How to Decorate in Federal Style Today

The Federal Interior is a very delicate and classical style. The interior is very unique nowadays; however, not the least bit difficult to achieve. Read on for some guidelines to follow in order to decorate in the "Federal Period" style.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Time to organize, plan and shop

How to Design the Living Area

1. First off, you must select colors appropriate for the period. The colors you choose should be delicate with the woodwork white or matching the background of the walls.

2. Walls for this style, may be papered or painted. It is suggested you use flock papers if you choose wallpaper. Additionally, paper with Chinese designs or scenes are preferred.

3. You may also use stripes and medallions in your decorating scheme; however, the colors should be soft and subtle.

4. In the "period" interior of today, the furniture should add interest as well as serve the function of comfort. Your furniture should provide the feel of simple elegance. In order to decorate in this manner, you will want to select pieces from other periods as well as from France and England. Your selections should harmonize with the Hepplewhite and Sheraton antiques, significant to the period.

5. Suggested and appropriate floor coverings include oriental rugs, plain as well as textured broadloom; needlepoint, and the more rare Aubusson and Savonnerie.

6. The next step is to prepare your walls according to the guidelines of "Federal Style." The walls should be papered with a flock wallpaper, preferably showing a yellow design and a white background.

7. Draperies, in this design scheme, should be made of silk damask, resting at floor length with a mirrored cornice. Also, the drapes need to be in the same color as your wallpaper: yellow.

8. A sofa and one chair, in keeping with this suggested design scheme, should be upholstered in a striped taffeta in preferably yellow, cherry red and green. Another chair compliments the "duo" and is upholstered in cherry red.

9. French commodes that are made of fruitwood are placed on each side of the sofa.

10. Lamps should be made of crystal with white silk shades.

11. A crystal candelabra would be an ideal adornment for the fireplace mantel.

12. Accessorize the space(s) above the French commodes with vertical gold framed mirrors.

13. Accessories for your design scheme should be elegant in nature. Examples include Tiffany, cameo or other art glass, Chinese temple jars and cranberry glass for accent.

14. See additional steps on How to Design the Dining Room.

How to Design the Federal Style Dining Room

15. The "Federal Style" dining room's color scheme may be sage green and white; the wallpaper, it is suggested, should have a green background with small gold medallions and the woodwork should match the background of the wallpaper.

16. The window coverings, it is suggested, be of white silk damask.

17. The floor covering may look splendid in a "mellow" oriental rug.

18. The ideal dining room table should be a Sheraton style made of mahogany with accompanying Chippendale chairs "sporting" cherry red damask seats. Another suggestion for the table in the dining area is a Duncan Phyfe pedestal (table) with lyre-back "type" chairs.

19. It is further recommended that the room "house" a Hepplewhite sideboard. An additional accessory could be a Sheraton mahogany knife box. Other accessory ideas may include: a round gold framed mirror with its accompanying candle holder and a Chinese porcelain figurine.

Tips & Warnings

• A bedroom idea is to decorate your room, painting the woodwork ivory and the walls a "calming" pale blue. The window dressings as well as the hangings for the Sheraton four poster bed are printed in red. On each side of your bed, place a sewing table with a red silk bag and in the Hepplewihite style. Mirrors may be placed above each table topped by an eagle. A painted oval back side chair with Hepplewhite "Prince of Wales" feathers would make a nice additional furnishing.
• Keep in mind that painted furniture was most popular in bedrooms and "parlors" around the turn of the 19th century. Other "Federal Style" suggestions for your bedroom or living room include a Madame Recamier type sofa, a Sheraton chest of drawers, and a Queen Anne wing chair.