Mediterranean Style Decorating for Your Home

Originating in Spain, Greece and Italy, Mediterranean style decorating – often called Spanish Modern – has become a trademark beauty of California, Nevada and Arizona. The wonderful thing about Mediterranean design is that it can run the gamut between purely functional and elegantly formal, depending on the tastes of the decorator.

There are certain distinct qualities that embody Mediterranena style decorating that cannot be compromized to achieve the full effect. This doesn’t mean that you can’t allow creativity to run its course, but to decorate fully Mediterranean, there are a few guidelines that must be followed.

Color

Mediterranean decorators value color above all else – bright, exotic, bold colors that compliment one another but also contrast with everything in the room. Mediterranean colors are modeled after those that reflect the sky and the sea – natural colors, in other words, interspersed with bolder variations. You will see the following colors in Mediterranean decorating:

Red – Bright red is one of the lesser-seen Mediterranean colors, though it is sometimes used to compliment burnt orange and tan. Red is most commonly seen in accessories – such as paintings and sculptures – rather than on walls, furniture or floors.

Orange – The orange if Mediterranean is usually burnt or even darker, and is often used on walls, floors and accessories. Orange is a signature color, and can be used in great abundance with blues and greens.

Gold – Though yellow is sparsely used, gold symbolizes that midday sun, and is also a signature color of Mediterranean style decorating. You will see gold most often in furniture and flooring.

Blue – Dark, Adreatic blue is an accent color used to offset golds and reds. It makes a beautiful paint for walls because it can contrast greatly to lighter-colored furniture, flooring and accessories. Lighter blues are seen in Mosaic tile and in bathrooms.

Green – Dark greens are used to symbolize the grass and foilage outside, and are also seen in Mosaic tile. Green walls and green furniture create a natural atmosphere.

Tan – You will often see tan as a compliment to orange or red, and it is most often seen in accessories, such as pots, sculptures and lamps.

Texture

You will rarely find a Mediterranean style home that is not filled with textured walls. This is an unavoidable trademark, and is used to create warmth and dimension to rooms. Glazed, sand-textured or sand-rubbed walls are used to create visual depth, and should not be overlooked when decorating your home.

Arrangement

Mediterranean style homes are meant to portray symmetry and elegance. The placement of furniture and art in your home should lend toward a specific theme, and should be well-thought-out. Much like the Feng Shui techniques of Eastern cultures, Mediterranean style decorating should be implemented using specific design techniques.

First, the sitting or living room should be conducive to intimate conversation and to familial gatherings. Tightly spaced quarters are excellent for this design because they create a sense of cozy togetherness. Arrange furniture so that the edges are touching or nearly touching each other, and floor rugs should be placed end-to-end with furniture. The coffee table should be large – often pine or glass – and should be within three feet of all couches and chairs. Tan or orange wall sconces, paintings and other artwork should hang low on the walls, accenting the intimate feel of the room.

Kitchens, contrastly, should be open and airy, as the Mediterranean style should be conducive to cooking. Large windows hung with brightly colored drapes and islands with mosaic designs are trademarks of this style. A hanging rack above the island with pots and pans makes a lovely touch, and jars of flour, sugar and other spices should be displayed in Spanish style containers.

Bedrooms are typically open and airy, with floor-to-ceiling windows and brightly colored furnishings. Mediterranean style bedrooms are often sparsely furnished, with a bed, a dresser and end tables as the only furniture. Lamps with orange or red shades are typical of this style and potted plants are also often displayed.

Mediterranean decorators favor lots of art and accessories. Wall sconces, candles, paintings and scultpures are extremely common. Paintings are often of the ocean or beach because this style favors the water, and sculptures are often of Spanish-style origin.

If you don’t want to paint your walls, you can also use wallpaper strips near the top of the walls, between six inches and one foot wide, in Mediterranean colors. You can also use rugs instead of putting in new floors, though I do recommend using terra-cotta or burnt orange tile with mosaic designs.