Discover Your Interior Decorating Style
by admin on Mar.27, 2010, under Womens Interest
What is your home decorating or interior design style? Do you follow a distinct style with a theme such as an exotic African, Moroccan, Indian, or Polynesian design style? Perhaps you like the elegant simplicity of the Asian or Japanese design styles. European decorating styles-like French country, English cottage, Italian Renaissance, Tuscan, and Mediterranean-are popular these days. Victorian, Early American, Southwestern, and Rustic design styles are also incredibly popular – as are the funky Retro and Art Deco styles. You probably didn\’t even realize there were so many different styles of decorating!
In the midst of an unsettled economy and a new campaign for global awareness of earth friendly measures we can take to save our planet, the Shabby Chic style has become immensely popular. Featuring older, recycled furniture that has seen better days – complete with paint chips and other signs of distress – Shabby Chic represents an eclectic mix of much-loved treasures. The furniture doesn\’t have to match and neither do the accessories or all the pieces of china; in fact, the look is typified by deliberately mismatched items, and that is part of the appeal. Old paintings, vintage fabrics, and roses are also abundant in a Shabby Chic home.
To fit with the Shabby Chic look, upholstered chairs and furniture usually incorporate linen or cotton fabrics or perhaps solid white, faded pastel, or rose-covered prints. Furniture can also be slipcovered with these kinds of fabrics. Wood furniture – or the wood on upholstered pieces – is covered in chipped layers of paint for a very hand-me-down look that is all the rage right now. Mismatched furnishings are perfectly acceptable.
Perhaps you favor a more Traditional decorating style for your home. This look is generally characterized by matching furniture and accessories – often in pairs or symmetrical layouts so that everything is balanced. Everything matches. Often the living room will feature upholstered chairs, loveseats, and sofas with soft curving lines and smooth fabrics in muted colors. Florals, stripes, little prints, and light or dark colors are all acceptable. The furniture is comfortable, functional, and understated.
Typically the home will feature a separate dining room that boasts hardwood flooring and the dining table will be wooden, centered on an area rug in the middle of the room. Trim is painted – usually white – and may include molding and chair rails. Typically there will be lamps on either side of the sofa – usually with a neutral cream or white lampshade – perched on matching end tables. Window coverings are usually draperies or sheers on traverse curtain rods.
The Country decorating style has a great deal of variety. There are many subsets of this home decorating style – like English or French Country, Contemporary Country, Rustic Country, or \”New\” Country styles. To help you differentiate between them, the Contemporary Country style is a simple, homey style that uses three primary colors: black, white, and red. \”New\” Country style takes a minimalist approach with few furnishings and no window coverings at all. Rustic Country is often reminiscent of a cabin in the woods with basic furnishings and lots of hunting and fishing accessories like antlers and trophy mounts.
Country is a popular decorating style because it is informal and features lots of hand made treasures. Walls may be stenciled and baskets, forged iron, and pottery combine to make wonderful accents, most hand made. Groups of collectibles, handmade crafts, vintage fabrics, simple pine furnishings, and painted finishes are also characteristic of this style. This style makes a house feel like a home, and visitors feel welcome and relaxed in this slightly old-fashioned atmosphere.
The Contemporary decorating style, on the other hand, is uncluttered and minimalist. Rather than a collection of objects, the d?cor is usually sparse and focused on a single impressive sculpture or painting amid lots of open space and streamlined furnishings. Window coverings are also minimal, furniture is usually simple, and fabrics are often rich in texture. Light colors combine with bright accent colors and geographic shapes are often prominent. Rooms are usually well lit with functional and stylish lamps and lights, from curved strip lighting to canned, recessed lighting. Woods and metals are popular and everything looks modern although this isn\’t the \”Modern\” decorating style specifically.
Hopefully this interior design styles guide has tickled your imagination and will send you on your way to imaginative home decorating!
