Bring A Timeless Vibe Into Your Home Through Classic Interior Design
An interior design of a house speaks volumes about the residents’ personalities and how they want their guests to feel when they visit. Afterall, a home is where you feel at ease and it is the place which you want to design according to your lifelong wishes and preferences. Whether it is your own home or a rented place, its interior design process is where you can fulfill all your wishes and get the home of your dreams.
When it comes to designing your home, you will come across several interior design styles,each having its own significant characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. So why choose a classic interior design over any other? In this article, we will go through every little detail you need to know about classic interior designs. This article will serve as your ultimate guide to classic interior design and help you make the decision of whether you want this design style in your home or not.
Background of classic interior design
So what exactly is a classic interior? The classic interior design takes its roots from the 18th and 19th century’s Greek-Roman era with a few touches of the Renaissance. This interior design style features such architecture, materials, and furniture that create a timeless interior that can last for many years.
As interior design styles evolved over the years, different cultures started adopting this classic design style with a few touches of their own. The classic interior design has therefore evolved over different societies and cultures.
It features items of decor and furniture that have been inherited in families through generations and hence, not only hold a special sentimental value but exhibits the timeless craftsmanship and quality of the yesteryears.
The 18th and 19th century saw an uprising of art and culture and this could easily be seen in their interiors. The homes of those times featured elements inspired from art with ornamentation and other intricate details that gave the interiors a very polished and curated appearance. The color palette comprised rich colors and dark furnishings. Symmetrical elements and curves were a common sight in the interior.
However, as the classical interior design style evolved, the dark rich colors were taken over by earthly shades of cream, beige, and gray. The old materials of cement and ceramic was replaced by earthly decor elements that retained the touch of classic while adding in a few ounces of modern.
Salient features of classic interior design
Although the classic interior design has changed over the years, there are a few significant features that are associated with this design theme. These include:
The ambience of this interior is a relaxed and cozy feel that involves richness of colors, elements, and textures.
The color palette is usually soft but rich including shades of blue, brown, and whites. The overall theme is earthly with a few boho tones to uplift the appearance. There are very few color contrasts in a classic interior that help promote visual balance and harmony.
The use of fine and sophisticated materials create a refined environment through the use of elements that have intricate details. These materials include marble and wood finishes with a few gilded and silver elements that add a touch of luxury and glamor to the space.
This interior style also features antique furniture and accessories like crystal chandeliers, four-poster beds, and display cases that showcase decorative items. The decorative items and other pieces of art are in themselves rich and full of history and culture.
Although crystal chandeliers were a must-have in a classic interior in the olden days, now the trend has shifted. Warm and intimate lighting through lamps made from luxurious materials can be used to create an elegant and hospitable environment in the space.
Pros and cons of classic interior design
The classic interior design has several advantages that include the following:
This style offers great versatility in that it seems to fit in almost any kind of space and architecture.
It offers a very elegant and luxurious yet relaxed feel which is a great option for families.
A classic home is often created in brick or wood that can make the initial costs of construction affordable as compared to its counterparts of stone or stucco.
This design theme can easily be incorporated in a home that was many years ago.
These advantages make this design style a good option to incorporate in any house. However, there are a few drawbacks to this design.
It can be hard to achieve the timeless look in a classic interior. Even though you may have many antique elements, it can become rather difficult to put everything together in a balanced outlook.
Although wood and brick make it an affordable option to incorporate this design theme in, it is difficult to maintain. Problems like mold, fungus, and seepage are bound to arise in these structures.
Tips on how to bring classic interior design into your homes
To create a rich and warm classic environment in your interior, you must keep a few things into consideration and then on top of that, you can add your own personal touches to the space.
Colors
The true classical design style colors include rich and deep shades that create a general balanced tone in the space with very less contrast. These shades can be hues of earthly colors like black, beige, gray, green, blue, and cream. Over the years, people have added a contemporary touch to the interior by using a relatively neutral color palette. But the general idea is to minimize the contrast in such an interior.
Furnishings
The classical interior design style is a celebration of the Greek and Roman era, the Victorian times, and the Renaissance. So it is only natural that you find furnishings with a connection from these eras. The design focuses on maximalism with furniture pieces that have a history. Comfortable and cozy upholstery that brings out an earthy vibe should be used. Polished and glossy elements should be avoided since they do not go along in a classic interior.
Textile
When choosing textiles in your interior, be sure to choose those designs and patterns that are a depiction of the traditional interiors. Use motifs and similar patterned fabric for the upholstery. Another option could be the use of bold stripes and checkered patterns. Avoid geometric patterns at all costs.
Accessories
The classical interior design style also celebrities the dawn of the art and cultural era. Be sure to add artistic pieces and decorative elements that depict European and Asian cultures. Moreover, ornate accessories with intricate details and luxurious finish add a classical and glamorous touch to the interior.
Lighting
Traditionally, a classical interior showcased crystal chandeliers that immediately created a wow effect in the space. For a traditional, classical look, stick to adding chandeliers for lighting. However, to create a contemporary-classical look, you can invest in some luxurious lamps and warm lighting options that can be used to highlight the focal points and accents in the space.
Architectural details
The classical interior depended a lot on its distinctive architectural details like moldings and fixtures. High ceilings and wooden architectural details are another distinctive feature of this design style. These features must be added in the interior to get a real classical feel.
Classic interior design inspiration
Now that we have a clear understanding of how to bring the classic interior design theme into your home, we will dig into some inspiration by AC Vision. We will go through inspiration for each room of the house so you can nail the classic interior design style.
Living Room
The classic living room should be an epitome of timeless beauty and elegance. All elements in the living room should go together in balance and harmony. As can be seen in the following living room image, a beautiful collection of earthly and simple elements creates a relaxed and comfortable ambience. The couch is made from light beige leather that contrasts beautifully with the wooden elements in the room. Also notice the traditional pieces such as the leather stool, the Turkish carpet, and a beautiful piece of wall art. The heavy plush curtains and the rich choice of fabric throughout the interior creates a timeless vibe. This living room is in no way minimal and boasts a vibrant yet comfortable environment.
Bedroom
Just like the living room, the bedroom should also include some artistic pieces, grand elements, and lots of accessories. Consider the following picture where contemporary meets classic in this elegant yet comfortable bedroom. The bed features lots of textures and decorative elements in the form of cushions, bed throw, and pillows. The curtains are double layered which is another distinctive feature of a classic bedroom. The earthly color palette with no contrast in the interior also creates the classic look. Add in a few more decorative elements and artwork and you will get yourself a timeless, contemporary-classic bedroom.
Kitchen
When one thinks of a kitchen, it might be difficult to imagine a classic look to it. However, there are several ways in which you can bring the classic and traditional vibes into the kitchen. You have two options in this case. One idea is to add in lots of luxurious elements and grand lighting to it. The other idea is to add in a few old and traditional items in the kitchen and keep it relatively low key. This second idea is depicted in the following image where you can see a few traditional items showcased on the shelves. These items are just there to create a classic outlook, otherwise they serve no purpose. The wooden cabinets and flooring work well together with the traditional elements. Since a classic interior usually featured a chandelier, this has been substituted by the hanging lamp lights.
Bathroom
The classic bathroom was simple, neutral, and minimalist. As opposed to a contemporary bathroom that features lots of bold colors or patterns, a classic bathroom is kept simple and pattern-less. An example of such a bathroom is shown in the next picture. The walls are plain and white. Traditional square-shaped white tiles are used for the walls. Same can be used for the floors as well. There are minimum ornamentations in the bathroom and the result is a simple, traditional bathroom.
What is modern vs classic interior?
A classic interior is all about sophistication and elegance in a comfortable and relaxed space. Whereas the modern interior encapsulates trends and minimalism with plenty of technological gadgets and modern lighting. Classic interior is the opposite of minimalism; there are lots of elements at play in this design theme such as accessories and decorative items but all elements work together in harmony. However, a modern space is all about functionality and minimalism; all elements in the interior serve a purpose and are not there just for ornamentation.
Is the classic interior the same as traditional interior?
Classic and traditional interiors are often used interchangeably. When considering the big picture, classic and traditional interiors are built on the same philosophy of creating a timeless interior by using old and traditional elements from the olden eras. However, the classic interior is more inclined towards creating a luxurious and grand ambience where traditional interiors are relatively simpler and create the nostalgic vibe that you used to feel at your grandma’s place.
All these distinctive features and classic interior inspiration can help you decide whether you want to incorporate this design theme into your homes or not. Working with a professional interior design team can help you achieve the timeless look in the best possible manner. AC Vision has been helping clients create the homes of dreams based on their requirements and preferences. If you wish to create a classic interior in your home or just want to seek advice on some other interior design matter, you can contact us today.