Overview of Decorating Styles

The decorating style you choose for you home gives you an opportunity to express yourself, both artistically and socially. The advantage of choosing to decorate your home in a specific style is the guidelines provide you with direction; the characteristics of the style act as a roadmap for your decorating project.

Traditional
A broad category, traditional decorating is defined by intricate detail in woodwork and fabrics, the inclusion of rounded and curving lines and the almost ostentatious display of goods such as chinaware or silver.

The use of such elements as Chippendale-style furniture, oversized floral patterns in fabrics and large cabinetry with glass fronts creates a traditional decorating style. Earth tone color schemes and heavy textural fabrics bring to the style a sense of establishment, as if the furnishings have long been connected to the residence.

Modern
Modern decorating uses few furnishings and fewer accessories. Linen and cotton in solid colors is used for upholstery fabrics. Leather in bold shades of black or yellow is often used for sofas. Plastic chairs in primary colors and cabinetry in lacquered finishes add to the clean, smooth effect seen in Modern design.

Country
Country decorating includes French Country, Country Cottage and an offshoot of Colonial style. Country styles are relaxed, comfortable and exude an eclectic feel. Colors include deep reds, bright blues and yellows, crisp greens and creamy whites. Mismatched chairs around a long wooden dining table, overstuffed chairs in the family room and an abundance of accessories expressing the joys of country living all define the Country styles.

Asian
The Asian style creates comfort through harmony and accord. The furniture has clean, simple lines and smooth finishes, characteristics found in Modern designs as well. The use of warm browns and cool whites with accent colors of deep reds and blues are common to Asian decorating. Furniture arrangements encourage conversation with visitors and family, but also include spaces designed to induce meditation and quiet the mind.

Ethnic
Ethic decorating includes any style in which accessories and select furnishings emphasize a particular culture. African masks coupled with reed or wood window treatments and animal print fabrics constitute ethnic elements in a decorating scheme. Creating vignettes to represent the culture is a subtle yet definitive way to include ethnic decorating in your design. For example, a display of painted pottery and hand woven blankets may represent the Native American culture. Such ethnic displays blend well in Contemporary design, in which the elements of Modern have been softened and the colors muted.