Mediterranean Interior Design
What do you think of when you consider Mediterranean interior design? Many people are often transported to Italy or Greece, but there are some other areas to explore as well.
Since the Mediterranean touches Spain, France, Monaco, Italy, Malta, Slovenia, Croatia, Greece, Turkey, Cyprus, Syria, Lebanon, Morocco, and many more countries, there are many different influences that you can choose from. In fact, some of the most successful Mediterranean interior designs encompass a bit of each area. If you are searching for that classic look, you will want to focus upon elements that come from the south of France, Spain, and Italy.
The elements incorporated in this type of style are anything but heavy and dark. Since these areas are drenched with sunshine, lush lands, and lots of sea, it is only natural that Mother Nature plays a large part in any space. Some things to consider include terra cotta tiles, pine woods, lots of blue paint, white accents, and rough-cut stone. Color wise, think of yellows, deep reds, oranges, lavender, lots of green, and a splash of seaside blue now and then.
No Mediterranean interior design would be complete without the effect of fabric, and in this type of space you want to include things that are, once again, reflective of the earth. Generally, walls within these areas are fashioned from white plaster and stucco, floors are usually tiled (unless they contained weathered wood), and a lot of wooden beams can be found standing out against a whitewashed wall. When it comes to furniture, think about adding pieces that are rustic as well as useful. Large armoires, bureaus that hold lots of things, and dining cabinets full of gorgeous antiques.
While the tourists that visit these seaside towns often have lots of money to spend, villagers tend to survive on limited incomes. This is why furniture and furnishings need not be modern and new within this type of space. Stick to those old things that hold a lot of charm and you’ll do just fine (in short, skip the modern accessories and furnishings).
There is nothing quite as whimsical as Mediterranean interior design. No matter where you live, all you really need are a few well worn items, some plaster, and a few buckets of blue paint to create the perfect sunny getaway. You can begin today by picking up a few great odds and ends – soon enough, you will have an Italian villa all your own.