If you like rooms with warm and welcoming atmospheres, consider trying traditional home decor. While some might say the style is outdated, traditional decor endures as a popular option for even the most trendy and contemporary homes. To help inspire you, here are some ideas for using traditional style home decor at home:
Furniture placement
Furniture placement matters in traditional interior design. Focus on symmetry and balance when choosing where to put furniture in a room. Group furniture together to promote conversation and togetherness. One simple way to accomplish this is to place a sofa and armchairs facing each other. Add a coffee table in between for a classic and functional balance.
Color choice
Traditional home design usually includes neutrals and earth tones. Try mellow grays, beige, light yellows, greens and pale blues. Subdued jewel tones are a great way to add more depth and drama with color, but do so sparingly. Reserve bolder colors for accents like pillows and textiles.
Area rugs
Area rugs are essential to traditional home decor. Persian-style and Kilim rugs are a staple of traditional interior design because they add color and detail while still blending into the rest of the room's decor. A patterned rug is an excellent guide for your room's color scheme, as well. Pick out particular reds, blues and greens from the design and carry it through on other furnishings for a cohesive aesthetic.
Wood & metal accents
Traditional home decor has always emphasized both natural wood furnishings and metallic accents. Hardwood flooring is common in traditional designs, as are polished wood furnishings and accent features like railings, banisters and even molding. For metal elements, think bronze or copper finishes for sink faucets and light fixtures.
Trim & molding
Architectural details like crown molding and wainscoting will instantly give a space a homey, traditional vibe. Try crisp white painted trim with a contrasting wall color. Add crown molding to draw attention to the ceiling and make the room appear larger. Wainscoting can add dimension and charm to the walls of any room.
About the Author
Kyung Kim
Hi, I'm Kyung Kim. I immigrated from South Korea to the United States in 1968 when I was 7 years old. I have seen my mom struggle with the English language and work hard to raise her four kids by herself. Still to this day, I don't know how she pulled it off, but she bought her first home in 1979 for $70,000 and because of that decision, she was able to live without worrying about her financial future. I want that for everyone, to feel the pride of home ownership and to build their financial wealth using real estate as part of their financial portfolio. I feel so blessed to play a small role in helping others reach this goal.
I live in Beaverton with my husband, Richard. My mom, who lived with us for several years, passed away in our home in February 2022. Her first home purchase in 1979 made it possible for her to live to the very end, without worrying about her finances. As of August 2022 with a little downpayment assistance, our four children own their own homes. Being in real estate, I quickly realized that if they didn't buy now, they may be priced out of the market in the future. Whether that would have been the case, we will never know, but what we do know is that they are all realizing some good, healthy appreciation in their home values.
As passionate as I am about people owning their homes, I'm also passionate about giving back to our community. I support Compassion First, a non-profit organization that provides aftercare for sex trafficked girls in Indonesia. My husband and I also feel called to financially support social injustice organizations.
I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you.
