Home Decor Themes

Once one knows who they want to be and what one wants their home to say we can move to selecting a design theme.   Tuscan, California Bungalow, Mid-Century Modern, Country French?  There are many themes to choose from but how does one get the right one?Tuscan home  photographed by Mario Ciampi via Architectural Digest

Themes are the “box” which your design works within.  A theme is the unifying idea that defines the character of your design.

Some homes may lend themselves more to a certain theme but not always.  This is why it helps to define their chosen personal style first.

Photo via Country Home Traditional or English Palm Beach

Here is list of some popular themes used today.  This is in no way complete, just meant to get your creativity going.  Feel free to add other themes in the comments if you wish.

• Country – casual, folksy, down-home, often based on traditional colors, plaid, stripes, nothing fancy or ostentatious, can be busy or simple.
• City Chic – can be trendy, flashy, modern or contemporary, techno, sleek, no clutter, dramatic, wonderful piece of art displayed prominently, and fearless.  This theme can be colorful or more monochromatic.  Very clean lines used on furniture and cabinetry.
• Beach or Seaside – water, clear true colors, blue and white appear, fish or palm trees are possible, as are rope and wicker.  The atmosphere is very light and fresh, never dark.
• Southwestern – concentrating on the colors and textures of the southwestern region of the United States.  This can be very desert and natural oriented concentrating on the terracotta or sand colors in calm or vibrant hues.  Heritage based elements of Native American Indians, rustic cowboys, or regional influences such as the Texas Lone Star, cactus and the turquoise stone are found.  Textures are rough and rustic as opposed to sleek and smooth.
• Contemporary – this compiles whatever is currently trendy and hip from furniture to colors to fabrics.
• Historical – this can be from any period such as 18^th century on through Art Deco and mid-century modern.
• Old Hollywood – glamorous, sophisticated, formal and curvilinear forms with bling and tassels.  This is another very monochromatic theme which focuses on plain luxurious textured fabrics in rich deep colors.  Rooms are moody, in a good way.  Every accessory is planned and placed for effect.  Black and white photography serves as focal point artwork.
• Spanish Colonial – Take a peek through the beautiful book California Romatica by actress and architectural design aficionado Diane Keaton to view the possibilities of this crafty theme.  Deep rich wood in luminescent grains play large in furnishings and architectural feature.  Homes often have clay tile roofs and arched doorways.
• Tuscan – This has similar influences of ironwork and wood work as the Spanish theme but differs in its ample use of stonework to either look old or because it is old.  Details are rustic and warm with more ornamental Italian influences.  Where Spanish has white for walls, Tuscan has ochre, terracotta, or sandstone hues.  Both Spanish and Tuscan have been influenced in America with the addition of colorful Mexican tiles.

If the architecture of your home already fits one of these themes, embrace it.  If you have an open canvas use this as a guide to inspire a direction for your home interiors.  It makes interior design so much easier when there is a style and theme to work with, the rest is just fitting in the pieces.  Have fun!