I think growing up in a traditionally-decorated home made me rebel against traditional style. Making a new start as a young college grad meant being different from my parents.
Well, it’s years later, and after truly trying — twice — to decorate my homes in a more modern style, I admit I’m pulled back to the comfort of traditional decor. They say the third time is a charm, so fingers crossed! But like I always say, what comes around never returns in the same way.
My new traditional decorating scheme will look very different from the storefront windows at Eaton’s, where my granny shopped. If you are feeling the need to turn back time on your decorating tastes, here’s a primer on traditional decor and how to incorporate the look with modern flair.
That was then
In the past, traditional meant curved furniture, medium-dark wood tones (walnut and oak), pale faded florals and deep-coloured plaid patterns. Metallics were in gold-tones, and Persian rugs and pastoral oil paintings were mainstays of the look.
The trick to loving and living with traditional today, without feeling like you’re living in a Masterpiece Theatre period drama, is to introduce elements that showcase the evolution of tradition. It’s as easy as one, two, three.
This is now
1. Choose new traditional furnishings: Classic traditional is back, but with a twist. Look for plain fabrics on shapely upholstered furnishings and very dark or very light stains on brown wood furniture. Louboutin-like surprises (the hint of heel colour peeking through on a classic black shoe) really wake up traditional style. Look for brightly-painted finishes on the inside of dresser drawers and inside china cabinets; Queen Anne legs refinished in dull black or gold-gilt; coloured upholstered button tufts; piping highlighting the curvy lines of a traditional wing back chair. All add an updated element of surprise to what could be perceived as traditionally predictable.
2. Mix traditional and modern: To add a few traditional elements to a modern esthetic (adding modern to a predominately traditional room), use my 70/30 rule: the accent should be 30 per cent of the room’s decor. Some of the easiest traditional or vintage pieces to incorporate into a modern look are side tables, art, or a reading chair. None of those take up too much space and all can be updated to blend quietly into any room’s decor.
3. Update a prized piece: So, you’ve inherited granny’s china cabinet or four-poster bed. How do you make it fit into your tiny, hip condo? Consider updating it: perhaps line the back of the china cabinet with a modern wallpaper pattern, change the brassy hardware to black, and use it in the bedroom to store clothing and jewelry. Got a large brown piece of furniture that just doesn’t go with your decor? To blend an imposing piece into the background while still honouring Granny’s memory, paint the piece in the same colour as the walls (clean and pre-sand it before coating in a wipeable paint). The traditional shape will shine but not overwhelm the space.
Second chance
A little TLC is all an unwanted antique may need to take it from understudy to star of the show.
Artwork: What makes a painting look dated is its matting and frame. Update traditional artwork by reframing with a less ornate frame or chose a colourful frame or a wood frame that matches the wood furniture in the room.
Rug: In many cases, it’s the colours in an old rug that make it appear outdated (remember dusty rose and mint green Persian carpets of the early ’80s?). It’s possible to bleach out the colour and then over-dye in a strong, fashionable colour. Alternately, find accessories in updated versions of the colours (the new pink, the new green) to link the carpet into the decor scheme.
Lamp: Change out a dusty pleated sheer lampshade for a modern grey or black cardboard shade to update the look. You can also rewire a lamp using a fashionable coloured cord to add a surprise to what would have been a dowdy lamp.
Karl Lohnes has worked as a home decor expert and product designer for 25 years.
Copyright Postmedia Network Inc., 2020
