There are many different styles when it comes to home decorating and we’re under no illusions that we can cover them all. This post will discuss a small handful of ideas but the real purpose is to get you thinking about what would suit you and your personal circumstances and your own home decorating style.
Generally speaking, once you find a style that suits you and you are comfortable with it, you need to stick to that style and apply it throughout your home. A single style will convey consistency and flow, flow through out the home and help to achieve comfort.
Traditional Home Decorating
This style is typically used to decorate a home with a more traditional feel. Generally you’ll find this particular style is mostly used by the older generation. This style provides for a cosy feeling and has more subtle effects and consists of dull colours and older type fittings and furniture items. Although the older generation typically feels comfortable with this style, many of the younger generations will find it dull and boring.
Country Style Decorations
It can be suggested that the purpose of the country style is to give that homey, comfortable and relaxed feeling – a place to chill out and take some time off. This is achieved through the use of whites and creams, and can be contrasted with accessories in light colours. Generous use of timber and timber colours help to give off that “country style” feel.
The practical use of timber is also important and handy – open shelving, cupboards and flooring all add to the look and feel.
Use timber furniture to add authenticity to the country style. Old furniture polished up (or often freshly painted) to look new works well. You can get these items from second hand stores, garage sales, etc. etc.
Retro Style Decorating
Most likely not for the older generation, retro style decorating tends to give off a hip, boisterous and lively feel. This style comes from the past and incorporates decades of fashion, mostly from the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s.
Not only would you expect to see colours and patters from this era, but you would expect to see furniture and accessories that were commonly found in 50’s to 70’s households. Retro style decorating is bold and there is no subtlety about it.
Combinations of colours such as avocado green, mustard yellow, brown, black, white and red are most commonly used to give a retro style feel to a home. Add to these a combination of patterns and you’re off to a good start.
Furniture considerations are important you’ll find there is nothing calm and quiet about retro furniture although you may need to spend more time looking for the right fits as these items tend not to be available everywhere.
Contemporary Style Decorating
Loved by lovers of modern things, contemporary decorating is all about being modern. Clean lines, simplicity, and space are attributes of a contemporary design.
Choosing colours for contemporary decorating is really easy (maybe this adds to the reasons why it’s popular, especially with the younger generation) because you get to choose between or a combination of black and white, and neutrals. White walls with coloured accessories creates a great contrast and gives that contemporary feel.
Structural elements are also taken into account and form part of the decor design. Tile lines, pipes, bricks, etc. etc. are used to add to the contemporary feel often by painting them in contrasting colours.
Furniture should be kept simple but can be bold through the use of colour and texture.