How to Achieve the Arts and Crafts Interior Style in Your Home


 

  Found on artsandcraftshomes.com

The arts and crafts design is a distinctive type of interior design that opts for a beautiful, artistic and natural feeling. It became popular at the turn of the 20th century as a preferred alternative to the more conservative, rigid and stuffy design that was common in the Victorian era. It's a style of expression, appreciation of natural and traditionally made furnishings and the beauty of art. If you're looking to change up the interior design style in your home, there are several ways that you can transition into an arts and crafts style.



Wood

Nearly everyone who enjoys the arts and crafts style will tell you that wood is one of the most vital aspects to achieving the style. Not just using items that are made of wood, but keeping them unpainted and sometimes unstained. Nothing can quite match the look and feel of wood grain in a home, and it is a wonderful addition to any room. Wooden doors, trim, chairs, tables, bed frames, dressers, cabinets and more can all be made from wood. Remember that any wood items in the bathroom should be sealed or treated to prevent rot from the moisture buildup.

Color Selection

The arts and crafts style works with a simple palette of colors. They are mostly natural colors such as various shades of brown, green and yellow. Other colors can be included, but they should be relatively dull in brightness to avoid seeming out of place.

Selecting Hardware

There are certain parts of the home such as doors that require the use of visible hardware that may deter from the naturalistic style of the home. However, there are alternatives to this hardware that helps retain the arts and crafts style. For example, barndoor hardware looks like hand crafted metal parts that are simplistic yet stylish at the same time. They can come in various styles and colors to match several different types of door.

Windows

 

Stained and leaded windows look gorgeous in houses with arts and crafts décor. They add beautiful and unique designs both inside and outside of the house. You can even get your windows custom designed for a personal touch.

Tips for the Bathroom

It can be hard to come up with arts and crafts décor ideas for the bathroom, but there is one trick to achieving this style in the bathroom and that is utilizing stone. While wood is a more popular option for kitchens and living rooms, stone is seen as a more appealing option in the bathroom. Stone flooring is a particularly popular option for bathrooms along with stone designs in the tiling for the walls. You can also add wood items such as wood cabinets and vanities to create a well-rounded look.

Tips for the Living Room

When it comes to arts and crafts designs in the living room, wood reigns supreme. Your furnishings such as recliners, couches, coffee table and TV stand can all be made of wood to create a beautiful natural effect. Don't worry about the couch, chair or recliner being uncomfortable due to their wooden frame, either. Remember, regular couches, chairs and recliners have metal frames and that certainly doesn't sound comfortable. Most wooden furniture has plenty of padding to make them incredibly comfortable, and they come in a variety of fabrics for additional comfort.

Hardwood floors are also a favorite in the living room, and if you want a bit of stone in the living room fireplaces are commonly framed by stone to change up the theme a bit.

Tips for the Kitchen

Both stone and hardwood flooring are common in the kitchen. Wooden counters with stone counter tops are a wonderful addition to any kitchen, and the combination creates a great contrast that is appealing to the eye. For small touches, flowers and plants are always nice to have in the kitchen as long as they don't take up too much counter space. Wood blinds are also a great addition to the windows as they both look great and block out more light than plastic blinds.

No matter what area of the home you decide to focus on, transitioning into an arts and crafts style is definitely doable and can be a lot of fun. With these tips in mind you’ll be well on your way to capturing that perfect mix of expression and appreciation.

Paisley Hansen is a freelance writer and expert in health, wellness and interior design. When she isn’t writing she can usually be found reading a good book or hitting the gym.