How To Decorate Your Home with the Right Style of Furniture

Not sure what style of furniture is best for your home?  Visually, we all know what we like (and what we don’t like), but does coordinating furniture styles really make a difference in the overall design of your home’s interior?  If you are not sure where to start or what the best furniture styles would be for decorating your home, look no further!  We’ve put together a list of the top furniture styles so you can decide what you love the best for your home!

Let’s start at the beginning. 

Back in the 1600’s there were two main styles of furniture, Jacobean and Early American.  Jacobean is an English style that is medieval in appearance with straight lines, sturdy construction and ornate carvings.  Pieces are typically in a dark finish.  Early American furniture was very basic and made from materials found locally in the woods.  It was modeled after European furniture styles. 

Furniture styles from the late 1600’s through the 1700’s are still popular today.

This was a very busy period for furniture styles and some of which you will know when you see them are William and Mary, which is characterized by trumpet or turned legs and a ball or Spanish foot with padded or caned chair seats.  Queen Anne style, which is more refined than the William and Mary style is notable for it’s cabriole legs with a pad or drake foot.  Chair backs were typically bat-wing shaped or fiddle backed.

Colonial, Georgian and Pennsylvania Dutch are also of this period, as well as Chippendale, Robert Adam and Hepplewhite.  Colonial combined the styles of the above, but with a more conservative and less ornate style.  Georgian style furniture is the opposite:  a more ornate version of Queen Anne with ornate carvings, pierced back splats and gilding.  Pennsylvania Dutch is a simple, county style of furniture with influences of German design.  Many pieces are characterized by colorful folk painting. 

Chippendale, Robert Adam and Hepplewhite are all named for people.  Chippendale was a British designer and architect whose influences are French, Chinese and Gothic.  His style is more elaborate than Queen Anne featuring ball and claw foot and broken pediment scrolls on top of tall case pieces.  Robert Adam was an architect who studied in Italy and designed furniture with classical details that would fit the character of the homes he designed.  Hepplewhite was an English designer and cabinetmaker whose style was neoclassic with a delicate appearance, tapered legs and the use of contrasting veneers and inlay.

Rounding out the 1700’s and bringing us into the 1800’s are Federal, Sheraton, and Duncan Phyfe styles.  A combined neoclassic furniture style featuring the details of both Heppelwhite and Sheraton, Federal style furniture features graceful, straight lines, light construction and tapered legs.  The use of inlay and contrasting veneers is prevalent.

Sheraton is named for an English designer whose neoclassical style similar in character to the Federal style and was the most reproduced style in the United States during the Federal period.

American cabinetmaker Duncan Phyfe is considered by some art historians is an adaptation of  Adam, Sheraton, Hepplewhite and Empire styles with carved or redded legs and neoclassic motifs.

The 1800’s Styles are More Recognizable and Still Popular Today

Included in the 1800’s styles are American Empire, Shaker, Victoria, Arts and Crafts, and Art Nouveau.  Influences for American Empire come from the French Empire with classical influences like coarse carving and dark finishes.  Shaker style is produced by the religious group, The United Society of Believers, and is characterized by straight tapered legs, woven chair seats and mushroom style wooden knobs.  Named for Queen Victoria of England, the Victorian style is heavy in gothic forms and proportions, dark finishes, elaborate carving and ornamentation.

Arts and Crafts is also referred to as Mission style and is a simple, utilitarian design and construction.  Art Nouveau is a naturalistic style with intricately detailed patterns and curving lines.

As you can see the amount of styles and design influences from early times has created cross-over and blending of styles to create new styles of furniture.  Architectural and utilitarian influences are prevalent throughout furniture design during the 1600’s through 1800’s.  if you are not sure what style is best for your home’s décor, please contact Interiors by JohnHenry for more information and ideas.

A Simple Guide to Interior Decorating Styles for Your Home

The first question many of our clients ask when we begin a new project is whether or not the decorating choices they make for their homes need to reflect the architectural design of their home.  This is clearly a subjective topic, but for us, it usually comes down to personal style and taste.  Each client, and every home are unique, with different lifestyles and preferences.  Inspiration can come from many sources, but there are some basic decorating styles that can be tapped into for the best overall look for your home.  We wanted to share with you some of these styles:

Architectural design styles:

Art Deco – this was popular in the 20’s & 30’s and feature rounded fronts, streamlined and geometric style of furnishings with sleek lines, wood, chrome and glass materials.

Arts & Crafts – a style that was prevalent between 1910 & 1925, featuring simple form with no extraneous decoration.  Made popular by architects Frank Lloyd Wright’s craftsman style of architecture and bungalow style by Greene & Greene., Arts & Crafts often uses local materials in the design.

Asian – inspired by design elements from Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand.  Asian style fuses natural fibers and elements like bamboo and colors from nature to create a relaxing, calm, natural environment.  The furniture of Asian-inspired design is usually lacquered or hand-painted.  The addition of brightly colored accessories or statues of animals and mythical creatures is widely used to complete the look.

Contemporary – these designs feature sleek lines, solid colors and muted neutrals with bold punches of colors.  Furniture can be lower to the ground and often features metal frames and straight legs with basic shapes and forms.

Geographic inspired designs:

Coastal – inspired by all things from the ocean, this decorating style looks to create a light and breezy feel by utilizing light fabrics for window treatments and beach-themed accessories.  Blue and white tones with gold accents are most often the center of coastal palettes.

Country – rustic elegance with extensive use of white wood paneling and soft floral panels makes this a soft, yet beautiful style for any home.  Muted hues and pops of red, black or pure white accents with handmade, rustic features of floral and stripes are basic in country style.

French – Ornate and fanciful, French design utilizes colors that range from rich to softer, muted shades characterized by rich details and extensive use of gold, bronze and gilt.  Layering antique or heirloom furniture with dramatic window treatments and lots of fresh flowers finish the design.

Mediterranean – inspired by the coastal regions of Spain, Greece and Italy, this decorating style favors colors that echo the sea and include terra cotta, yellow and lavender.  Short furniture pieces with turned legs, heavy hardware and burnished finishes bring a richness to the overall feel, along with velvet, linen and textured fabrics, as well as textured walls.

Everything in-between:

Eclectic – has been the trend for a catch-all of styles with unlimited possibilities that focus on the basic building blocks of design:  color, pattern, texture, composition that make Eclectic designs anything but thrown together.  Eclectic spaces are quite cohesive and inspire imagination and surprise with unexpected contrasts.

Mid-Century Modern – originated in the 50’s & 60’s and epitomized by the Rat-Pack days of Palm Springs, this decorating style has a heavy influence from Scandinavian design and architecture that characterize simplistic, yet functional styles.  Minimalist design with use of glass for walls with pops of deep colors like orange and olive green to top off quirky furniture styles.

Traditional – with furniture styles usually from the 18^th-century English and 19^th century neoclassic, French country and British colonial, this classic style creates calm and orderly décor.  Utilizing mid-tone colors and muted fabrics featuring simple florals, solids, stripes or plaids to create symmetry in any space.

Transitional – inspired by both contemporary and traditional this style usually focuses on updated furniture designs with clean lines and a deep-rooted sense of history in some pieces. 

So, the question begs, do you need to decorate your home around the specific style that fits the architecture? We feel that home decorating is about exploring your creativity and passion, and less about the style of the home’s design.  For instance, just because you live in a colonial style home doesn’t mean you need to decorate in a traditional style.  Here are three simple steps to choosing your home décor:

1)   Research different design styles in decorating magazines and cut out pictures of the room designs that please and inspire you.  Pay attention to the colors and textures of each style, as well as the details of the furniture in the pictures that appeal to you.

2)   Make note of the architectural details in your home that make it unique or challenging for decorating.  Are your rooms small or large?  Are your ceilings high or low?  Do you have moldings or other details? Consider window and door locations as well.

3)   Choose a color palette, fabric patterns, window treatments, furniture pieces and accessories that best suit your taste and personal style.  We recommend creating an account on Pinterest or Houzz.com to “pin” or create “idea books” that include the items that inspire you and make you feel good.  Use these as inspiration when you go shopping or when you meet with your decorator.

Interiors by John Henry helps our clients combine the colors, textures, fabrics and furnishings that make their home a reflection of their personal style, while working with the space and architectural features of the home to highlight the best features and downplay the challenging areas.  For more information about choosing a decorating style for your home, custom window treatment options or any kitchen or bath remodel or renovation, contact us today.

Sources:  http://www.hgtv.com/decorating/design-styles-defined/pictures/index.html