Colonial interior style is a typical representative of the family of ethnic styles. He was born at the junction of two worlds – West and East. And historically appeared in the homes of both immigrants (for example, Europeans who conquered America or India), and travelers who brought various decorative items from distant wanderings to their homes.
Interior design in the colonial style today, first of all, bears the imprint of the exotic so loved by many. It is mainly manifested in decor items and furniture.
COLONIAL STYLE IN THE INTERIOR
There are 2 main directions of the colonial style in the interior. Among them is the American one, as an attempt to recreate the usual way of life and lifestyle in new conditions. And European, which, on the contrary, dilutes the usual conditions with “outlandish” decor. But both areas of this interior style have a number of typical features:
- the use of exclusively natural materials – wood, clay, bronze, leather, ceramics;
- special requirements for furniture that must be made of wood (we will discuss this in more detail below);
- the use of leather and fur, coarse textiles along with silk, velvet and brocade in the decoration;
- “animal theme » in decor and furniture.
High attention to the decor is dictated by the historical features of the style. For an interior design project for a colonial-style house or apartment, it will be natural to choose embroidered carpets, mats, various figurines (including oriental deities along with images of Indians), wooden chests and carved plates. Having the attributes of a successful hunt also betrays this style. Place stuffed birds or animal horns on the walls, capes on furniture made of skins would be quite appropriate. Also, palm trees, bamboo trunks and exotic flowers in huge pots will look organic in the premises – from a couple of plants to real tropical thickets.
COLONIAL STYLE IN FINISHING
Design apartment project and colonial house interior design must vkencourage the use of natural materials. Rubber and tulip wood, Asian walnut, rattan will be appropriate not only in furniture, but also in wall and floor decoration. Ideal for this interior flooring in the form of a wide solid board of bleached or bog oak, light ceramic tiles, stylized as a rough stone. The windows have bamboo blinds. The floors are covered with carpets made of vegetable fibers or with floral ornaments. Color solutions are also dictated by the natural origin of materials. Shades of ocher, terracotta, gold, olive color and the texture of aged wood are typical for the interior design project. For wall decoration, you should choose paint in beige, pastel or snow-white tones. It is possible to combine brickwork with bamboo and wood. Color accents are possible. But it is important to consider that if you initially chose bright color options for the walls, then the furniture and floor should be made in the most calm range.
COLONIAL STYLE IN FURNITURE
Furniture in the colonial style is given the highest attention. Most often it is made from teak, rattan, Chinese mahogany and Asian varieties of walnut. Rattan furniture is made from palm vines, so it is durable and lightweight. In addition, it is absolutely “indifferent” to weather conditions, so it can be used on open terraces. Wicker furniture made from water hyacinth is also popular and strong and durable. The “animal theme” in the furniture is manifested by the original decor. The legs of tables and chairs are made in the form of animal paws, and the armrests of the chairs are decorated with lion muzzles. The exotic theme can be traced in the furniture not only for the sake of beauty, but to create a special mood in the interior. Choosing a colonial style for the interior of your home, you prefer natural and sustainable beauty that will bring peace and tranquility to your life. In addition, high-quality finishing materials and furniture will serve you for many years.