Colonial style in the interior

Colonial style in the interior is a beautiful and majestic design. To this day, since its inception in the 17th-18th centuries, it has remained virtually unchanged. The trend is a bizarre combination of the architectural traditions of the metropolitan countries (England, Holland, France, Spain) and local motifs of their former colonies. Today the style has not gone out of fashion and is still popular. We'll find out why in the article.

Colonial style - origin

I’ll try to explain using the example of Great Britain. In the Middle Ages, England was a great and strong power. Not to say that they are nothing now, but there was a time when the sun literally never set on the British Empire.

The British, expanding their borders, conquered entire continents: India, Africa, Asia, America... Settlements (so-called colonies) were built in the enslaved territories. The interior decoration of housing in the colonies was made in European traditions. The settlements were intended both for the residence of local people (as servants) and for the British. The locals, having lived in primness for some time, quickly became bored. They were pretty tired of the strict English decor, and they hastened to add a bright oriental flavor to the decoration of the premises.This is how a unique image was born, combining a mixture of East and West - the colonial style.

Colonial style furniture

The design will appeal to people who love English decor, but find it bland and boring in everyday life. Bright drawings, ornaments, exotic materials will make the house lively and bright! It has its own characteristics. When decorating the premises, elements that are symbols of this image are used. These include:

1. Wooden furniture. Eastern craftsmen are known for their skills in making wooden furniture with their own hands. Asians made their own furniture for their homes. And they did it well. And England has always been famous for wooden interior items. Both wicker (wicker, rattan) and solid wood products are suitable. Ornament, wood carving, images of vegetation and animals - this is all quite appropriate.
2. Plants. You should allocate a lot of space in the apartment for plants: palm trees, bamboo trunks, flowers, exotic plants will fill the house with oxygen and will be a symbol of the image.
3. Luxury. Do not forget about the combination of fancy oriental motifs with English severity and luxury. Therefore, heirlooms, carved mirrors, figurines, and branded watches will perfectly complement the decor. You can add a little oriental flavor - a Buddha figurine or an elephant will also fit in quite well.

Colonial style in the interior of the apartment

By decorating a room using colonial design, we will transform the room. Let's add a special sophistication, a mixture of different cultures. The house will become like a place to relax. In such an environment you can feel like you are traveling through an exotic country. What specific steps will be needed for this?

Color spectrum

The decor of the room is dominated by:

• gold;
• olive;
• sand;
• cream;
• peach;
• various beige tones.

Bright, juicy accents of dark cherry, burgundy, and light walnut shades are allowed. Standard colors - black and white - are used in decorative items. All shades of natural green and yellow will be an excellent solution for decorating a room.

Finishing walls, floors and ceilings

Wallpaper samples with images of exotic flowers, birds or animals are an excellent option for your home. Such wallpaper will become a bright accent and emphasize the oriental motifs of the interior.

The ceilings are painted white or finished with wooden beams. In real colonies, the premises were decorated exclusively in light shades. The walls and ceilings were painted in neutral colors because these colors absorb less sunlight. In hot, humid tropical climates, this helped keep rooms cooler without turning them into an oven.

The floors are made of smooth wooden boards coated with clear varnish. Expensive parquet floors are covered with luxurious carpets.

Bedroom

The bedroom is decorated with a large canopy bed and vertical supports made of wood with carved patterns. At the foot you can place a wicker chest. This is one of the brightest and catchiest attributes of the interior. A beautiful mirror in a gilded frame is hung on the wall in the bedroom. They put up a chest of drawers made of wood. The floors are covered carpets with drawings of wild nature or imitating animal skins: leopard, tiger, zebra.

Kitchen

Only dark shades were used for furniture. This is due to the fact that in the local jungles grew mostly various mahogany, bamboo, rattan. It was difficult to obtain oak or ash.Thanks to the light walls and deep shades of dark furniture, the interior is quite sophisticated. In the kitchen, a practical floor is made of stone or linoleum with a wood pattern. A tile that matches the surroundings will also work.

The kitchen is equipped separately with a so-called "kitchen island"where the work surface or sink is located. The dining area is distinguished by light and airy bamboo furniture. The cladding is made monochromatic. An interesting option, if the space of the room allows, is to equip a large stone stove; you can get by with imitation of it. This touch will add comfort to the entire home.

Colonial style in the living room interior

In the living room, according to many designers and craftsmen, the colonial image looks natural and organic. The calm atmosphere is conducive to pleasant communication and shows guests the tastes of the hosts.

In order to emphasize the exotic atmosphere in the living room, they hang on the walls unusual things and objects, brought from hot countries. For example: masks, animal figurines (monkeys, elephants, tigers), pillows, vases, lamps, wicker baskets. They select bright curtains for the windows and lay out colorful carpets. Look luxurious walls decorated with silk or velvet. The decoration in the living room will be flowers, trees and other green vegetation.

Fireplace will complete the interior of the living room and perfectly complement the decor, bringing warmth and comfort to the room. It doesn’t have to be working - imitation is also suitable.

In a good way, the colonial style cannot be described in a few words. The fact is that initially the French, Dutch, English and Spaniards have completely different ideas about cozy housing.And after mixing with local colors adopted from the conquered peoples, a huge number of new architectural delights appeared. It’s time to publish a whole book on this topic. But I think, in general terms, you understand what the colonial style is and how to decorate your home. It’s best to look at the photo on the Internet and write a corresponding request - it will be clearer.