Furniture Styles: A Guide

Whether you just relocated to a new home or want to redesign your current house, pick the right furniture style. Many furniture styles exist, but only a few can complement your interior design. Discover the main furniture styles for your home.

Traditional Furniture Style

Traditional furniture style refers to a design aesthetic that draws inspiration from historical periods, often emphasizing classic and timeless elements. A sense of elegance, symmetry, and craftsmanship characterizes it. Different cultures and periods have influenced traditional furniture styles, resulting in various subcategories within this broad category. Some popular traditional furniture styles include:

• Colonial: Inspired by the furnishings of early American settlers, Colonial-style furniture features simple and sturdy designs. It often includes wood pieces with turned legs and minimal ornamentation.
• Victorian: The Victorian era, spanning the late 19th century, was known for its ornate and elaborate furniture. Victorian furniture often features intricate carvings, curved lines, and rich, dark woods like mahogany.
• English Country: English country style is known for its cozy, comfortable, and rustic appeal. It often incorporates natural materials like wood and stone, along with floral patterns in upholstery and curtains.
• Mission: Inspired by Spanish colonial architecture, Mission-style furniture is characterized by its straight lines, simple designs, and use of oak or other hardwoods. It is often associated with the Arts and Crafts movement.

These traditional furniture styles can vary widely in terms of aesthetics and materials used, but they all share a common emphasis on craftsmanship, quality, and a connection to historical design influences.

Transitional Furniture Style

Transitional design incorporates elements from both traditional and contemporary design aesthetics. It seeks to strike a balance between the warmth and familiarity of traditional styles and the clean lines and simplicity of modern design. Transitional interiors often feature a neutral color palette, including shades of beige, gray, taupe, and white. These colors create a calm and timeless atmosphere.

Furniture pieces in transitional design tend to be timeless and neither too ornate nor overly minimalistic. They often have clean lines, simple shapes, and a mix of materials such as wood, metal, and glass. While transitional spaces may incorporate some decorative elements, they tend to be less ornate than traditional designs. Accessories are typically kept to a minimum to maintain a clutter-free look.

Contemporary Furniture Style

Contemporary furniture style emerged in the late 20th century and continues to evolve in the 21st century. It is characterized by clean lines and a minimalist approach to design. It avoids excessive ornamentation, intricate details, and clutter, creating a sense of simplicity and spaciousness.

Contemporary furniture often uses neutral color palettes such as white, black, gray, and beige as a base, with occasional pops of bold or vibrant colors used sparingly as accents. Straight lines, geometric shapes, and right angles are commonly used in contemporary furniture. Curved or asymmetrical designs are less frequent in this style.

In addition, contemporary furniture embraces modern materials like glass, metal, steel, plastic, and engineered wood. These materials are chosen for their sleek and industrial look. Functionality is a primary consideration in contemporary design. Furniture is designed with practicality in mind, often featuring storage solutions and multi-purpose features.

Contemporary interiors often prioritize open and uncluttered spaces, using clever storage solutions to maintain a clean and streamlined appearance. Note that contemporary design is not static; it evolves over time to incorporate new design trends and technologies.

Mathews Furniture + Design in Atlanta, GA, offers interior design services to transform your home into a comfortable haven. Our experienced team works closely with you to create spacious, well-organized, and attractive spaces that reflect your unique style and design goals. Contact us now for more information.