Colonial style is one of the most popular architectural styles for a home, like Better Homes & Gardens magazine notes. This style tends to have at least two stories, with a brick or wood facade and fireplaces. The classic floor plan will have a family room and kitchen on the first floor, with bedrooms on the second floor. Take a look through Richmond real estate, which tends to feature many of these homes for lots of excellent examples.
While changing the entire architectural style of your home or buying a new home may not be possible, there are ways to make it appear more colonial by changing up furnishings and decor. This style has roots in early American Puritan culture, incorporating Georgian elements such as grand, high ceilings, and symmetry.
These five ways to make your home look more Colonial can provide an excellent start for the transformation.
Search for Well-Traveled Leather Trunks
Start searching for some well-traveled leather trunks, perhaps on sites like eBay, in antique stores, vintage shops, and the like. Replicas can work well too, but the real thing can add even more character. This was one of the primary inspirations for Colonial style. They can make for gorgeous decor while also serving as storage or even side tables, made with rich tan and rich brown leather with brass clasps and buckles.
Hang Portraits
Colonial style doesn’t mean bare walls; rich portraiture not only adds elegance, but it’s essential for Colonial decor. You’ll want portraits that evoke the style of the Early Romantic era that may be of English and British origin. Still, there are also some influenced by early American art. They should incorporate soft but dramatic brushstrokes, like the famous “Girl With a Pearl Earring” by Dutch painter Johannes Vermeer.
Use Classical Colonial Paint Colors
If the colors of your interior clash with Colonial style, you might want to repaint using the classics, which include modest earth tones like creamy yellow, beige, dark brown, taupe, white, almond, ochre and muted greens. These colors were common during this period as the pigments for the dyes came from natural resources like minerals, soil, and plants.
Incorporate Craftsman Elements
Colonial style, as mentioned, has its roots in early American Puritan culture, which means it’s essential to embrace the raw beauty of Puritan craftsmanship. Incorporate these elements by adding rough wood shelves, carpentry benches, and other craftsman pieces made with naturally strong woods like quarter-sawn white oak and American cherry. Quarter-sawn sections, which is a particular cutting method, results in boards that are less likely to warp or crack while revealing beautiful flecks in the grain.
Add Key Pieces
Consider adding a couple of critical pieces that evoke Colonial-style, such as a four-poster bed in the master bedroom and a long, sturdy dining table in the dining room, perhaps with black spindle chairs. A china hutch can also be ideal, showing off pieces like dishes with blue-and-white patterns, while keeping them easily accessible.
