The Key Elements For A Beautiful Transitional Interior Design Style
Are you a traditional or modern person? Or maybe somewhere in between? If you’re feeling in the middle of these two styles, it might be time to embrace the transitional interior design style.
This interior design style gives you a chance to tie your home together with pieces that give off a classic vibe while also adding elegance.
It’s not just about mixing and matching styles— it’s about creating balance with each piece of furniture in your space. In this post, we’ll be talking about the key elements in creating a transitional interior design for your home.
The Transitional Interior Design Style
What Does Transitional Design Mean?
The transitional style is a mix of both traditional and modern styles. It has clean lines, neutral colours, and minimalistic transitional interior decor.
It’s called transitional because it is often used for homeowners who transition between two different styles. It’s also an excellent choice if you feel you want to change your interior design style as time goes by.
What Is Transitional Style Architecture?
While the word “transitional” would imply some middle ground between traditional and contemporary, the reality is that transitional style architecture can vary wildly from one home to another. But what defines a transitional style home is its use of modern building materials, clean lines with some decorative detailing.
What Are Transitional Colours?
The transitional style is a mix of classic and trendy shades, but it’s all in the service of relaxation and comfort. The transitional style relies on a largely neutral, earth-tone-influenced colour palette—think tans, beiges, taupes paired with deep browns. It’s all very relaxing and calming to the eyes.
What Are the Elements of Transitional Design?
Transitional is what you get when you take the best qualities of traditional and modern styles and mix them.
It’s a style that feels familiar but with a fresh twist. Transitional interior design focuses on balancing the characteristics of the walls, windows, ceiling, wall colour, decor, lighting and furniture. These elements work together to create a sense of symmetry in the room.
Here are the main characteristics to a transitional design style…
1. Transitional Colours
The general rule when it comes to transitional interior wall colour: no bold prints or loud designs! Stick to natural earth tones for the wall colour, or go with textured natural wall coverings like wood panels or bamboo blinds.
Transitional interior wall colors and textures go hand in hand. The transitional design elements like baseboards, accent walls, and wall paneling are all rooted in the same neutral tones that keep the overall look soothing.
When colour is introduced, it’s usually through smaller items in the soft furnishings. Like throw cushions on the sofa and other decorative elements. This makes the transitional style a lot easier to work with. As you’re able to swap and change the style and design about according to your liking.
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2. Midcentury Style Floors
Transitional spaces rely on the traditional hardwood floors and minimalist textiles. Textured natural wood tends to highlight the traditional look that will easily blend well with other modern features of your home.
Transitional flooring can be used in any room within your home, including living rooms, dining rooms, bedrooms, family rooms, hallways, and more. It’s a great way to add texture to any space.
3. Windows
White, pale beiges and warm neutrals are usually the go to colours for the window trims. Transitional inspired windows have extra features like cream-coloured trims and antique-style architectural features below the window.
Also going a shade or two darker than your chosen wall colour is a simple finishing detail that works well for a transitional interior.
More recently painting the window trims black is the more popular option. Black is a strong contrast alongside a neutral wall colour. As black is a classic colour, it works well with modern and traditional furniture and accessories. Using black gives more of a modern edge.
For the drapery neutral fabrics are best for a transitional look. Cotton fabrics and linens are always a good option for heavier or light drapery. You can go for a light or muted pattern for some interest. And you can layer sheer curtains in for flexibility and practicability.
4. Transitional Style Furniture
The transitional interior decor combines modern, traditional, and casual furniture. It is considered an updated version of the classic design style. Angular furniture alignments like L-shaped sectional areas and round dining tables and chairs perfectly define the transitional glam décor. Feel free to use a midcentury-inspired chandelier to illuminate your space when adding pops of colors or silver finished pieces to that area.
5. Sofas
For sofas and chairs, they should be warm, clean, and simple with a visitor-friendly feel. Transitional furniture pieces are comfortable and practical, with simple upholstery in soft neutral colours. Family-friendly design with durable fabrics and easy-to-clean upholstery are always the trademarks of this interior style.
In terms of furniture style you can go with all modern or traditional seating. Or you can mix up the furniture styles with the seating arrangement. For example having a traditional style sofa paired with two modern accent chairs for the living room.
6. Rugs
Your home is your place to relax, but it’s also a great space to entertain guests. Adding an area rug is a must if you have hardwood floors. A rug will instantly give your home that cozy but elevated feel.
RELATED POST: How To Choose An Area Rug (The Right One!)
A top tip for choosing a rug in a transitional space it to contrast the rug against the furniture. So if you’re opting for modern style seating, a traditional or vintage inspired rug is a great choice. And vice versa. This way the choice of the seating and the rug is a deliberate design contrast.
A balance of traditional and modern.
Then you’re free to mix the modern or traditional decor pieces around the seating area as you like. Contrasting big pieces like the seating and the rug, the foundation for a transitional interior design style is already established.
7. Cabinets
Opt for angular cabinets with built-in seating for the living area to provide additional storage space. This will not look intimidating since most transitional cabinets are large and spacious.
For the kitchen, steel grey-coloured cabinets will perfectly blend with the modern house features. The neutral tone of steel grey is perfect for blending with a traditional, more classic backsplash. Transitional style kitchens often feature wood floors, which are especially well suited to this cabinet colour.
8. Lighting For Transitional Spaces
If you love a more natural feel, we recommend going for a wood-hanging or a simple glass lamp décor. It will give your home an unexpected twist amidst traditional furniture.
On the other hand, if you want something bolder and unique, perhaps a modern lamp with a drum shade is the perfect touch. This will give your living room or dining area the adequate aesthetic and light features you need.
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You can also incorporate more of a light and airy feel through metal and glass. These elements will help create an ambiance that is inviting yet practical at the same time.
9. The Transitional Aesthetic For Artwork
Opt for modern design artworks to create a contrast to your traditional furniture and floor style, or vice versa. Large wall artworks with minimalist designs or medium-sized pictures with antique-style wall frames are great ideas for making your space look more sophisticated.
If your taste leans more on the minimalist style, don’t stress yourself looking for the perfect artwork that goes well with your interior. Instead, leave the space blank for simplicity.
10. Mirrors & Decor
Mirrors can break up a space and make the room appears extensive. They add the illusion of depth to a room without the need for knocking down any walls. The great thing about adopting a transitional design style is that almost any mirror will work.
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This goes for your home decor and accessories too. You can add mirrored surfaces, marble accents, or plush velvet finishes to your transitional décor style for an added sense of luxury. Or you can make it more cozy and comfortable. It comes down to you and your personal style.
Transitional Interior Design Living Room
This house design perfectly shows the character brought by the antique-style picture frames and rust-coloured chairs with neutral tone cushions. The wooden floor pattern and the wall simplicity exemplify having a farmhouse transitional interior design.
Transitional Interior Design Bedroom
Transitioning from one style to another is a breeze with transitional bedrooms. These rooms include many large-scale, deep, comfortable furniture and a mix of old and new décor.
This style is great for where you want to give a warm and cozy vibe to your bedroom. The walls can be painted in light grey or beige, partnered with rustic wood flooring.
Wall panelling, a vintage style rug and a canopy bed add the traditional elements to this bedroom space. Modern chairs and art work balance out the style. The finishing touch to make it a bit more glam, a crystal chandelier.
Transitional Interior Design Style Dining Room
You want your dining room to be a relaxing place where you and your friends and family can gather, so you’ll want it to have a casual feel. The transitional style is such an excellent choice for your space: with its mix of casual elements and classic touches, it makes for a versatile look that can accommodate any occasion.
Transitional Interior Design Bathroom
For a transitional style bathroom neutral paint colours are the best starting point for the walls. This goes for the bathroom tiles as well. Then mix in traditional elements through the style of the vanity and cabinetry.
Play around with traditional or more contemporary for the finishes. These would be thing such as the lighting, hardware pulls, taps and mirrors. Modern features like LED light borders around your mirror, to make your morning routine engaging and fun.
Is the Transitional Design Style Right for You?
The transitional design style is a blend of classic and contemporary, using neutral tones and simple lines as a canvas for pops of colour. This style is right for you if you want to live in a calm and soothing space yet still feels uniquely yours.
Transitional spaces are often described as sophisticated or elegant, but they don’t necessarily have to be formal. If you’re looking to create a well lived in space with lots of character, interest and detail but still has the comforts of home, the transitional interior design style is for you!
Chloe
Featured Source Image: Unsplash
