Classic Style Living – Elegance Inspired by History
If you are looking for something timeless and balanced for your interior, choose the classic style. It remains one of the most popular ways to create an impressive and tasteful design. One of the most fascinating aspects of European culture is the grandeur and sophistication found particularly in architectural designs. Have you ever wondered what inspires the classic style?
In this article, you will learn about:
- The History of Classic Style
- Key Features of Classic Interior Design
- Living Room in Classic Style
- Bedroom in Classic Style
- Kitchen in Classic Style
- Bathroom in Classic Style
The History of Classic Style
Classic interior style is traditional and timeless, characterized by a balanced and structured appearance, rich textures, finishes, and accessories. However, don’t be discouraged, as this style also incorporates a modern touch, making the design perfectly suited for a comfortable and pleasant home. Designing your home in a classic style connects it to an era when Victorian and Rococo interiors were trendy. This interior design has a timeless aura that never goes out of fashion.
Classicism, also known as the "classic interior style," originated in France during the 17th century and soon spread across Europe. It dominated the design world for over two centuries. Ancient Roman and Greek art inspired artists of the time due to its simplicity, clarity, and precision.
Despite the strict rules of classicism, the style manifested differently across countries – in England, it featured strictness and rationality, while in France, it was full of splendor and ostentation.
It’s worth noting that people often distinguish between classicism (17th century) and neoclassicism (17th to early 19th century). The simple and clear forms of ancient art served as excellent examples for these artistic movements. Classicism is also referred to as the "Louis XVI style." It was the last royal style where the palace influence extended to all art forms, including furniture. By the mid-1760s, interior design became simpler and stricter. The bedroom interior of Louis XVI at the Palace of Versailles is a notable example. While Rococo favored large rooms in homes, classicist decorators aimed for the opposite effect – creating an illusion of spaciousness regardless of the room's actual size.
This style was particularly popular because it avoided excessive furniture, focusing on balanced lines, clarity, and harmony of proportions. Interior decoration was reduced to essential elements. Furniture legs served as functional supports, marking the end of overly ornate golden legs with purely decorative purposes.
Decorations were dominated by antique motifs: meanders, floral and laurel garlands, rosettes, and festoons. A combination of colorful lacquers (white, green) with delicately gilded elements was common. Greek and Roman motifs (swords, helmets, and shields) as well as Egyptian motifs (sphinx imagery in furniture decoration, narrow legs on chairs or tables) appeared in the decor. White was a favored color – warm shades, light pastels (cream, pale yellow, greenish) combined with walls in warm brown tones, added charm to the interior.
Symmetrical compositions, regular geometric shapes, clean lines, elegant decor, and luxurious natural materials were and still are exclusive features of classic style.
Key Features of Classic Interior Design
- Symmetry, evenness, and balance
- Majestic patterns with precise geometric shapes
- Vibrant decor reminiscent of ancient Greek and Roman eras
- Elegance and harmony
- Grandeur and sophistication
- The true embodiment of balance, ensuring nothing is excessive
- Every element is essential
- Richly designed doors and windows, columns, arches with intricate details, or marble-surfaced fireplaces
Interior in Classic Style:
Color Palette for Classic Interior Design: The goal is to avoid brighter shades. A calming color palette intended to evoke serenity and naturalness is the right choice for classicism. Colors like white, beige, cream, olive, brown, blue, sand, and gold are ideal for this style as they illuminate the room. Everything from furniture to textiles, wall colors, decorations, and finishing materials should radiate a calming atmosphere with natural tones pleasing to the eye.
Room Lighting: The centerpiece of lighting in a room is a magnificent crystal chandelier. Symmetry, through which light spreads across the room, is gentle yet makes the space bright. To enhance its grandeur, lamps and candelabras with bronze, silver, gold, stone, or glass finishes are often used.
Wooden Wall Decorations by DUBLEZ in Classic Style:
Use of Textiles: Design your room in classic style by adding plenty of silk, brocade, and satin to achieve the charm of extravagance and grandeur. Luxurious and heavy silk, exuding quality and luxury, is the right choice for curtain fabrics. Floors should feature handmade rugs that exude a classic European atmosphere.
Decorative Furniture: Furniture in classic interior design emphasizes high-quality wood and luxurious upholstery fabrics. Since this is an elegant design style, furniture gains a refined look through proper varnishing. It should always be comfortable and functional. Golden details on furniture can add Victorian-era pomp to the interior.
Living Room in Classic Style
Traditional ideas for a living room are among the easiest to achieve. Start by looking at your space as a blank canvas, highlighting any architectural features that make your living room unique. This could include a large area, an interesting ceiling, or a traditional fireplace. These elements help ground your design. From there, follow traditional decorating ideas, selecting classic furniture shapes and styles – antiques are always a good choice. However, there are also plenty of modern pieces inspired by historical patterns. Combine them with antique classic decor to perfect your living room.
Choose classic-shaped furniture and natural materials, combined with antique or vintage pieces that set the tone. Open-plan living room ideas are very current and create a welcoming centerpiece for your home. While an open living room is ideal for entertaining, you’ll also want it to feel cozy. Adding sliding doors offers the best of both worlds. When open, these doors create a seamless connection between the living room and kitchen.
Utilize architectural elements in your space to define your traditional living room ideas. If you have large windows, consider leaving them "bare" to maximize natural light. Natural light is your best friend, making everything appear brighter and more inviting. If your living room is a darker space, consider adding mirrors or other ways to amplify natural light.
Wooden Wall Decorations by DUBLEZ in Classic Style:
If you’re fortunate enough to have vaulted ceilings or exposed beams, leave them unpainted to add texture and character.
Traditional living room ideas don’t have to lack color. While white walls create a minimalist backdrop for your traditional scheme, consider experimenting with colorful walls. A powder-pink wall color instantly warms up the space while offering a lovely background for wall art or decorations. Combine pink living room ideas with rattan accents and velvet upholstery in mustard tones for a more bohemian feel. Original wooden flooring and a period fireplace could complement traditional living room concepts.
Your sofa is a key piece of furniture and should define the tone of the space. While there are many living room sofa ideas, opt for a classic sofa shape. Rounded sofa arms are a hallmark of traditional classic style, but the choice of color and fabric can elevate this centerpiece in the living room.
Buying a new sofa or armchair is one of the most important furniture purchases for your home. With endless design and fabric options, focusing on comfort is crucial since every seat feels different. Wallpaper is almost a must for a traditional living room scheme in classic style. Traditional patterns are a great way to express your desired style. To balance the look with a touch of modernity, a traditional pattern in a contemporary color is an excellent approach.
Bedroom in Classic Style
A bedroom in classic style is a return to tradition and refinement. Here, you might find vintage collectible furniture pieces that are high-quality and expensive. The classic English style often revolves around floral patterns. Whether it’s a bedspread covered in faded roses, a wallpaper adorned with daisies, or bold curtains full of wildflowers, something floral is essential. How far you take the theme is up to you. For a subtler approach, a few romantically themed cushions can provide the desired look. Be cautious about overly uniform designs – if you choose multiple floral patterns, try to vary them.
Colors are vital for a classic bedroom (green, yellow, or pink), but avoid the temptation to go for neon shades, opting instead for muted, soft tones. Complement the primary color palette with faded blues or greys.
Fabrics are where you can have fun. If your overall home style is modern, crisp white linen bedding can add a traditional classic touch while aligning with the rest of your design. Floral or satin covers are equally suitable. Stick to the same principles for textiles, but mix and match geometric patterns with florals, adjusting colors to your liking.
Kitchen in Classic Style
Almost everyone appreciates a kitchen with a refined and elegant design, paired with the timeless charm of a classic or traditional style. Classic kitchens are highly popular due to their enduring appeal.
A traditional kitchen should embody aesthetics reminiscent of classic architecture, with well-balanced component structures, proportions, and decorative details. Glass-front cabinets and vintage-style accessories give the kitchen a classic charm. Coffered ceilings enhance the style with architectural details. White cabinets paired with white ceilings create a sunny atmosphere and spacious feel. An island is another popular way to incorporate furniture-like elements in a traditional kitchen. Corner columns, built-in shelves, and warm wooden countertops give the kitchen island the feel of freestanding furniture. Dark lacquer finishes highlighted by lighter tones provide excellent contrast.
Wooden Wall Decorations by DUBLEZ in Classic Style:
Intricate molding details, luxurious marble countertops, and elegant black-and-white marble floors all exemplify classic style. Colored cabinets bring a European influence to traditional kitchens. Consider painting all lower cabinets one color and upper cabinets another for a striking effect.
Bathroom in Classic Style
A muted color palette always leads to an elegant interior, so when decorating a bathroom, stick to moss green, taupe, and traditional shades. The classic style can be achieved with decorative patterned wallpaper on the walls, and you can even add wooden paneling or railings to break up color blocks and give your bathroom a vintage touch.
Choosing antique-inspired ceramic fixtures for your traditional bathroom interior can completely transform the ambiance of your period home and even add value by "restoring" its character.
It’s important to consider smaller elements when attempting to recreate an antique look. Opt for ornate mirrors, luxurious long curtains with tiebacks, and store your modern toiletries in vintage-style jars or interesting bottles. Installing towel holders that replicate period radiators will add authenticity. A freestanding bathtub is essential for a period transformation, serving as the centerpiece of Victorian design and a perfect expression of classic style.
