Historical Home Decor Styles

Historical Interior Decor Styles

Historical Decorating Styles are the styles passed down to us through time in the past.

See what we have at Design Style Guide: Mission Style,

Arts and Crafts Style or Mission Style

Picture Example of Mission style bedroom

Mission Style or Arts and Craft Style was inspired by the arts and crafts movement.  Mission Style decorating is credited to Frank Lloyd Wright. Simple angular forms and warm muted colors that blend with nature define this style.   Mission style is a combination of art deco and art nouveau elements while incorporating woodworking, iron and leather crafts at the turn of the 20th century.

If you’re looking for a relaxed, uncluttered and refined look, then Mission style is for you.  Mission style is simple and straightforward and takes its inspiration from nature, arts and crafts.  The talented craftmen and women of Design Style Guide create many stylish pieces that would look perfect in a Mission style home. Stylish elegance and superior craftsmanship is what Design Style Guide is all about

Colors - Mission style homes or rooms are often studies in contrast with warm colored walls and dark furniture. Colors themes often involve rich, solid colors such as dark browns, burnt orange, deep yellows and reds. Colored accent walls are also popular.

Furniture - Mission style furniture uses clean, simple lines and is often blocky.  Dark wood is frequently used however occasionally lighter woods are used. Wood furniture is always stained—never painted--in mission-style.  Stained glass or light carved on furniture and windows is used.  One of the most notable pieces of mission-style furniture is the Stickley chair.

Accessories - Simple is key when choosing accessories.  Tiiffany style lamps are a popular in Mission style rooms.  Mission artisan also incorporate beaten copper candle-holders, hand-turned earthenware, and stained glass into the décor.  Accessories made of art and leaded glass are appropriate choices in a Mission style room.

Fabrics - Simple, homespun fabric designs with simple appliqué patterns, wool, and leather

See what we have at Design Style Guide: Misson Style,

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Colonial Style

Picture Example of Colonial Style dinning room

Even though New England is the place where Colonial Style began, it’s popular in many parts of the world. Simple timber paneling, plain unadorned walls and natural earthy colors are the distinguishable decoration features of the American Colonial Style.  Early colonial houses were often small with low ceiling and small windows.  So it was important to keep lean, simple lines with simple accessories in order to create a light and airy feel.  Walls were often whitewashed or painted with stenciled borders, usually were in the form of fruits or vegetables.  The artisan from Design Style guide have created beautiful colonial art works that are perfect for your colonial home.  Search for “colonial.”Early American Colonial, British Colonial and Federal are all part of this style.

Color Scheme Colonial colors were based on natural pigments.  Therefore the color scheme is comprised of soft muted hues. Cream was often used on walls and woodwork.  Other colors include, Deep green, mustard yellow, Chinese porcelain blue, barn red as well as brown and taupe.

Furniture Colonial furniture is strong and functional.  It is typically made of soft wood like pine, birch or maple.  Tables are frequently made of timber boards and chair with square legs.  A typical chair for the period would be a Windsor chair, with a spindle back.

Assessories Accessories are simple and functional in a Colonial Style house.  Common accessories were wooden or iron candle holders, earthenware dished, needlepoint and patchwork quilts. Search Design Style Guide’s “Pillows and Quilts” section. Pewter was in general use at the time. You can buy pewter cups, plates or candlesticks on Design Style Guide. These will give detail to your American colonial style room.

Fabrics Fabrics were simple, natural fabrics like cotton, canvas, or lace.

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Art Deco Style

Picture Example of Art Deco Style bedroom

Art Deco, also known as Style Moderne or 1925 Style, is a style credited to being born from the Exposition Inernationale des Arts Decoratifs et Industriels Modernes. Simply stated, it was the World's Fair held in Paris, France in 1925. The style is a diverse blend of primal arts from Aztec Mexico, Africa, and Egypt along with high-tech influences to form modern decoration. Modern art movements of cubism, futurism, and constructivism all had an effect on this design style. It is characterized by curved fronts, clean lines, chrome hardware, and glass. The look is simplistic but can be dramatic depending on the colors used. A neutral, monochromatic space done in this style can have a very elegant look.

Color Scheme Beige, brown, pink, blue, vermilion, black, silver, green, orange, and gray.

Furniture Simple pieces with bold, straight, clean lines and very little embellishment. Any visible wood is usually a lighter color. Velvet, leather, fabrics with geometric shapes, and zebra print are common on upholstered pieces.

Walls: Usually plain and smooth but a finish with ragging or stippling was sometimes used. Wallpaper with geometric designs, chevron patterns, sunburst shapes, or sweeping lines and curves.

Flooring: Highly polished, lacquered finishes, black and white check designs, and for a true art deco look, linoleum. Area rugs with geometric designs or carpets with geometric designs.

Windows: Window treatments should be kept simple. Venetian or slatted blinds, straight cornice boxes, or panels that hang straight with clean lines and understated fabric.

Assessories: Large palm trees, prints with panthers, birds, palm trees and lilies in very simple frames. Lamps that are tall and thin with a slight curve. Mirrors that are unframed with a beveled edge and the stepped up characteristic common to this style or ones that are framed in a sunburst. Colored glass, stained glass in geometric designs, or modern pieces with ivory or jade. A 1935 Victrola is commonly associated with this style and would make an excellent accessory. Also, Picasso prints or prints of trains and ships that seem as though they are bursting out of their frames.

Fabric: Silk, linen, satin, and cottons in either solids or with patterns in geometric designs, chevron patterns, sunbursts, palm trees, palm leafs, jazz inspired designs, or birds (flamingos), and zebra prints.

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Neoclassical Style

Picture Example of Neoclassical Style room

Neoclassical design was inspired by the rediscoveries at Pompeii and Herculaneum in the late 1740's. It has various forms but is mostly derived from the architecture of Ancient Greece and Rome. The interior of a home with this style can look as though a basilica or temple had been turned outside in. Pedimented window frames turned into gilded mirrors, fireplaces topped with temple fronts, and Doric columns like those found at the Parthenon are common trademarks of this design. Crown molding with a dentil pattern, swags, garlands, or egg and dart shapes will give the space a true neoclassic feel. It is a serious style, with balance, grace and elegance but yet not pretentious.

Color Scheme Pale colors such as cream, stone, gray, pale blue, and celadon green. Accent, sparingly, with stronger colors like black and terra cotta for a Greek feel, or deep red and gold for an imperial Roman look.

Furniture Choose pieces that are light, graceful and simple. Chippendale, Adam, Sheraton and Hepplewhite are the traditional choices. Look for pieces with legs that are fluted to look like columns or are adorned with medallions and pieces with distinctive geometrical shapes; rounds, arches, rectangles and curves.

Flooring: Hard wood in light pine, stone, or marble covered with Persian or floral woven carpets.

Assessories Wedgwood china, silver tea services, candlesticks, urns, statuary, designs from ancient pottery, and fireplace tools and screens. Wallpaper with ancient architecture designs, mythological scenes, geometric shapes, or floral patterns will work well. Ceiling medallions, Persian carpets, and artwork with urns, columns or crown molding designs in it.

Fabric: Choose silks and cottons in pale colors in either a solid or with patterns that have an ancient Greek or Roman feel to them. Look for florals, stripes, medallions, urns, or columns. Neoclassical toiles are a great choice. Accenting with stronger colors will give a more dramatic feel.

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Baroque Style

Picture Example of Baroque Style bedroom

Baroque, by definition, is a style of architecture, art, and decoration that originated in Italy in the late 16th century and then spread to other parts of Europe. It is characterized by large scale, bold detail, and opulence. The look is theatrical, extravagant, meant to startle, and was known to flaunt wealth. Louis XIV's Palace of Versailles, most notably the Salon of Abundance, is a very good example of this style of interior design.

Color Scheme Flamboyant, intense colors such as deep red, indigo, dark green, raspberry, ocher yellow, purple, strong blue, umber, and the quintessential color of Baroque style, gold.

Furniture Over sized ornately carved pieces that are painted, gilded, or inlaid with precious materials such as silver, ivory, mother of pearl, and ebony. Oak cupboards, buffets, bookcases, lacquered cabinets, throne like chairs with legs shaped as cherubs, mermaids, titans, dolphins, or eagles, and wing chairs with low wide seats, high backs and scrolled arms of polished oak or walnut upholstered with fabric in a Baroque style.    

Fabric Indian cotton, silks, and linens in either solids or with patterns that include intricate crewel work with floral designs made from twisted wool on a linen base, exotic  chinoiserie designs of dragons, entwined trees, birds, or butterflies, and damask patterns...

Walls Wood paneling or wainscot, moldings with elaborate carvings of floral motifs or figures, faux marble finish with paint or wallpaper, or opulent wallpaper with flowers, classical architecture, or curlicues.

Floors Stone flags, bricks or tiles in two or more colors to create an illusion of different depths, hard wood in oak, pine, or fir, and geometric patterns of black and white marble.

Assessories Opulent chandeliers, classical busts, lacquered boxes, porcelain blue and white Delftware vases and ginger jars, silver teapots, plates or urns, coins, medals, manuscripts, shells, precious stones, gilded leather tapestries or velvet tapestries, and tassels.

Victorian Style

Picture Example of Victorian style room

The Victorian Era refers to the time of the reign of Queen Victoria from 1837-1901. It is marked by the Industrial Revolution where machinery made it possible for the middle class to own ornate pieces of furniture usually reserved for the aristocrats who could afford to have it made. Rooms were literally jammed with furniture, knick knacks, and photos in an attempt to show off their new found status. It is a very lavish, luxurious, and ornate interior style but still remains warm and cozy.

Colors - A good place to start when determining what color to choose is to look at the Heritage ranges at your local paint store. You should find deep, rich colors such as deep red, dark green, or gold/amber. Victorians were big on combining colors so try painting one wall a different color from the others.

Furniture - Ornately carved, good, solid pieces in dark woods like oak, mahogany, teak, walnut, or rosewood. A balloon-back chair, fainting couch, marble-top table, or a Louis XIV reproduction piece are all excellent choices for this design style. Wicker will work well with this interior and is a good mix with old pine or painted wood pieces. It does not, however, work well with dark wood pieces.

Accessories - Ornate chandeliers, Tiffany lamps, table lamps with fringe around the base of the lampshade, candelabras, old fashioned paintings of pretty, young maidens or sweet innocent children framed in large decorative frames with a touch of gilt, old black and white family photos framed in different sizes and designs of antique silver frames (be sure to include some oval ones) and grouped together on a piano, coffee table, or side table, and porcelain figures or dolls, decorative china, little bottles, lace doilies, and Victorian style maps.

Fabrics - Look for opulent fabrics to include velvet, damask, brocade, and heavily embroidered linen and cotton. If you prefer something less heavy try lighter cottons, muslins, and chintz. Look for floral patterns, foliage, or anything with an old-fashioned feel to it. The Victorians had a “the more the merrier” attitude so don't be afraid to mix patterns.

Walls - Walls were kept smooth and painted in colors mentioned above with wainscoting or wallpapered in large scale patterns of flowers, foliage, birds, or butterflies.

Floors - Parquet floors and hardwoods with Oriental or Persian rugs.

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See Also:

• Europe Inspired Decorating Styles
• Nature Inspired Decorating Styles
• Modern Decorating Styles
• Ethnic Decorating Styles
• Other Decorating Styles
• Theme Rooms