Traditional Home Interior Design is exactly what it sounds like – a classic, warm, comforting, and familiar home design style that is rooted in the traditions of the past without being specific to a single time period. You might tend to shy away from traditional design out of fear that it’s boring, predictable, stuffy—and it totally can be. But some of its facets are truly interesting, and since it incorporates a lot of antiques, traditional design gives the opportunity to stumble upon some pretty cool pieces. But what exactly makes something “traditional,” and just how far back does traditional go? We’ll tell you everything you need to know, and maybe you’ll be convinced that tradition doesn’t always equal staid.
But firstly, what is the Traditional Home Interior Design?
Traditional interior design is a popular decorating style that draws heavily on 18th and 19th century European styles and conventional notions of what a home looks like. A traditional interior design scheme is timeless, comfortable, and organized, but not overly stylish.
The types of furniture, textiles, color palettes, and décor used in traditionally designed rooms reference history and are familiar rather than trend-setting. For example, a traditional-style bedroom may include a neutral color scheme; a carved or upholstered wooden headboard; matching nightstands and table lamps; comfortable; an upholstered armchair and an ottoman; and possibly a landscape painting on the wall.
Origins of the traditional style of interior design
Traditional interior design became mainstream in the 20th century as postwar suburbs flourished and people sought to emulate the interior design traditions of 18th and 19th century Europe, particularly England and France.
Traditional interior design quietly hums in the background, while more exciting, modern, or decade-specific design eras come and go. Traditional design maintained its mainstream appeal, while the postmodern 1980s saw influential but short-lived movements.
Many people feel more at home in a traditional interior that is up to date and comfortable for modern life. The point of designing a traditional living room is not to create a wow factor, but to provide a reassuring backdrop for family life that is elegant, comfortable and understated at its best. At worst, a traditional room can seem dull, dated, and uninspired.
Traditional design today
Just because traditional design is rooted in tradition does not mean that it does not and should not change with the times. Many of today’s traditional homes incorporate modern elements like large kitchen islands and open spaces. Today’s designers are likely to add more contemporary pieces, bolder colors, and antique and vintage furnishings and decor to create a classic look that many call traditional new look. A hybrid of traditional and contemporary design, the transitional style has become an interior decorating category in its own right.
Key features of the traditional style of interior design
Next we are going to explain some key ideas of the traditional style so that you can get a better idea. Thus, in the case of wanting to bring it to your home, you will know how to focus and carry it out:
- Furniture, decoration, art rooted in European design mainly from the 18th and 19th centuries, particularly from England and France.
- The design draws on styles from the past, but is often finished with fewer fine ornamental details.
- The rooms are configured to be functional, familiar and comfortable.
- A focus on symmetry includes conventional spatial planning around classical uses of space; even furniture and objects such as armchairs or lamps. A harmonious feeling of comfort is achieved instead of a room full of juxtaposition and contrast.
- Interiors can include traditional architectural elements like crown molding and wainscoting.
- Color palettes include subtle neutrals with moderate use of bold colors.
- Wood finishes on floors and furniture tend to be darker.
- Walls are typically painted in muted neutral tones, but may include subtle patterned wallpaper with traditional motifs such as flowers, stripes, or damask.
- Textiles are generally neutral or have a subtle pattern like wallpaper and can include heavy cotton, wool, velvet, damask, and silk.
Traditional Home Interior Design Tips
As you would have probably surmised, traditional design is inspired by, well, tradition. It’s a timeless style taking cues from the 18th and 19th centuries, incorporating classic art, antiques, and pieces with history. And so, here are some cues to be taken from the traditional interior designs for your modern day home interior design:
- Pay attention to furniture, prioritizing symmetry, fluidity and cohesion to make rooms family-friendly and easy to use.
- Choose a neutral color palette that favors subdued earth tones or jewel tones.
- Look for pieces that work together harmoniously in terms of style and color, but don’t go for mixed-up sets of everything or you’ll end up with a canned furniture showroom look.
- Incorporate patterns into soft furnishings and textiles in subtle hues, stripes, flowers, and plaid.
- Install simplified contemporary versions of classic lighting fixtures such as pendant lamps, sconces or chandeliers.
- Choose rich, warm wood tones, like walnut for furniture and darker stains for floors.
Consider the traditional style as a starting point, rather than an end goal, so you feel free to mix non-traditional elements to create a more personal and memorable space.
If you’re a fan of traditional home interior design and you like to have experts creatively design your home with the last century design ideas, then speak with us at HCD DREAM Interior Solutions in Bangalore, Karnataka, India today.
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