How to Design Tuscan Style Rooms

The Tuscan style of decorating features colors from nature.

Drama and elegant old world charm are the passions behind the Tuscan design. Rooms that are decorated with the Italian Tuscan style have an effective "lived in" appearance. The rooms feature colors that are inspired by nature. If you enjoy experimenting with rich colors and textures, this is a fabulous design style to embrace. From the kitchen to the bedroom, you will enjoy decorating with the elegant, but rustic look of Italy, that is smooth on the eye and easy to create.

Things You'll Need

• Desk water fountain (or wall fountain, depending upon budget)
• Indoor plants
• Wine bottles
• Bread
• Bowl
• Wall decals
• Pillows
• Tuscan pictures
• Wrought iron sconces
• Tablerunner
• Mirror
• Hammer
• Nails

Instructions

Living Room

1. 

   Murals are also an effective idea for a wall.

   Work on the walls first. If you don't want to completely redo your wall and paint the entire surface with a textured paint or tile it with a textured terracotta tile, recreate that same design using wall decals. Adhere wall decals randomly in strategic places, to give the room a sense of charm, following the directions on the decal package. They are easily removed without damaging the wall.

2. Add pieces to your living room that have organic metals, such as wooden lamps, ceramic vases, pottery bowls or wrought iron candlesticks. Use colors that are warm and inviting, such as shades of red, gold, russet or forest green.

3. Hang wrought iron sconces and pictures that have scenes that resemble the Tuscan landscape.

4. Decorate the room with furniture that offers the authentic Tuscan feel. Choose furniture that features distressed finishes and chunky wood designs. Rustic furniture with chipped paint, with charm and style, not old and shabby, is what you are looking for.

5. Add textured pillows to the furniture in warm natural colors of reds, browns, golds and greens.

6. Place a large potted plant in the living room if you have a sunny corner. If not, place smaller plants in terracotta pots around the room in random areas.

7. Add a Tuscan-styled tabletop fountain to an accent table, coffee table or on a fireplace mantle. These require little maintenance and add many points to the Tuscan flair factor to your living room. You can purchase tabletop fountains online or at any specialty fountain store.

Kitchen

1. 

   Wine and bread help you create the Tuscan ambiance in your kitchen.

   Display wine bottles on cabinets or in wine racks in your kitchen. No matter how large or small your kitchen is, this will add a Tuscan flair. Display them in groups of three or five. Odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye when decorating.

2. Set out a ceramic or pottery bowl of fresh, crusty bread. This adds to the aroma and the appeal of the kitchen.

3. Use greenery in your kitchen to add to the Tuscan decor. The greenery can be live or imitation and can include ivy going along the tops of a cabinet or trailing out of a ceramic pot and down the side of a counter, or a large plant in the corner of the kitchen.

4. Decorate the table with a Tuscan-style tablerunner. If you can't find one with a Tuscan design, buy one in a solid shade of red, olive green, gold or bronze. A textured fabric will also work well.

5. Decorate the splash guard with wall decals that depict picture tiles with the Tuscan-style decor. This is an ideal place to decorate that is often forgotten.

Bedroom

1. 

   Tuscan bedrooms have a simple elegance.

   Decorate with natural tones, such as brown, sage green or red, or olive.

2. Use textures such as suede and leather with the bedding, wall coverings or any furniture in the room.

3. Hang a mirror in the room. Mirrors add movement to a room and help make a room look larger.

4. Incorporate plants into the room to add greenery. This helps to soften the square edges of the walls, and brings the outdoors in.

5. Add lamps and romantic accessories, such as candlesticks or personal mementos.

References

• Accents of Salado: Tuscan Decorating Ideas and Tips
• Interior Design and Me: Tuscany Interior Design: How to Create the Perfect Tuscan Bedroom
• Tuscan-Home-101: A Tuscan Design Guide for Your Italian Style Home
• Interior-Design-It-Yourself: Decorating Tuscan Style Kitchens

Resources

• Tuscan-Home-101: Tuscan Style Decorating: What's It All About?