How to Decorate in Old World Style

One of the most popular trends in home decorating is Old World style. It is characterized by dark colors like deep burgundy red, dark brown and dark hunter green. The accessories used are mostly European antiques and tapestries. Materials used in an Old World home is a combination of natural materials like limestone and tile, dark stained furniture pieces mostly made of wood, luxurious fabrics of brocade and deep color. The walls are often accented with textures and faux finishes. This timeless style works well for a person who leans toward the traditional as opposed to modern contemporary style.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• European antiques
• Tapestries
• Area rugs
• Dark stained furniture
• Silk or artificial arrangements of flowers and fruits
• Old world design art pieces
• Paint (dark color like burgundy, hunter green and chocolate brown)

1. 
   This powder room had been sponge painted in burgundy red and gold color.

   Add dark colors and/or textures on the walls. Use dark earth tones such as browns and greens, or use dark blue and burgundy to color your walls. Use faux painting techniques to add texture on the walls.

2. 
   A beautiful Old World style rug. (Public Domain)

   Add rugs and window treatments. Add a rug to anchor the room before adding the furniture. Rugs should be rich in texture and use dark colors that match the colors found on the walls and fabrics used on the draperies and upholstery. Add window coverings. Use dark colored window blinds and accent with draperies to soften the look of the room. Use a rod and a tie back made of iron.

3. 
   Dark stained dining table and chairs with matching cabinet are used in this Old World dining room.

   Add dark stained furnishings. Add a sofa with intricate hand carved wood frame. Match it with a center table and side tables of the same material and finish. In the dining room, use dark stained dining table with matching chairs. Pick out upholstery that is textured and deep in color.

4. 
   A table lamp with dark colored lamp shade and base.

   Add lighting. In an Old World home, iron finish as opposed to bronze or silver finish is used. If you have an existing light fixture made of bronze or silver finish, spray paint them in dark brown or black paint. Use lamps with dark colored lamp shades and bases. The style of your lighting should not be too modern. Use of amber glass drop lights for your kitchen island as opposed to contemporary style track lighting is preferable in an Old World design.

5. 
   A clock made of iron and an arrangement of artificial fruits on top of the kitchen bar. Behind is a painting of fruit arrangement.

   Add artwork and accessories. Use European antiques and textured vases to decorate your home. Create a flower arrangement using dried or silk flowers with fruits in dark colors. Hang an artwork depicting the Old Europe like painting of castles and still life. Add a tapestry with colors picked from the walls, rugs and furnishings. Decorate your whole house, from the entryway, living room, dining room, kitchen, family room, den, bedrooms and bathrooms. Make the Old World design flow cohesively in your home. Even accenting your bed with designer pillows with an Old World style or adding a flower arrangement on a niche.

Tips & Warnings

• Scour the salvage yards for decorative items that came from older homes and buildings, you'll never know what you will find.
• Go to estate sales to find wonderful pieces, like French antiques that you can use in your Old World design.
• Budget carefully. It is easy to get carried away and spend your money on antique pieces. Make sure you are buying quality items and research other stores and compare prices.

[amylaine]

on 5/2/2008 Very interesting.