How to Style the Traditional Home in 2021

I don’t know how it happened. One minute I’m young and fancy free, with my nose permanently turned skyward to anything associated with “traditional decor” and the next I’m deeply in love with Steve Cordony (or his design style, I should say. We’re both taken by our own handsome beaus). Though once upon a time I loathed the millwork in my (then) home, hated pretentious curved legs and even more the dark wood tones of the furniture they supported, and monogram….BLECH! Though, I’m not calling my pillow maker to embroider JSJ on my kilim pillows just yet, I think it’s important to take note that Traditional is coming back, but not in the way Grandma would have done it. It’s not stuffy, or pretentious. Some might call it New Traditional or others might claim they’re more Transitional (though this leans more on clean furniture lines instead of embracing their curves). Take a look below to see how you can achieve a Traditional, not tired, home. Here, Let Me show you how to style the Traditional Home in 2021.

Incorporate something unexpected:

True story I first thought the Ghost chair would be the star of the something unexpected in this photo, but wait, there’s a pheasant on the table. Take out those two things and you’d have yourself a pretty straight forward traditional design, with the antique rug, leather bound books, a floral centerpiece, and a brass sconce. The creator of this room knew how to keep in the style, but add a little flair. Had the homeowner simply put a wood chair at this table the whole look would have fallen flat and the personality of the space would have been unclear. I have no doubt that other rooms in this home feature something unique in each space. Bravo!

Be bold, not brazen. Chose the right color palette:

Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t think we can call neon colors “traditional” just yet, but that doesn’t mean that the only paint color you are allowed to use is beige either. In fact, in my humble opinion, you can and SHOULD go bold with your paint and wallpaper selection. I love my white walls and the freedom they allow me when I want to change my decor, but good golly finding the right deep green or shade of blue, can make your space so rich and tasteful. If you’re stuck on which paint colors are ok to pull off, take a look at the “Historic” or “Timeless” colors at your local paint store. You’re still likely to find some wild options within this category, so call on an interior designer to help guide you to the look you’re trying to achieve.

Bring on the rich wood tones:

If you’ve been on the Farmhouse trend for a while now and you’re looking to mature your home a little, it’s time to ditch (or have restored) you’re chippy painted furniture. You knew it was coming. Every great aunt Margaret on the planet told you that you’d one day regret taking a paintbrush to your family heirlooms. That one day is now. Sure there are still times when a piece can be painted, but we’re talking about incorporating certain pieces that give your home a classic, refined look. A major way you can accomplish this is by bringing in rich medium (sometimes dark) wood toned furniture. Medium tones, like the chest in this photo, are a great way to keep just a little of the cozy feel while being more sophisticated than a piece that is painted or stripped raw. If you’re really daring and have the budget, look for a something made from burled wood or tiger oak (it’s what kitchen/bath designers are now calling quarter sawn…it’s no new invention). Anything you find in walnut will get you high marks as well. Ignore the pieces in Cherry; it’s still a little too dated.

All the antique rugs:

God Bless America for the antique rug resurgence. As an avid lover of antiques, I must say there is nothing quite like an old rug. You can get personality and charm from all kinds of antiques, but hot damn an old rug is really what turns my head. From Anatolian, to Persian (these were at one time illegal to import into the states), to Oriental, and more. From thick, plush rugs that will make your toesies say Oh, my, my to shaved pieces that are so unique and interesting, THEY. ARE. ALL. SO. GOOD! The beautiful thing about antique or vintage rugs is that no two are just alike. They are actually handmade (handwoven or handknotted are the words you should look for). This makes these rugs extra valuable because someone somewhere hand stitched these giant pieces of art. Depending on size, condition, and loom technique of vintage rugs, be expected to pay more than what you would for a machine made rug. Some can go for tens of thousands, but there are still good finds to fit in your budget as well.

Mix in the new:

If you’re a little bit country and a little bit rock n’ roll, or more appropriately not sure if you can jump head first into Traditional home style…mix in a little bit of the new with the old. This is my favorite way to design and I find my specialty is perfectly marrying clean lines with the curvy, antiques with the modern. Nothing is ever boring when you mix styles of then and now.

What do you think about Traditional style making a comeback? What other ways could you incorporate traditional into what you already have? Which of these looks would you pick if you could only choose one?

Jamie Stauffer at Here, Let Me Design is here to help you achieve every item on this list or the list you have in your head titled “Dream Home”. Contact me at jamie@hereletme.com for a consultation.