"Traditional interior design brings the warmth and elegance of the past into the present."

Traditional interior design is perhaps the most popular style in America today. It has roots in earlier generations but still manages to embrace the present with style and comfort.

The shapes in this style setting are typically very graceful. Curving lines are very common. Furniture is often constructed of dark wood and finely crafted detail. Think Queen Anne style table legs and rolled sofa arms, for example. Oh, and sofas with arched backs..very traditional, too.

Traditional lighting fixtures of metal, glass or porcelain with elegant shades look wonderful in the traditional home. Look for fixtures with a curvaceous silhouette. If you want to add a touch of glamor to your traditional space, a beautiful chandelier is a good choice.

Lean towards more tailored fabrics for your windows with coordinating fabrics on the upholstered furniture. A wide range of options are available in traditional fabric. Floral prints, tone-on-tone stripes and textural patterns can be found in a variety of materials from damask to cotton. Your choice of fabrics should largely depend on context and the degree of formality or informality you want to project.

Important architectural detail in traditional interior design style includes fine moldings. Adding decorative features, like crown molding and chair railing, is a great way to anchor the style.

Color can be used to help establish the level of formality. Deeper wall colors, like deep red or green hues, suggest a higher level of formality. Lighter colors and neutrals, on the other hand, can infuse a more contemporary feel to the style. Think about how you want the space to function and feel when deciding which direction to go with color. Choose something you love.

Traditional style can be adapted to a more eclectic and up-to-date feel by mixing in some fabrics and accessory items of other styles. This should be coordinated, but not necessarily strictly matched, to the rest of the scheme. This is my favorite approach when it comes to traditional interior design. I think it’s the secret to keeping this time honored style looking fresh.

Traditional Style Tips:

• The overall scheme should be very coordinated but not excessively “matched”.

• Antiques or antique reproductions work well in a traditional setting because they reference the past.

• Consider adding a few contemporary styled items for a more up-to-date look. For example, try a contemporary, unframed work of art above the fireplace mantel in a coordinating color scheme to the rest of the room. A more contemporary piece can enliven a traditional space to stunning effect.

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