Every home is unique, so there is not a template for decoration. Instead, decor is a colorful blend of owner personality and chosen design style. If you’re looking to construct a home as comfortable as it is charming, Southern Design is the answer to your decorating dreams. Whether channeling beach or inland-influenced decor, the style of Southern decorating incorporates a medley of traditional, formal elements with comfortable, yet stylish, pieces. Wherever your home may be, utilize a blend of colors, fabrics, furniture styles and accessories for a little bit of Southern Living.
Shop:
Colors
Paint your walls with lighter colors, like white, to create a clean crisp feeling, or pale blues, greens and yellows, to reflect the natural essence of Southern living. Vibrant colors can be used for accent in the form of plush pillows, silk drapes, ceramic lamps or a brightly-colored throw. The contrast will bring depth to the room without overwhelming.
Fabrics
Highly influenced by the region’s warm climate, Southern decorating places heavy emphasis on light materials, like cotton, linen and silk. The airy look and feel of silk is an excellent choice for draperies. Choose fabrics that reflect your personality. By utilizing a reserved mixture of patterns, textures and colors, each room will come to life — welcoming all who enter!
Furniture
To create an authentic Southern design scheme, utilize a combination of formal and informal furniture elements. Wicker pieces are as traditionally Southern as fried chicken and add authentic livability to a home. Whether wicker is used as front porch seating or as an over-sized headboard, it is a sure-fire way to introduce Southern design into your home. Overstuffed couches are essential to living areas, and, paired with more formal Queen Anne chairs, create a balanced blend of informal and formal. A large dining table, surrounded by plenty of seating, is also essential, as it evokes the classic Southern value: Family-style.
Accessories
A simple assembly of accessories can easily tie together a Southern theme. Specifically, vases filled with fresh (or silk) flowers are the perfect table-top accouterment, while framed family photos add a personal touch all your own. Wall hangings, featuring botanical prints and outdoor scenes are perfect for dressing bare walls, while simple ceramic lamps with natural-fiber shades bring a warm simplicity reminiscent of a culture famous for its hospitality and charm. Add in a few throw pillows, a colorful throw and perhaps a seashell-filled mason jar, and you’ve successfully created an accessorized sense of Southern hospitality and design!