During our study of furniture history, we’ve stumbled upon Traditional style furniture. The traditional style is said to be a natural evolution of the 18th and 19th century European decor, where traditional homes would use detailed mill work, and colors would be calming and soothing.
This style tends to be welcoming, soft, warm and familiar. It does the opposite of shocking the senses, but instead soothes them while creating a familiar, harmonious home.
How to identify Traditional furniture:
- Soothing colors. The colors are not supposed to surprise the senses or overwhelm them. The goal is to create a soothing atmosphere with tones of the same color family.
- Perfect pairings. Uniformity is important in Traditional style, therefore it is not uncommon to have perfect pairs of lamps, accent chairs and end tables.
- Cohesive look. The same wood with the same finish is used throughout the home to create a cohesive look. It is common to use deep, rich woods like mahogany, cherry or walnut.
- Detailed mill work. Think crown moldings, cornices, valances, columns and coffered ceilings.
- Use of patterns. Traditional style often uses chinoiserie prints, mute stripes, florals and other complex patterns especially in cushions and upholstered furniture. You can go further and add a Persian carpet or an Oriental rug.
- Window dressing. Unlike more modern styles, in Traditional the windows are often dressed with curtains made of rich fabrics with the purpose of offsetting the neutral wall color and matching other patterns in the room.
The reason Traditional style is popular is in part because it works so well in older homes. It is unfussy, symmetrical, familiar and soothing to the senses. It achieves a calm, inviting home environment that many people are looking to create.
Source of Information: Living Spaces.com