While the glossy pages of home decorating magazines may feature headlines like “Black Walls for Drama” or “Create Your Own Vampire Nest,” most people tend to avoid trendy fads that may soon look outdated, preferring instead to surround themselves with furnishings that better reflect their own personal sense of style, taste and family history. Here are four favorite home furniture styles that are sure to stand the test of time:
Traditional
Traditional decorating styles typically include house furniture that has a sense of history. Classic lines, timeless designs and an extensive use of fine woods and fabrics are all hallmarks of traditional decorating styles. Although furniture with English, Neoclassical and Colonial designs are popular choices, traditional rooms often incorporate home furniture from several different historical periods. Color, material and texture may inform furniture choices more than any single decorating style. Home furniture stores generally offer a broad selection of traditional furniture, from leather sofas to elegant wood dining room sets.
Casual
Comfort is the primary concern of casual decorating styles. House furniture is chosen both for function and relaxation. The best casual furniture will not only withstand the nicks and spills of family living, but will help establish the atmosphere of ease and comfort that best suits family life. In addition to traditional materials like wood and leather, casual furniture may feature cane, wicker and modern materials like vinyl, stainless steel and chrome. Casual furnishings suit homes decorated in Country, Garden, Cottage and Rustic decorating styles.
Contemporary
Contemporary furniture features strong lines, shapes and forms. Polished surfaces, functional fabrics and man-made materials are characteristics of contemporary decorating styles. Streamlined sofas, chairs and tables suggest energy and movement, making the contemporary style a good choice for those with active lifestyles. While contemporary color schemes are generally neutral, they can include accent pieces that provide pops of color. The contemporary style makes great use of light, both functionally and aesthetically, and lighting fixtures with sculptural qualities are popular choices for rooms decorated in contemporary styles.
Eclectic
Eclectic styles mix and match furniture from other decorating styles at will, aiming for a style that looks as if it were assembled over time, with furnishings collected from extensive shopping excursions, either near or far. Texture and color play primary roles in eclectic furniture styles. Deeply-piled seating in strong colors, and upholstered wood pieces with strong detailing, are both popular choices for rooms decorated in eclectic styles. Eclectic styles may feature components from more exotic decorating styles, such as Moroccan, Tropical or Asian styles.
When choosing a furniture style, personal taste matters. Surrounding yourself with furniture that you love is the best way to create rooms that you will enjoy inhabiting. Furniture styles provide options for presenting rooms with a unified, cohesive look. Each decorating style presents its own atmosphere as well. When shopping at online or at brick-and-mortar home furniture stores, look for furniture that not only looks good, but that establishes the right mood too.