Home décor comes in a variety of styles. Through this blog, Gharpedia showcases some essential elements of the New England style décor. Don’t be intimidated by the name; let’s start with the basics about New England decor ideas!
What is New England Style Décor?
As the name suggests, it should have been from England, but that’s not the case. Believe it or not, this style emerged from America. The North East Coast of America is where the European settlers first landed and cultures merged, as confirmed by the Oxford Dictionary. That’s how it got its name New England décor. The New England style interior design contains Maine Coast, Shaker, Amish and American Folk Art elements. It could also be called New Yorker’s Retreat Style– simplicity as interpreted by the wealthy. There is a mixture of preserved European traditional crafts, local materials and new world aspirations in New England home décor. In the countryside, picket fences surround clapboard houses with rocking chairs on their verandas. There are more types of fences available; check out different types of fences to know more.
What Comprises New England Home Designs?
To gain a deeper insight, let’s understand this concoction that gives birth to modern New England-style interiors. In Amish and Shakers, their quilting and furniture-making skills are at the heart of this style, adding indigenous flavour to New England-style furniture. The furniture has a simple elegance, and the quilts are designed without unnecessary decoration. This pared-down approach to design gives their work a contemporary feel of New England house types.
‘Fionna B’[386], the editor of “The House Book” described Maine Coast style as light and airy, with lots of pale wood, flag and lighthouse references, hand-hooked rugs, slatted wooden chairs and painted canvas floor cloths. This lands New England style décor a comfortable and casual look. There is a genuine reverence for anything old, from farm stall signs to iron gates or vintage quilts. Still, this lifestyle relies on just the right mixture of old, new and reproduction to provide the minimum housework and maximum leisure time. To help you reproduce furniture, essential furniture makeover can help you achieve the same.
Adding the Mellow Warmth
To get the New England style interior design look right, you should use historical American colours in shades reminiscent of those derived initially from the earth, mineral and plant pigments – rich, deep rusty red, blue-grey, sky blue, deep green, golden yellow, red-brown, cream and yellow ochre.
Combinations of deep red, black and yellow, or cream and rust red with deep brown woodwork give a delicious New England house colour warmth. Keep the main colours slightly muddy and add accents of brilliant colours with tinware, rugs, cushions and pictures.
Seaside Style in Traditional New England Interior Design
The seaside style element adding to traditional New England interior design is lighter and brighter shades, making use of a lot of white to reflect the sun and sea. Faded seaside colours like pale sea green, grey, and sky blue combine well with rich bright red, and deep navy blue becomes an integral part of New England house colours. Driftwood or polished light natural wood looks good, but dark wooden furniture is too heavy for new England style décor. Windows can be shuttered or curtained with plain cotton canvas. If curtains are needed for warmth at night, use blankets with contrasting blanket stitch edges at the windows. Limit your paint colour palette to a selection of those mentioned. Sometimes windows may require treatment; a compilation of guidance for window treatment would provide in-depth details. Look out for authentic coastal collectables such as shell pictures, ships in bottles, ropes, anchors etc., to enhance New England decor ideas. But remember to keep it quite bare, with a few key objects, and avoid clutter, or your airy Maine style will start to resemble a Cornish pub!
Final Design Tip
A Shaker style peg rail will add a decorative touch without being overly ornamental. This style has become extremely popular during the past two decades. To add a shaker-style peg by yourself to your home, check the DIY Shaker Peg Rail article.
So…are you game to do up your living room in the New England Style interior design?
Do check out if you imagine yourself living in the countryside and wish to bring in the same vibe wherever you live.
Country Style Decor: Home Décor Styles in Different Countries
Image Courtesy – Image 1, Image 5, Image 6
Author Bio
Huta Raval – An English Literature and Journalism Topper, Huta Raval has graduated from the L D Arts College, Ahmedabad. Post serving for 23 years in the NBFC and Public Library Sectors her desire for ‘writing the unwritten’ brought her to the creative field of content writing. Her clientele comprises of NGOs, Blogging Platforms, Newspapers, Academic Institutions, et al.