The Ultimate Guide to the Mediterranean Style
The Mediterranean style in interior design features simple and romantic aesthetics of Southern European countries: natural materials such as wood, ceramics, cotton, and iron wrought, as well as light and warm tones in the color palette. This design style combines simplicity, boldness, and convenience. You can style both an apartment and house in this style.
If you want to fill your house with the abundance of warm colors of Italy, the spice of Morocco, the sunny romance of Spain, and the marine freshness of Greek, decorating your house in Mediterranean style will surely bring all the above in your house.
History of the Mediterranean Style
The Mediterranean style that we see today has its strong roots in the Mediterranean Renaissance. First, in the 1920s, it became really popular in places like hotels and tourist spots near the coastline. Then the architects like Bertram Goodhue and Addison Mizner started experimenting with the Mediterranean style in residential homes in California and Florida. Bringing the glamour of a Mediterranean villa all the way to the US was a major luxury.
Colors to add
The key tool for bringing Mediterranean culture into your home is by using nature-inspired colors. The choice generally refers to walls but also to fabrics and furniture, which are an important part of the Mediterranean style. Take a moment and look for inspiration in the navy nuances of the sea or the crispiness of the cloudy sky. Your perfect Mediterranean decor can bring you far, far away from home.
Warm terra-cotta tones for the furniture, calm beige for the walls, or playful lime and lavender for the accessories will remind from the very first moment to visitors of their unforgettable Mediterranean vacationing time.
Furniture Pieces
In a Mediterranean interior design, large, usually pine, armories are commonly used as they were needed in 18th and 19th-century residential homes with no closets. Now in modern homes, these large pieces can be double as linen closets or entertainment centers. Mediterranean style furniture pieces reflect the casual lifestyle and community of the Southern European countries. Light pine furniture and large pieces such as a plank kitchen table are the hallmarks of this style.
Choose big, sturdy, and durable furniture and decor for your Mediterranean-style home. Always favor classic pieces because these stand the test of time. Think of carved timber furniture and upholstered sofas with throw pillows with velvet, silk, damask, or brocade covers: rugs, antiques, and handmade decor made from ceramic, timber, or metalwork here and there too.
Types of Mediterranean Style
Greek Mediterranean
Traditionally a Greek Mediterranean home features white wash wood floors, stucco walls, wrought iron patio-type furniture, and cobalt blue accents. Stately arches and columns are usually used in this style, along with Greek patterns and motifs within the fabrics and textures.
The Italian Mediterranean
This design style resembles Tuscan design; carefree and casual, emphasizing the textures and colors found in the landscape. Ornate pieces of furniture made of cast iron are found in an Italian Mediterranean-style home. We can also observe the use of earth tone colors, like deep yellow, oranges, and reds, along with the rustic stone or dark wood floors and weathered brown stucco walls.
Spanish Mediterranean
This design style is similar to the Spanish interior design. In a Spanish Mediterranean home, we use vibrant colors, Moroccan furniture, and mosaic murals that feature dark red, cobalt blue, and yellow stones. These mosaics can also be seen within tabletops, mirror frames, or on accessories, such as vases, pottery, and lamps. It’s also common in this style to paint walls blue, white or deep purple and have terra-cotta tile floors or wooden floors.
How to Integrate a Mediterranean Look into Your Home
When it comes to incorporating this style into your house, an understated look is best. Let’s check the list below to see how we can decorate a Mediterranea-style home.
Forget about rectangular doors and windows
If you’re still in the construction phase of your Mediterranean-style home, then you have the option to opt for arched doors and windows. Another great way you can create a Mediterranean design is by adding balconies and terraces and merging the beautiful outdoors with your perfect interior.
Add textures
Add some texture in your home to balance the intensity of stucco walls; this is also great to give your space depth. An easy way to do this is with some soft furnishing like throws, cushions, and rugs.
Add colors using home accessories
Add some pop of colors to your decor through the addition of accessories such as bowls, vases, and cushions. Avoid cluttering your space, as simplicity is the key to this design style.
Bring the outside in
Mediterranean living harmonizes your environment by blurring the boundaries between the outside and the inside. Add some organic elements in your living room, like fresh flowers or potted plants. They’ll bring life and color to your décor.
Wood and natural materials
We can observe natural materials predominantly used in a Mediterranean décor. Wooden furnishing adds warmth and works as a great balance with the stucco walls. A wooden shelf or a coffee table looks great in the living room. Also, include some rustic natural elements into your design schemes, like a carved wooden fruit bowl or a sculptural stone as a doorstop.
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