If you’re looking to add a sense of elegance and sophistication to your space, classical elements are an ideal choice. Perfect for bringing a timeless touch to your home, classical elements can be blended with modern styling, or added to heritage homes to keep their historical feel intact.
Now let’s explore how to blend these beautiful aspects into your space, whatever look you’re after.
Embracing Elegant Architectural Features
A standout feature from classical architecture is the way that elements such as crown moulding and wainscoting were integrated into spaces. Adding these to your home can bring a sense of personality and charm to a space without feeling bulky.
With varying levels of detail available, you can easily customise them to be more modern for a subtle touch, or lean right in for a traditional style. As a general rule with these elements, the larger a space is, the more detail it can handle to create a sense of grandeur without things feeling cluttered or overwhelming.
Columns also work wonders in terms of structural elements that can make a space feel grand, but should be used sparingly. If you want to lean entirely towards a classical feel, make sure that the proportions match the space. This means going bold in a large open plan space is perfect, but you’ll want to select smaller columns and keep decoration minimal in more modest rooms.
Choosing Timeless Flooring Options
Flooring has always been a key part of design, and there’s something about a natural timber-look finish that really takes a residential floor to that luxurious level.
The good news is that this look can be achieved with a durable option like luxury vinyl planks or hybrid floors. Because these modern flooring options mimic the appearance of classic looks, you’ll be able to enjoy your preferred style without having to worry about, with great features such as scratch, stain and scuff resistant properties.
Incorporating Classic Furniture Pieces
When choosing furniture for your classically styled space, the main focus should always be quality. Classical pieces were built to last, and you want your furniture to reflect this. The easiest way to achieve this is to purchase pieces that are genuine antiques, with chesterfield sofas and claw-footed tables always performing well as statement pieces. Blending these with modern elements helps to personalise the look and avoid it feeling dated.
Stick to one statement piece or set for a space unless you’re going for a completely traditional look. So, add a modern bed frame paired with an antique dresser and matching headboard to give a soft finish to a bedroom, rather than a four poster and a classic style armchair.
Utilising Traditional Textiles and Patterns
Rich textiles and patterned pieces featured heavily in classical spaces, so incorporate them into your room to get the full effect of this style. Think decadent fabrics such as silks, velvets and linens with patterns like damask and toile. Floral was also a favourite during the classical period, and this pattern can be easily adapted to have a more modern feel.
Bring these elements into your space with a wallpapered feature wall, heavy curtains and accent pieces to really make things pop. You can also make use of velvet as the upholstery for larger furniture pieces, but keep it to a simple block colour to avoid having the piece change from wow factor statement to simply too loud.
Accentuating with Art and Accessories
Finally, a classical design simply isn’t at its best without the finishing touches. Small details matter in this type of style, so be sure to select pieces that reflect the look you’re going for. A bathroom mirror, for example, could have an ornate frame to tie the space together, and vintage chandeliers are always a crowd favourite when looking to design a timeless space.
You could also add classical sculptures if you’re looking for a statement piece for the room, while portraits and soft landscape pieces convey the same undertones in a more subtle manner.
And don’t overlook tapware and door fixtures that look antique as these small elements work wonders to bring a touch of old-world charm to your space.
Achieving a Lasting Appeal
The trick to creating a classical space that will have lasting appeal is to seamlessly blend modern and traditional elements together. In doing so you’ll be able to design a space that is both functional and stylish without feeling like you’ve followed a formula.
It’s also important to remember that regardless of the style you choose, your home should be a reflection of you, so don’t forget to add some elements that showcase your personality.
