Are you looking for new and interesting ways to start redecorating your home? Read on to explore the beauty of traditional styles of American interior design.
Breaking outside the norm of home decorating is difficult, to say the least. Most stores and resale shops are crammed full of non-descript furniture or the same tired modern looks. Sometimes, to be truly unique, you need to look back at traditional styles of American interior design. By exploring older styles, you can better appreciate what makes various decorating aesthetics distinct and so better create your own one-of-a-kind look.
Looks From Cultures
The highly unique looks that come from America originate with the cultures in the country. As a melting pot, we’ve enjoyed many precious gifts to our way of life as people from around the world came to settle here. For instance, the craftsmanship of the Amish has long been considered the pinnacle of woodworking and furniture crafting.
On the other hand, the door designs of the Shakers are virtually a staple in kitchens across the country. Yet, so few people know these styles by name! It’s well worth exploring how cultures that interest you most have altered the face of home décor. Then, you can appreciate their designs more when you use them in your home.
Styles From the Eras
While designs from various groups tend to remain rooted in tradition, America has seen quite a few colorful and creative waves of change. More recently, post-modern designs emerged. They prominently feature the loud colors and expressive forms found in the 1980s through the early 2000s. That was a time where designers explored a much richer palette and played with normally ignored colors. Pastels were popular throughout the 1980s, and the 1990s had a few iconic color combinations as well. Some of the most famous combos of the time include the use of teal, purple, blue, orange, and pink, all in rich pigments and neon forms. Today’s modern designs tend to be very muted and low-key comparatively.
Looking back, it’s not hard to see where these playful color combinations came from. Earlier than this was the mid-century modern look, which is currently enjoying a bit of a revival. It combines utilitarian objects with more playful textures and angles. Earth tones are essential to convey the mood of this period properly. Most notably, designs had muted qualities, giving spaces a peaceful autumnal quality. And before this style, there was art deco, art nouveau, and even American colonialism. Try skimming back through the decades to discover your favorite traditional styles of American interior design.
Mixing and Matching Looks
Whether you want to go all-out on a style or not is up to you. However, choosing to mix styles is a fun way to reduce the cost of buying classics. It’ll also help you gradually develop your own look. By carefully selecting antique and modern pieces, you can show your knowledge and appreciation of American culture and history. Furthermore, an eclectic look is a great way to avoid feeling burned out with one style. It’s easy to rearrange your own combined design choices by developing an eye for the best history has to offer.
