Traditional Furniture

Many people are afraid that embracing traditional style in their home will lead to it becoming boring and old fashioned. While it’s true that there can be too much of a good thing, it’s totally possible to have a gorgeous home by borrowing aspects of traditional design. But what exactly is traditional interior design? Let’s take a look at the key features of this timeless style, and how you can apply them to your own home.

What is traditional style?

If you haven’t worked it out already, traditional style is all about taking cues from traditional interior design. More specifically, it borrows heavily from the 18th and 19th centuries, usually focusing on European décor but sometimes taking inspiration from other regions. Traditional interiors use natural materials and colours, and are often filled with antiques and pieces rich in history. It’s important to note that if you’re a fan of wild, free-flowing interior design, traditional may not be the style for you. A key part of the traditional style is creating a calm, orderly space, using pieces that go together and striving for symmetry where possible. Just take a look at interiors of the 19th century and you’ll get the picture; pillars, wall panelling, symmetrical furniture abound. The traditional colour palette can be bold and saturated or pale and soft, but it is always welcoming and well thought through. Neutral walls are common, but there is plenty of colour in the art, textiles, and décor that fill the room. Think rich jewel tones like red and green, often seen in the upholstery of traditional sofas. Traditional furniture is also nearly always made of dark wood, from a console table to the legs of a high-backed armchair, so make sure there’s an abundance of dark wood in your home.

How to get the traditional look

The best place to start when trying to get the traditional look is with traditional furniture. Both antiques and new pieces will work, just look for furniture which replicates the timeless design of original pieces. Traditional furniture is often ornate and heavy, and has classic features like carved wood and curved lines. The wingback chair is a perfect example of traditional furniture design, showcasing a high back, wooden legs, and curved, winged sides. While the main structure of the interior is ordered and consistent, the smaller details are where the character starts to shine. Choose grand accessories like vases and chandeliers, and bring some opulence to the room with columns and wood panelling if you can. Centre the room around a focal point or hero piece of furniture, like a fireplace or large sofa. Upholstery should be high-end, so look to natural leathers and fabrics like silk and velvet. And don’t shy away from bold patterns; using patterns like thick stripes and plaid in moderation will instantly give your home the traditional touch. To really tie it all together, a little trim here and there won’t go amiss. Trim on pillows and upholstered furniture gives a little extra detail and shows that care has gone into the craftsmanship.

Traditional living room ideas

As we’ve said before, symmetry and balance are core tenets of traditional interior design. Now, this doesn’t mean you need all your rooms to look like perfect mirror images. Instead, look to balance both sides of the room by using furnishings of a similar visual weight and size. For example, you don’t necessarily need two of the same armchairs for each side of the room, but use two chairs that are a similar style and size that balance each other out. For a colour palette that screams traditional, you can’t go wrong with yellow and green. Choose a sunny, pale yellow for the walls, then bring in a complementary green traditional sofa and a couple of accent chairs. Bring in a dark wood coffee table and lamp table, some traditional table lamps, then finish it off with mirrors and classic wall art.

Traditional bedroom ideas

For a traditional style bedroom, you will, of course, need a traditional bed. Now, this can be anything from a wrought iron bedframe to a timeless divan with an ornate headboard. Just make sure that it isn’t a sleek modern design, and remember to apply the key features of traditional design here too. For traditional bedroom furniture, look to dark wood chest of drawers, vanity tables, and bedside tables. Find pieces with timeless design features like brass handles and turned feet for bonus points. A large rug will offer insulation and texture, as well as keeping your feet off a cold floor in the morning. And don’t neglect lighting; layering your lighting will give you plenty of options for illuminating your bedroom, from bedside table lamps to an ornate ceiling light.

Traditional dining room ideas

For the dining room, choose a wall colour that is inviting and calming, but strong enough to hold its own on more formal occasions. A deep brick red is a great option, as are greens at the darker end of the spectrum. These will play beautifully with dark wood furniture. Look for a large, dark wood dining set and complementary furniture like a sideboard, console table or larder unit. For a gorgeous traditional touch, find dining chairs with an upholstered cushion in a classic patterned fabric. Choose wall art that adds to the traditional style, but doesn’t distract from the table – you want your guests’ attention to be on each other, not on the décor, after all. In the dining room, you can go for statement lighting like a chandelier, or choose simpler options like hanging pendants. Just make sure the table is illuminated, and use wall lights or lamps to highlight any features of the room like panelling or art.