Colonial style encompasses a wide range of decorating styles from the 17th century American colonies. It is a combination of elements from the English, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Portuguese colonists, who all introduced their cultures to the area.
Colonial style can be broken down into three distinct areas—Early American, Georgian, and Federal.
Early American style is based around the period from 1620 to 1740, when the American colonies were being established. This style is characterized by simple lines, natural woods and soft colors, and typically included hand-crafted furniture, such as Windsor and Hitchcock chairs.
These designs reflect the values of the early colonists, who preferred a simple and practical lifestyle.
The Georgian period, approximately 1750-1800, saw the introduction of more ornate and formal designs, inspired by the European Rococo styles popular at the time. Georgian furniture pieces were typically larger and darker than their Early American counterparts, and often featured intricate carving, gilded gold accents and bold colors.
The Federal period, lasting from 1790 to 1830, was a combination of Georgian and Early American design, and reflected the newfound sense of patriotism and national identity after the American Revolution.
Furniture from this era combined classic lines, subdued colors and floral motifs, in an attempt to create a look that was uniquely American.
Overall, Colonial style furniture is characterized by simple, enduring lines and natural finishes, although it can be adapted to suit a variety of tastes. Many pieces feature handcrafted woods, intricate carvings, and gold accents, resulting in a timeless look that continues to be popular today.
How do you decorate in American colonial style?
American colonial style is a popular interior design choice, characterized by furniture and accents with a timeless, classic feel. To decorate in American colonial style, begin by choosing colors like muted blues and greens, pale yellows, and warm shades of white, tan and brick.
To create a connecting element between rooms, paint the walls in a single color throughout, with white or cream used for ceilings. For the furniture, incorporate plenty of wood pieces, ideally those made with dark wood featuring intricate carvings.
Wing chairs and wooden rocking chairs are popular items in a colonial style. Upholstered pieces should be fabric with floral, paisley or striped patterns. Window coverings should be tailored—think shutters, drapes and valances made with fabrics like cotton, linen or wool with solid colors or simple stripes.
Accessorize with pieces like area rugs, poufs and metal accent lamps. Don’t forget to include a few antiques with great patinas, like carved wooden pillars or vases, with candlestick holders, clocks and wall hangings — like vintage maps to give your home an air of authenticity.
What is British Colonial design?
British Colonial design is an interior decorating style that combines elements from a variety of cultures and focuses on British colonial influences. The style incorporates light colors, natural materials, and richly-patterned fabrics, as well as furniture and accessories inspired by colonialism and travel.
Furniture pieces typically have a classical air and often feature rustic mirrored finishes. British Colonial design also includes wicker chairs, rattan rugs, and plants or flowers that evoke a London garden.
This style is well-suited to modern homes and emphasizes comfort and inviting spaces. Other elements typically included in British Colonial design include accessories made from natural materials such as jute and sisal, accents in animal skin prints or hues, and upholstery with bold colors and geometric patterns.
Outdoors, terraces and verandas are typically designed in the British Colonial style to bring the inviting nature indoors.
How do I get a colonial look?
To achieve a colonial look in your home decor, there are several steps you can take. Start by paying attention to color treatments and textures. Use hues like dark blues, deep reds and muted yellows to give your space an old-fashioned colonial feel.
These colors can be integrated into your decor through furniture, wall treatments, window treatments and pillows.
Next, incorporate wood furnishings such as dressers, desks, and armoires, as these were common in colonial homes. Choose classic lamps and chairs with simple designs, such as Windsor and spindle-back chairs.
For fabrics, stick with plaids, small prints and stripes for couches and chairs to give a vintage look.
Finally, add a few pieces of colonial-style decor pieces like candleholders, brass fireplaces, or wall art to really set the tone. You can also bring in natural elements and antiqued pieces like vintage maps and clocks to bring the room together.
Following these steps will help you create a peaceful, colonial-style look in your home.
What is Early American decor?
Early American decor is a design style focused on the early days of the United States. It typically emphasizes the beauty of the American countryside and the grandeur of nature, such as cornfields and mountain ranges.
Common design elements include large windows and open floor plans, to show off the beautiful scenes of the outdoors. Furnishings typically consist of wood, often painted in natural colors and simple forms, using materials such as polished or rustic wood or wicker.
Other features often incorporated into the style include pieces of early American artwork, antiques and collectibles from the colonial and early republic eras, and classic Americana motifs, such as stars and stripes.
Soft fabrics, such as plaid, can also be used to evoke a feeling of comfortable hominess. Early American decor is a great way to express a fondness for old-fashioned American traditions.
What colors are traditional?
Traditional colors depend on the culture as well as the era. Generally, when we talk about traditional colors, we’re referring to darker and more muted colors that appear in classic works of art from the past.
In Europe, traditional colors have included olive green, navy blue, terracotta, deep yellow and royal purple.
In the United States, traditional colors often incorporate the nation’s flag, like red, white and blue. Other popular colors in the US include beige, copper, gold, maroon and light pastels. In Asia, traditional colors carry a lot of meaning.
For example, white stands for death, red stands for happiness and black stands for wealth. Other traditional colors in Asia include blue, yellow, green and purple.
In more modern times, traditional colors have taken on a different meaning, with bright and bold colors becoming more popular. However, some traditional colors are still a staple in interior design, fashion and other areas, remaining popular for their classic and timeless look.
What does traditional decorating look like?
Traditional decorating is a style of decorating that generally includes warm colors, classic furnishings and accessories, and architectural elements that display timeless elegance. Traditional style has a timeless appeal, and it’s easy to create a cohesive and classic look in any space.
Traditional decorating often includes deep, earthy colors such as beige, brown, and olive green, punctuated with accents of brighter colors like royal blue and gold. Furnishings and accents often feature antique or classic-style elements, like carved wood pieces, ornate metal accents, and classic patterns.
Window treatments are usually seen in heavier materials like damask, velvet, silk, or brocade. Wall coverings such as wallpaper often feature intricate patterns and designs or deeper colors in order to bring an air of sophistication.
Traditional decorating also incorporates classic architectural elements, such as crown molding and columns, for an elegant and classic feel.
Where did colonial furniture get its inspiration?
Colonial furniture was heavily inspired by the styles of furniture found in England and Holland at the time. Early colonialists brought with them furniture designs that had been used for centuries in Europe.
These designs included furniture such as tables, chairs, and cabinets that typically showed a combination of straight lines and curves. As colonial furniture evolved, its look and feel still reflected some of the old-world European styling.
In addition to taking inspiration from Europe, colonial furniture was also influenced by the furniture styles of the Native Americans encountered by the early colonists. This influence was most remarkable in Pennsylvania Dutch furniture, which blended the intricate and repetitious patterns of the Amish “fraktur” art with the simpler construction lines of the European style.
Colonial furniture was a unique blend of English, Dutch, European, and Native American styles. It featured simple, straightforward lines combined with curves. This iconic look remained relatively unchanged in the American colonies until the late eighteenth century, when it started to lose its popularity and make way for more modern furniture designs.
How do I know if my furniture is William and Mary?
To determine if your furniture is William and Mary style, there are a few key details you should look for. The furniture should have small cabriole legs and curvilinear lines with a carved shell or scroll motif at the top.
The feet should be ball-and-claw or pad feet. Other identifying features are inlayed filigree and veneers, sea-shell motifs, and delicate scalloped carvings. Additionally, William and Mary furniture tends to have a restrained or restrained ornamentation, and the joined wooden frames are often left unfinished.
The upholstery is typically constructed with a dark wood frame, over which tacked or loose slipcovers are draped. With each piece, look closely at the craftsmanship and consider pieces’ overall design.
Researching maker’s marks, or looking up the style in books or on websites related to furniture styles, can help you make a final determination.
What era is William and Mary furniture from?
William and Mary style furniture originated in England and dates back to the 1600s and 1700s during the reign of William and Mary and is part of the Baroque movement. This style was popular for both large and small pieces of furniture and was characterized by the use of walnut, oak and mahogany along with marquetry and delicate carvings and ornamentation.
Some of the more recognizable features of William and Mary furniture include serpentine fronts and cabriole legs, delicate metal scrollwork, and bombe-style chests. While popular in England at the time, this style also had a strong influence on early American furniture designs, with several variations on the classic English design being produced in colonial America.
This style continued to be popular in England and America until the early 19th century.
What were the two basic categories of furniture makers in the colonies?
In the colonial era, there were two basic categories of furniture makers, skilled craftsmen and joiners. Skilled craftsmen crafted custom furniture pieces from scratch using primarily hand tools. They could create any type of furniture from cabinets to chairs, cedar chests and bedsteads.
Joiners, on the other hand, typically crafted pieces from a pre-existing template or pattern. This allowed them to produce a large number of pieces quickly and cheaply. Joiners were particularly common in urban areas, where large quantities of standardized furniture was in demand.
Joiners generally did not create traditional, handmade pieces, but their work was less expensive and more widely available.
What is the difference between traditional and classic design?
Traditional design often features timeless, classic elements and eschews current trends or passing fads. Classic design is an umbrella term that incorporates various elements from both traditional and contemporary design styles.
Traditional design typically has a formal, symmetrical, and orderly feel to it, while classic design more highlights the beauty of individual elements without necessarily requiring them to follow certain rules.
Traditional elements often seen in classic designs include natural materials like wood, neutral colors, and patterns with subtle variations such as stripes, plaids, and paisleys. Traditional design can sometimes feel heavy, dark, and a bit cluttered, while classic design is usually lighter and more airy in feel.
Additionally, traditional design is more likely to feature strong focal points like a large piece of furniture or a statement art piece, whereas classic design usually has more integration of different elements.
How do you make a living room look traditional?
To make a living room look traditional, you can start by selecting warm, classic colors for the walls and ceilings. For accents, you can choose neutral tones like beige, cream, deep brown, and navy blue.
If the room lacks architectural interest, add crown molding or wainscoting to provide depth and dimension. Choose classic furniture styles with traditional lines like a tufted leather sofa, a sleigh bed, or an armoire.
Use light-colored upholstery and wood finishes in light to medium tones for an inviting atmosphere. Accessorize with an area rug in classic patterns and colors like Persian, Oriental, or plaid and antiqued pieces like wall art, porcelain figures, and tabletop clocks.
Add some window treatments such as draperies, woven blinds, or shades with a pinch pleat or balloon style. Finish the look with wall sconces to provide gentle lighting.