Seven Distinctive Characteristics Of Traditional Design

Traditional design tends to have a distinctive look that often reads as old-fashioned if you’re not careful. Because of ill-fated attempts at the style, many people associate it with being outdated. However, with the proper approach, traditional design is classic and timeless and blends well with other aesthetics.

Earthy, warm tones, ornate details, classic furniture, and antique touches are defining characteristics of traditional design. Plaids, stripes, florals, and similar timeless patterns are popular picks. Other key components to master if you want to take the traditional approach are embracing symmetry and balance and exuding an understated elegance.

Traditional rooms should feel welcoming and comfortable. They’re sophisticated, but without getting overly stuffy. As with any style, there are degrees, from mild to over-the-top, depending on your preferences. However, no matter how subtle or bold you make it, if you want your traditional design to work, you need to focus on a few basics.

Where Did Traditional Design Come From?

The inspiration for traditional design comes primarily from the 18th and 19th centuries. This definitely explains why so many antique pieces fit into the style so nicely. Prominent looks during these periods include the Victorian Era, the Queen Anne style, the Rococo Movement, and Neoclassicism.

When you dig a little deeper into these eras, it’s easy to see why traditional design embraces ornate details, antiquity, and classic art. Many traditional elements pull their inspiration from European furniture and decor. However, it’s also possible to find pieces influenced by other areas of the world. The common bond between them all is that they showcase historical design trends.

How To Make Traditional Style Work In Your Home

As fun as antique shopping is, traditional design isn’t about filling your home from top to bottom with antiques and vintage treasures. (Unless your goal is to recreate in detail a Rococo ballroom or Victorian parlor.) Likewise, you don’t want to inherit your great-grandmother’s house and keep everything exactly the same and call it traditional.

These examples may seem extreme, but they’re what many people mistake for traditional design. Keeping this in mind, it’s easy to see why some people assume traditional spaces are too old-school or outdated for them.

However, the great thing about the traditional style is it welcomes modern and contemporary touches to keep it from becoming too unadventurous. Therefore, focus more on the idea that traditional design highlights historical design elements, it doesn’t use them exclusively.

Additionally, keep these 7 basic tenets of traditional design in mind when working on your space.

1. Symmetry

Achieving a balanced look through symmetry is a primary feature in traditional spaces. You'll often see pairs of certain furniture pieces and accessories placed opposite each other in a room.

For example, two matching chairs sitting across from each other in a living room or two matching candlesticks on either end of the fireplace mantle. A pair of lamps, a duo of end tables, and matching ottomans are other examples. 

However, don't mistake this tip to mean you should buy all matching furniture. Quite the contrary. Avoid buying entire sets so your house doesn't end up looking like one big store showroom.

Therefore, perhaps you buy the matching vintage side tables and top them with identical lamps but place them on either side of a modern couch. In addition to balancing through symmetry, don't forget to balance your pairs with unique pieces to keep your space interesting. 

It's also important to consider the flow and movement through the space when placing your furniture. Even though traditional spaces often emit a more formal feel, they shouldn't be stuffy. Focus on creating a symmetrical space that is comfortable, easy to move around in, and welcoming.

2. Ornate Details And Moldings

Since traditional design pulls plenty of its inspiration from more ornate styles, it's expected to use more details in furniture and moldings. You don't have to get overly fussy or intricate, but this isn't the place for all streamlined, sleek silhouettes à la mid-century modern or minimalism. A few of these pieces are fine but don't emit all of the details.

Use things like an ornate chandelier, tufted couch, and decorative crown molding. Add wainscoting to a room to bump up the elegance and add visual depth. Hang silk curtains with a lush fringe or tassels.

3. Warm, Earth Tones And Neutrals

Most traditional spaces focus on a neutral palette or earthy colors, concentrating on warmer tones, like amber, terra cotta, mustard, olive green, cream, sage, rust, beige, and ivory. Navy blue, forest green, mauve, and burgundy are other popular hues in traditional design schemes.

When choosing your palette, select a main color that will be in roughly 60% of your space. Choose a second color that shows up in about 30% of the room, and finally, an accent to fill in the remaining 10%. For each hue, you don't have to stick to the same thing. Select various shades, tints, and tones of each color to broaden your options, layer your color story, and achieve a designer look.

4. Use Classic Furniture Pieces

Look for furniture that reflects more classical designs, with curves and detailing. Details can be subtle (gentle fluting) or superfluous (intricate carvings) depending on your personal taste. Wood furniture, especially in rich, darker tones like mahogany and walnut is timeless.

Other stand-out characteristics are high backs, rolled arms, and cabriole legs. Some examples of popular furniture for traditional spaces are Queen Anne tables, Chippendale dressers, wingback chairs, chesterfield sofas, and Pennsylvania Dutch cupboards.

5. Incorporate Antiques And Vintage Pieces

Note that this tip says to incorporate antique and vintage pieces, not cram them into every inch of your space. This can be one of the most fun parts of pulling your design together — hunting for the perfect second-hand treasure or proudly displaying a prized family heirloom.

But remember the golden rule of balance. Balance antique pieces with a few modern touches. Offset darker, older pieces with newer, lighter ones to keep the space from becoming more oppressive than on-trend. 

6. Embrace Rich Textiles

Traditional spaces often include a mix of lush textures like silk, velvet, and wool. Examples include beautiful wool rugs, tufted velvet accent chairs, and gorgeous silk curtains. Mix and match various fabrics through furniture, rugs, blankets, pillows, and window treatments to keep the look from becoming too tired and one-note.

7. Classic Patterns

Timeless patterns like damask, florals, chintz, plaids, and stripes are synonymous with traditional design. Many of these prints were prominent during the 18th and 19th centuries. 

Introduce patterns through furniture, wallpaper, and accessories, and don’t hold back. Also, don’t stick with only one. Mixing a few patterns (without going overboard) will give your space a rich elegance without becoming too fussy.

Moving From Traditional To Transitional

If traditional design is a bit too formal for you, but you like the components, then transitional might be a better fit. The transitional style marries traditional and contemporary designs, dialing down on formality and emphasizing sophisticated comfort.

Elements in a transitional space could include:

• Soft furnishings and fabrics featuring timeless but simple patterns, like plaids and florals
• Vintage rugs
• Darker wood stains on floors and cabinets
• Layered window treatments but no valances or over-the-top frills
• A subtler approach to classic furniture styles
• Balancing ornate furniture with a few streamlined pieces
• Classic light fixtures
• Incorporating bold colors on top of neutrals
• A mix of old and new decor and artwork
• Pared-down accessories

Traditional Design Is Timeless, Not Old-Fashioned

If you love the historical styles of the Victorian era or a beautiful Queen Anne chair, then traditional design might be your interior design trend of choice. However, don’t mistake this classic style for an outdated, old-fashioned space.

It’s all about zoning in on the main qualities of the style, like balance, warm tones, tried-and-true patterns, and ornate details. Then, equalize those elements with a few modern touches and personal pieces to create a space that’s timeless and beautiful.

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