Style Benefits
Versatility
The design is well suited for both country cottage and apartment finishing in a multi-story building. It fits into any interior space - public and private.
Relevance
Classic doesn't go off the trend. You can make a full-scale repair once, and a cozy atmosphere will please the eye for many years, something you do not want to radically change.
Respectableness
Elegant style emphasizes the subtle taste of the owners, adherence to tradition. At the same time, it lacks the pretentiousness, pomp, and museums typical of palace interiors.
What are the characteristics of traditional design?
I will tell you about the main features and give you recommendations on how to correct them in practice.
Principle of symmetry
Modern classics was born from antiquity and borrowed from it a love of symmetry and proportionality. Furniture and decorative ensembles are placed around the compositional centers - fireplace, dining table, sofa. And if you draw a line in the center of the composition, the objects on both sides mirror each other. Therefore, you need paired chairs, paired vases, tables, etc.
Tip:
The illusion of symmetry can easily be created by a large wall mirror, then it will reflect a part of the room. In order to make a classic interior dynamic, you can add asymmetrical details: multi-format paintings, irregularly shaped carpet...
Smooth lines and soft shapes
Traditional style furniture should be elegant, beautiful, but above all, comfortable. Hence the preference for large soft sofas, deep armchairs with rounded edges, upholstery made of natural materials. Very beautiful looks leather trim surrounded by lacquered surfaces of wooden tables and cabinets. Elegant carved overlays and gilding inserts are allowed.
Tip:
New fabric upholstery with volumetric texture, neutral in color, will help to enliven the usual design of the ancient sofa. In order to prevent the room atmosphere from turning into an old-fashioned one, it is not necessary to abuse the сhesterfield sofas for all furniture.
A discreet color palette
Homemade classics prefer muted, pastel tones, with the appropriate addition of more saturated accents.
Basic range:
- beige
- creamy
- gray
- light brown
Additional colors:
- chocolate
- deep blue
- tranquil green
- burgundy, cherry
Tip:
The "tone to tone" principle will help to successfully implement the traditional style of the interior in beige tones. By using shades of different saturation on walls, facades, furniture upholstery, curtains in combination with a light background, the atmosphere will get depth and expressiveness. The last two photos are examples of such a solution.
Dark wooden floors
Classic technique - dark wood flooring. In work use a nut, wenge, acacia, teak, oak, their qualitative imitation. The color range from golden-brown to dense chocolate shades - natural or reinforced with toning - creates a beautiful basis for the rest of the decor. The flooring can be logically supported with wooden furniture and railing.
Tip:
The combination of wood in two or three different tones makes the design more diverse. The style is characterized by the use of carpets, usually in the sofa group, so they should not completely hide the beautiful flooring.
The molded decor as a modeling tool
One of the features of the interior in classical traditions is the exquisite stucco. All kinds of moldings, friezes, borders, rosettes, skirting boards are actively involved in the finishing of the ceiling and walls. Decorating the surfaces, they also perform another important function - they form the space:
To separate the wall into equal parts;
Adjust the height of the ceiling;
Balance the proportions of the room.
Tip:
The use of stucco depends on the size of the room. In a small area, it is better to limit yourself to neat wall moldings, located symmetrically. If they are painted in the tone of the wall, there will be an effect of expensive facing panels.
Focused design of window apertures
The traditional interior is associated with a good-quality, lush, detail-rich window decoration. Beautiful curtain drapery can echo the ornament with upholstery of armchairs and sofas. So the integral textile composition is created.
Variants of framing:
- Straight heavy drapes and thin lace tulle;
- Lambrekens - straight, pleated, border;
- Side tiebacks with tassels, fringe, braid.
Tip:
As an alternative to the usual decor, Roman curtains are suitable. Usually white or neutral light shades. They will also fit well into the elegant environment.
Lighting: Crystal and warmth
According to the classical interior tradition, a large chandelier made of crystal or expensive glass acts as a central luminaire, as an option - a bronze model with fabric lamps. For local lighting, floor lamps, table lamps and chandeliers are installed. We remember the principle of symmetry and choose paired sources.
The light flux of a warm yellow spectrum, as from candles is appropriate. It will be in harmony with the color scale of the room. If you connect a dimmer for the main chandelier (a device that regulates the brightness), the tone and saturation of the light can be controlled according to the mood.
Tip:
As in the case of windows, there is a worthy backup here. Competently selected spotlights around the perimeter will not only not violate the design in the traditional style, but on the contrary, a uniform soft glow will maintain the attractiveness of the environment.