7/16/2015

A Decorator's Guide To Arts And Crafts Style Decorating

By Phyllis Schroeder


There are many different ways in which a person can decorate their home. Some are more ornate than others. If you love the idea of clean lines without the stark look of modern styles, arts and crafts style decorating may be a good style for you to explore. Here is what you need to know about this style and what you need to do to bring it into your own home.

You may be surprised to find that this design style (also known as Craftsman) has actually been around since the late 1800s. At this time, the Victorian style was extremely popular. This was a style that had a lot of ornamentation on areas such as the legs of tables and the arms of chairs. Often, portions of the furniture were covered with heavy cloth that was further ornamented with ruffles and other decorative elements. It was not a look that some people enjoyed. They wanted to create pieces that looked more natural and which had clean lines and simple designs.

This term refers both to a style of architecture and to a design style for furniture as well. It began in England but it was not long until designers and architects in the US and around the world began to borrow elements of it for use in their own designs. Some of the best known houses that are designed in this style can be found in the United States.

Wood is a huge part of this particular school of design. It is not uncommon to find several different types of wood used in a single piece of furniture and for that wood to be put together in a way that the joints are visible. Sometimes designers also used stone in different areas of a home as well.

When you are picking colors for your home, look for natural colors. These are usually understated but do not always have to be. The colors on your walls and furniture should accent the wood but not take away from it.

While many people think that this style is clean and undecorated, this is not actually the case. Many pieces that are designed in this style do have carving and other accents but they still have clean lines and the uncluttered appearance that this design method is known for. It is not uncommon to see furniture that looks handmade and which has visible joins and intricate hardware as well.

If you are looking for inspiration, you may want to look at images of some famous Arts and Crafts homes that are designed and decorated in this style. One of the most famous is the Gamble house which is located in Pasadena, California. It is known around the world by fans of the Craftsman (or Arts and Crafts) style.

While originals are beautiful they can be quite expensive. You may want to start with reproductions of classic Craftsman pieces. Then, as your budget allows, you can start adding original pieces to your home. While pieces created by famous designers can be prohibitively expensive, you can still find original pieces in this style that will work well and which will not blow your budget.




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