What makes the Classic interior design style so endearing and enduring? Perhaps it’s paying homage to classicism rooted in Vitruvian proportions as seen in classical architecture. This results in visually symmetrical aesthetics.
As much as the Classic design is loved, it can become boring. That being said, how can one twist it to adapt to modern sentiments? In this article, you are introduced to what is Classic interior design. We have included elements of this design so you can easily spot and identify pieces to add to your home. Additionally, there are practical tips you can apply to your home to make it more classical.
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Classic interior design, a blend of timeless tradition and contemporary functionality, continues to captivate homeowners and designers alike. This blog post delves into the heart of classic interior design, exploring its enduring appeal in the modern world. From the symmetry of traditional layouts to the incorporation of contemporary elements, this style offers a unique blend of comfort, elegance, and timeless beauty. Whether you are a seasoned interior designer or a homeowner seeking inspiration, this article provides comprehensive insights into creating spaces that resonate with classic charm yet meet the demands of today’s lifestyle.
With its curved back and saber-like legs, the Klismos is the epitome of Classical design. First seen in Greek sculpture, the Klismos chair can be identified by its three main features: the tapering legs, curved back and a horizontal backrest. Just like any classic design, there are many versions of this chair. But the lingering characteristics remain.
Other classical elements include wreaths, laurels, and murals, among others. Marble is very dominant in Classic style interior design.
This is a design style that hangs on the retro approach which is reminiscent of the Greek and Roman Art. This design follows standards and concepts first adapted by the said groups of people for the art and later on to interior design.
The Classic style has undergone several revivals, including during the Rennaisance and Baroque periods. It has reemerged during the 18th and 19th centuries as the Neoclassical art movement. Since then, the Classic design has become known as such.
Symmetry plays a pivotal role in utilizing space in a room designed in a Classic style. Often, the dark wood is paired with richer color tones such as reds, yellows, and greens.
The Classical style is for you if trends are only at the back of your mind and you prioritize antique decor symmetrical furniture placements. Those who love the Classic interior design like antique pieces inspired by European and American architecture. Classic interior design lovers are different from old furniture enthusiasts because they prefer non-distressed pieces, often made of ebony, mahogany, and other dark wood materials.
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Additionally, there is a sense of sophistication with this design. Perhaps this is because of gold and silver inlays or plaster and marble on the accents. The Classic design will tell your visitors of your rich and elegant taste. Since this is an enduring design, you won’t have to update your classic contemporary interior design all the time to accommodate recent trends.
If budget is one of your priorities, you might reconsider having the modern classic interior design as the materials and accents can be more expensive. Additionally, most of the features are fixed compared to other design styles that allows you more adaptability. Plus, there is more maintenance for the Classic design in the long run.
Balance, harmony and proportion are the three tenets of the Classic interior design. How can you apply them to your home? Here are the elements of the Classic style.
The Classic interior design has a focal point. This is where symmetry and placement starts off. It could an outstanding crystal chandelier, French doorsl, a fireplace or a large window. Look around your room and try to find one element that could act as your focal point.
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Symmetry is the name of the game for the Classic interior design. For example, your living room layout would have two sofas of the same color facing each other, divided by a center table made of mahogany or any dark wood material. You can also add two arm chairs that mirror each other in a corner. It would act as your reading nook. Or put these chairs between your fireplace that acts as the focal point of your room.
Furniture, as mentioned previously, are made of dark wood. Unlike the Minimalist design that has limited detailed design, the modern Classic interior style has ornate inlays and carvings, which is apparent in the use of carved leaves on chair legs. If you want to create a fusion between the Contemporary and Classic designs, you can match carved furniture with striped-printed pieces.
The Classic design still follows the art given by the Romans and Greeks. You can easily spot a room with Classic sensibilities with its columns, friezes, rose windows, busts, statues and cornices. So not to compete with the focal points of the modern classic house design, furnishing accessories often have delicate designs. This is done so that the eye would not be overloaded with so many accents.
Mouldings are common in the Neoclassical interior design. However, there is no hard and fast rule on how the mouldings look.
Geometric patterns are common in the traditional classic look. These, by themselves, already gives so much character to your room. Have them in wood or marble.
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Although the new classic interior design sometimes uses bold colors, the base color palette for this interior design movement will always be in neutral hues and tones. The neutral tones set the mood of the room. These colors are perfect backdrops to highlight the other elegant elements such as dark wood flooring or the marble tiles.
You might have noticed that white is dominantly used. But aside from this sterile color, soft hues are the norm for the Classic interior design, aside from beige and off-white. You can also incorporate nature-inspired colors such as emerald green, grey and blue. For your accent colors, you can use muted gold and terracotta.
One way to recognize a Classic room is the inclusion of columns, whether these are Dorian, Ionian, Tuscan or Corinthian in design. While there is no strict rules on how these columns look nowadays, columns still fetch an inviting visual appeal to any room without making it too over-stimulating.
The Classical interior design has a timeless vibe, but its rules aren’t daunting to follow. You can start by creating a more symmetric layout.
As you seek balance among your Classic interior desig elements, add larger furniture pieces first. Add a lounge sofa with two smaller single armchairs. Then, add your smaller accent pieces to the room. Remember to apply symmetrical placement when adding these elements altogether.
The first thing people look when looking at your home would be the door. Solid doors made from Teak wood would do great. Not only these are classy, these doors are also very durable. Enhance your door by accentuating it with fine mouldings.
Add large mirrors to your Classic interior design living room but be sure that you match it with another one to create symmetry.
Decorate the expanse of your wall with murals. The walls beside your staircase can also be decorated with large wooden frames. If you want to a modern approach to Classic design, you can also match your marbled walls and floors with some geometricac throw pillows.
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The Classic secondary colors can look dreary. To avoid this, you can colors such as silver and gray blue. Simple colors juxtapose with the ornate decorations, creating balance. Match them with your marble counter top. Have a vase with these colors in your living room. Choose from these modern Classic color palettes:
A modern Classic approach to this design aesthetics means that you will combine the sentimentalities of Minimalism with high-quality products. The solid materials brings in the chic value while the metal and marble finishes as well as velvet materials, among others, add to the timeless appeal of this look.
The floorings of your rooms would need not be uniformed. You can have marble or any natural stone flooring in your living room yet have hardwood flooring in your kitchen.
Recent Post: What Is Industrial Minimalism?Paint your walls neutral. An alternative is to paint it in bright white. These colors will enhance whatever art pieces your hang on them, preferably having gold elements. As such, these wall will increase drama, which can also be the focal point of the said room. But here is the caveat: Don’t overdo it. Your goal is to create an elegant and sophisticated room, not something that shouts overly dramatic.
If changing your tiles or floorings is out of the question, bring in the Classic vibe by adding rugs with bold geometric statements. Make sure that it can cover a third of the room for a more visual impact.
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