created by using light, natural colors such as gray, off white and beige together with dark blues, greens and burgundy.  Florals, stripes, plaids and damasks are noted fabrics.  Crystal candlesticks, china, decorative mirrors, and framed landscapes are typical traditional accessories. Tuscan - Tuscan interiors feature a sun-baked look characterized by crumbling stone patios, simple and study furnishings with elegant iron accents, terra-cotta tiles and textured wall finishes in addition to elegant, detailed murals.  Imagine a rustic Tuscan life lived in persimmon, olive, grape and Dijon colors, accented with wonderful rustic iron pieces. Victorian - A style characterized by rich brocades and velvets both in furniture, walls and window dressings.  Mauve, burgundy and rich blue and green along with lace and fringe compliment Victorian furnishings.  Porcelain dolls, wicker, old high button shoes, hats and hat boxes, buttons and dried flowers are wonderful accent pieces in a Victorian decor. Choose the decorating style that appeals to you, add creativity and imagination and you can develop your home decorating idea into reality.  You and your friends and relatives will enjoy your newly decorated home for many years. For ideas on keeping your home organized, download a free copy of the ebook "The Essential Guide to Organizing Your Home". Download it free here:  Organizing Tips Lynn Cressy is the author of this article.  Excellent advice and direction We at Ken Rader Interiors L.L.C. will continue to search the internet for informative and relevant articles and information for your education and enjoyment. Pick you style and have fun pursuing that perfect look.  It really is fun and fulfilling. As always ‘Happy Painting’ www.kenraderinteriors.com or follow us on facebook ( facebook.com/ken.rader.interiors)