If you love the mystery, romance, and pomp of old Venice, Italy, the Venetian interior design style is just right for you. Aside from its canals and numerous bridges, Venice is a city that celebrates art and lavishes on the beauty of its architecture.
This article is an introduction to what Venetian interior design is all about. It discusses the elements that make up Venetian interior design and design tips when you want to tap into Venetian-style home decor.
What Is Venetian Interior Design
The cities of Venice and Florence were the centers of the Italian Renaissance during the Middle Ages. However, it was Venice that embraced the classical influences brought by the Greeks and Romans.
As science and research flourished in Venice, so did the arts. Leonardo da Vinci and other Renaissance artists elevated the pursuits of arts and introduced newer thought movements. After that, these were later applied to hand-painted and interior design, among others. Not only did these artists study the contours of the human body, but they also analyzed how light and shadow intertwined with their natural subjects.
But the city of Venice would not just be significantly known for its scientific and artistic endeavors; it would also be recognized for its festive carnival that included magic, street dancing, colorful costumes, and fanciful masks. Eventually, Venice became known for its ornate artwork and classic glass art. Afterall, Murano glass is just a bridge away from Venice.
Murano glass has an unparalleled glass quality that boasts stunning craftsmanship known for centuries worldwide. Murano craftsmen introduced various glassmaking techniques that people can still find and use in the modern times.
Venetian interior design is an art-inspired kind of interior design style. At a certain point, Venice was the cultural hub of Europe. It’s not surprising, then, that a Venetian-style room is a treasure trove of design elements. One could easily say that the Venetian interior design style is a maximalist style from the past. This design does not shy away from being ostentatiously magnificent. Decorating your room in Venetian interior design style highlights that you gear towards luxury style and elegant design aesthetics.
What Makes Venetian Interior Design Timeless?
Venetian interior design is a celebration of luxury, romance, and artistic detail, deeply rooted in the history and unique architectural heritage of Venice. The Venetian style is characterized by its lavish use of rich textures, stunning light colors, and meticulous craftsmanship. This design ethos not only reflects the opulent past of Venice but also translates effortlessly into contemporary settings, making it a timeless choice for modern homes.
The Role of Color and Light in Venetian Decor
Colors in Venetian interior design are often vibrant and reminiscent of the city’s dynamic art and architecture. From the blues and greens reflecting Venice’s waterways to the rich burgundies and golds found in historic tapestries, color is a fundamental aspect of creating a true Venetian ambiance. Likewise, the strategic use of lighting, be it through grand chandeliers or soft accent lamps, can dramatize the rich colors and textures typical of Venetian interiors.
Features of Venetian Interior Design
What makes the Venetian style interior design unique? Do you know what design elements to include in your living space to make it more Venetian? Find the elements that make up the modern Venetian interior design style here.
Celestial Themes
The heavenly bodies, clouds, and angels are examples of celestial motifs common to Venetian interior design. Undoubtedly, you can find such motifs in wall plaques and decor.
Ceiling Details
Grandeur and Opulence: Venetian design is often characterized by a sense of grandeur and opulence. It incorporates luxurious materials and decorative elements to create a rich and extravagant atmosphere such as elaborate and sophisticated ceiling details such as the ones below.
Lighting
Chandelier Lighting: Venetian interiors often feature exquisite chandeliers, which serve as both functional lighting and decorative elements. These chandeliers are typically ornate and made of materials like Murano glass or intricate metalwork, adding a touch of glamour and luxury to the space.
Color Palette
Venice is surrounded by water, so it follows that colors often used in Venetian interior design reflect its surroundings, too. That said, colors such as blue, light green, and aqua represent the waters. Light pink, light purple, yellow and grey. Much of the color palette plays around the warmer tones, which renders the Venetian interiors warm and rich.
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Metallic Color
The use of gold and silver is spot-on for this kind of aesthetics. Gilded chandeliers, mirror frames, and moldings are areas where gold and silver are often used as accents.
Eclectic
A great thing about Venetian design is that you can tap into the principle behind the design, not just the elements per se. Venice was a diverse city during its heyday as it became a center for commerce from ships docking into her harbors after months of sailing to the new world. All things considered, some of the design elements were a consolidation of accessories collected during such travels.
Furniture
Venetian furniture always shows a certain level of elegance and refinement, which can only be done by using high-quality materials. Choose furniture pieces that have ornate decorations. The devil is in the details, so to speak. Your furniture should also be in velvet, satin, damask, silk, wool, or any luxurious material. Furniture trimmings are often in burgundy color, reflecting the color of Italian wines.
Flooring
Venetian-style rooms often have hardwood flooring or Rosso Verona marble. It’s also common to see checkered mosaics or marble.
Fireplace
Fireplaces: Fireplaces are a common feature in Venetian interior design, and they contribute to the cozy and inviting ambiance of the space. Venetian fireplaces are often elaborately designed with intricate stonework or decorative mantels, enhancing the overall elegance and comfort of the room
Windows
Venetian Windows: Tall, narrow windows with delicate, ornate tracery are a distinctive feature of Venetian architecture, allowing filtered natural light to enter the space
Much like the larger furniture pieces, windows are also embellished with stained glass.
Courtyards and Gardens
Courtyards and Gardens: Venetian palazzos often have hidden courtyards and lush gardens that provide a sense of serenity and a retreat from the bustling city. Overhanging flowers on narrow balconies is a signature look in the romantic canals of Venice.
Venetian Plaster
Venetian Plaster: Venetian plaster is a signature element of Venetian interiors. It is a polished plaster finish that adds a matt textured appearance to walls, creating a sense of depth and character.
Venetian Masks
The Venice carnival has more than 10 centuries of history. It makes sense that such masks should be part of your Venetian interior design. Venetian masks are a must-have accessory when cavorting to more risque festivities. These masks represent freedom of expression because wearing them during the carnival levels the playing field. Venetian masks are still utilized today. These masks use many materials such as paper mache, feathers, jewels, and the like.
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Venetian Mirrors
Additionally, Venetian mirrors are another element to use as a focal point in Venetian interior design. These have incredibly detailed decorative elements. One such style would be the gold leaf. The high reflective ability of Venetian mirrors is due to the high lead levels in the glass, producing a very reflective kind of mirror.
Venetian Glass
Murano glass has an unparalleled glass quality that boasts stunning craftsmanship known for centuries worldwide. Murano craftsmen introduced various glassmaking techniques that people can still find and use in the modern times.
Venetian Interior Design Tips
Venetian design elements are always associated with timelessness and elegance. Take these two factors into consideration when creating a Venetian glam interior design.
Photo by reisetopia on Unsplash
- Don’t forget to add paintings depicting everyday life in the Venetian cityscape or countryside. You can also add wall paintings that showcase Venetian grand canals and bridges. Frame one of these wall paintings in a gilded frame. Make sure that the frame has ornate carvings on it.
- .Add a touch of Venetian glass to your design aesthetics, preferably made of Murano glass. A timeless piece, Murano glass is elegant and often crafted into jewelry, vases, chandeliers, and table-top art glass. There are a variety of styles to choose from, raining from milk glass to glass gemstones. Use this unique material as your chandelier or smaller design accents
- Add Venetian mirrors to accentuate and add light to the room. Its metallic finish and the high-polished look can help catch rays of sun that can be a sight to behold. One large opulent mirror is usual for design style, but to be more modern about your Venetian style, use several smaller Venetian mirrors with elaborate frames.
- Add a touch of old Italy to your entryways by including a Venetian plaster finish to the walls.
- Fill up your bookcase with vintage books and quirky design elements you can buy at flea markets and thrift stores.
- Combine color palettes consisting of blue and greens to represent the Venetian seas or gold and beige to depict the sunset. These color combinations are alternatives to the gold, silver, and deep wine red color palette often associated with Venetian interior design.
- If you are looking for a more elegant look, choosing deep purple, red, and gold will help you achieve the drama you are aiming for
- Venetian furniture can surely overwhelm a room if not done correctly. The key here is to add heavy ornamentation very strategically. Don’t go overboard with your design. Such opulence demands that they become the room’s focal points- and that should be your clue. Make sure that there is a lot of white space between furniture pieces. Moreover, you need to use natural light when designing a room in Venetian interior style.
- You can’t have too much of the gold leaf motif. Make sure that your smaller design accessories have this kind of Venetian element.
- Add a chaise lounge to your design set as this furniture type is often associated with sophistication. Make sure that this has a similar shade to your sofa and other furniture.
To End
It’s not easy to pull off a period style interior design such as the Venetian interior style but with proper information and inspiration, one can easily design a room in this aesthetics.
Here are some key takeaways from the article:
- Timeless Elegance: Venetian interior design is a timeless style, combining history, luxury, and artistry.
- Color and Light: Vibrant colors and strategic lighting are pivotal in creating a Venetian atmosphere.
- Signature Elements: Venetian plaster, marble, silk, and velvet are essential materials in Venetian-style decor.
- Furniture and Flooring: Intricately carved furniture and elegant marble or terrazzo flooring define Venetian luxury.
- Artistic Accents: Incorporate murals, paintings, and chandeliers for a touch of Venetian artistry.
- Mirror Magic: Use Venetian glass and mirrors to add depth, light, and ornamental beauty.
- Contemporary Blend: Mix traditional Venetian elements
Do you think the Venetian style is to your liking? Share with us your thoughts in the comments section below.
