In sync with its hot and dry climate, the Tuscan style decor is simple and functional. Are you interested in replicating this style with the help of Tuscany design ideas in your house? Then read this blog to gain a perspective on the crucial elements of the Tuscan style home decor and how to decorate Tuscan style in your home.
About Tuscan Style Decor
Tuscan decor ideas are inspired by the city in Italy named Tuscany. According to Touring Club of Italy (2005) (Authors and editors of the book “Authentic Tuscany”) it needs no introduction – a land where history, art and nature collide in the most magnificent ways – light and dark, sweet and savory, gentle sandy coasts and rolling inland hills, ancient walled cities and soaring cypress trees – this is Tuscany!
Tuscany interior design in summer presents the perfect antidote to a grey winter spent in a city – the effect is instantaneous and unforgettable. Italy, like every other industrialised society, has moved away from old-style farming and many Italians choose new, problem-free housing with all mod cons over the tumbledown old farm buildings with Tuscan-themed decorations that fire the visitor’s imagination. The restoration of farmhouses and villas in the Tuscan countryside has largely been undertaken by outsiders, for whom it was a case of ‘love at first sight’. According to Don McPherson (2006) (Author of the book “Ah! Tuscany: The Enlightenment of an Expatriate”) ask anyone who has visited Tuscany if they would live there and they are sure to respond, “I would love to” and if they had the opportunity, in a heartbeat”.
It seems that another culture’s rural lifestyle always has more appeal than one’s own, doubly so when the weather is good! So are Tuscan decor ideas. The outsiders who have bought second homes in Tuscany have rescued Tuscan-themed decorations and style, what the locals would have thrown out in the name of progress. Due to this, the craftsmen have found their traditional skills in great demand.
Tuscany has a treasury of art, architecture and culture in cities such as Florence and Siena, where the climate has helped to preserve its beauty. The colours of marble, earth and clay predominate in Tuscany interior design, with the sun playing its part by fading fresh paint to blend seamlessly with the colours of older buildings.
The Tuscan climate is hot and dry, and houses are built of local stone with curved earthenware roof tiles. Windows have wooden shutters and the colour of the buildings allows them to blend into the landscape.
Simple And Functional Tuscany Houses
Tuscan home decor ideas come directly from Tuscany countryside houses. The houses have tiled floors and plastered walls painted in pink, shades of faded blue-green or ochre yellow. There are no skirting borders in the Tuscan-style decor, but the lower parts of the walls are painted in a darker colour in order to hide the scuff marks made by the broom. The small windows shield the interiors from the scorching heat of the summer sun and the cold winter nights. Curtains in Tuscany-style decor are rare, but wooden shutters are fitted inside the windows, making it easy to block out the light during the afternoon rest hours.
Window ledges are tiled, and the broad bands surrounding windows and doorways are picked out in softly contrasting colours.
The paint used in Tuscan-style home decor is always lime-wash tinted with pigments. This is the perfect paint for the climate, and the chalky finish is essential for the authentic Tuscan country decor appearance.
The furnishing style is simple and functional, as most entertaining takes place outside on the terrace. In Italy, furniture is often arranged against the walls rather than in the centre of a room to provide an open, spacious feeling. Tuscan-inspired decor includes a few pieces of wooden furniture, some hand-painted ceramics, pot plants, Turkish rugs and table lamps. All these elements help in keeping with Tuscan country decor style.
Terracotta floor tiles are practical in an entrance hall and a kitchen, but are only suitable for living rooms in warmer climates. Polished floorboards and rugs look good and feel warmer underfoot. The key to success here is to keep it very simple.
How to Decorate Tuscan Style in Your Home?
The Tuscan style decor is easy to create with the below-mentioned Tuscan home decor ideas –
- Use Mediterranean paint for the walls that dries to a chalky finish.
- Achieve a textured wall surface by using a special textured paint.
- Opt for a shallow key cupboard to give the impression of a shuttered window.
- Add few Tuscan-inspired decor elements like table lamps, small terracotta pots, wine bottles and a few others.
Quick Tip – If you are refurbishing your house then choose Tuscan-style interior and give your house a countryside touch. Tuscan style interior will also help in making you feel cool in hot summers with the use of natural stones and earthy tones on the wall.
So, have we got you motivated to try out the Tuscan-style decor…? Write in to share your experiences with Tuscany design ideas and do check out other relevant blogs on some easy DIY projects to lend a Tuscan hue to your home sweet home!
For more topics about interior design check the given articles below:
13 Unique Interior Design Ideas and Home Décor Inspirations for 2022
Which Home Furnishings You Should Fix Up or Switch Up To Improve Your Home’s Aesthetic?
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.
