Creative Decorating Tuscan Style

When you embark on the project of decorating Tuscan style, you’ll need to allow yourself to imagine a little bit of Italy, right inside your own house. Tuscan style rooms are inspired by the rustic elements in nature, and are driven by a peaceful simplicity.

Tuscan style decorating doesn’t necessarily need to include antique pieces, but what it does need to do is invoke a sense of the past – using worn but delicate pieces to accent the various elements in each room.

Where to Start

If you’re looking to re-do a living room or social space in Tuscan style, here are a few decorating tricks and tips to create that languishing and quiet atmosphere in your own home:

1) Paint walls in warm, neutral tones. White or gray will work with any accent pieces, however a subdued yellow or beige can evoke feelings of comfort and passivity. Accent the room with light or dark browns on molding, trim, and shelves to create a bit of contrast.

2) Tuscan style ceilings often have dark, exposed ceiling beams running the width of the room. Since you probably don’t want an open ceiling for the sake of insulation, you can bolt light wood pieces along the rafter studs to create this rustic look in any room.

3) Flooring in a Tuscan style room tends to be hardwood with wide boards, or for a different effect, try using terracotta brick or clay tiling with an antique rug placed in the center for color. Make sure the rug is a relatively light shade, as this will help to enhance the rest of the room’s palette.

4) If you want to add some texture to your Tuscan decorating, try using Venetian plaster on the walls – this will give the room depth and color.

Tuscan Style Furniture and Accents

To stick with the Tuscan theme all the way through your room, furniture should be simple, wooden pieces with straight lines. The wood should be dark, to match the ceiling boards, and these should come with a pre-fabricated ‘distressed’ look.

Leave your windows bare, to take advantage of the natural sunlight. The light will pick up the natural elements in the room, and enhance the brightness of your wall decoration. However, if the window is facing the sun in the morning or at night, you might feel the need for a soft drapery, perhaps of linen or a light, almost translucent cotton. If your windows are very large, almost bay-style, use stationary panels to accentuate the rest of the fabric in your room.

Other accents in the room might include wrought-iron wall pieces and candle sconces, as well as iron light fixtures. Items such as glazed ceramics in simple styles – pots, vases, small animal figures, or even functional items like bookends – provide a natural, earthy feel to the room, and will add a bit of personality.

Even something like a small wine rack will help your room feel like it really is a piece of Italy imported right into your own home – and if you want to take the ruse all the way, stock the little wine rack with imported Tuscan wines!

However you decide to decorate your Tuscan style room, remember that it should be a place where you can go to relax, enjoy the atmosphere, and embrace the sense of beauty that has made Tuscan style decorating such a beloved and enduring tradition.

See Also: Tuscany Kitchen Decor

photo by Eric Perrone - CreativeCommons Attribution