Italian Interior: Characteristic Features, Palette, Finishing and Furniture (60 images)

Origin of the style

The Italian style originated on the southern shores of the Mediterranean and underwent some modifications. The prerequisites for its appearance were the increase in the number of settlements and the development of suburbs, which is why the Italian style uses a large number of wooden finishes and solid wood furniture.

The photo shows a kitchen interior in turquoise with majolica on the kitchen backsplash and a combined floor finish of laminate and tiles.

Italian heritage, painting and frescoes, reproductions of masters, stained glass are used today to create a unique style. The ancient past and the Roman Empire, the Renaissance left columns, arches, pilasters, moldings, sculptures, a tendency to pairing and symmetry in the Italian interior. Warm shores, vineyards and the sea became the main inspirations for the color palette.

Today, the interior shows the continuity of the classics and the preservation of antiques, hand-made decor and books, which have entered the modern Italian style of apartments.

Distinctive features and color scheme

The Italian interior is similar to the Rococo style, has classic features, but still differs in some characteristics.

1. Abundance of textures and a harmonious combination of exquisite decor with massive accessories, a combination of wood with gilding and glass.
2. A combination of the style of a French castle and a rustic style, sophistication and practicality.
3. Baroque eclecticism with country style and detachment from the simplicity of a rustic interior.
4. The use of natural materials in decoration (Venetian plaster, stone, solid wood) and natural palettes.
5. Trees and tall potted plants are often used to create the effect of a summer garden, arches, columns, and uneven cladding of vaults.
6. A large window, glass doors, and light tulle are reminiscent of a long Italian summer and a warm sea breeze.
7. From the colors, preference is given to creamy and beige shades, blue, purple, and green for an accent.

The photo shows the living room interior with decorative beams and a wrought iron pendant lamp in the central area.

Varieties of style

The concept of the Italian interior remains the same, but expressed from different angles based on the geography of the origin of the style.

Italian country style

Imbued with naturalness and freshness, only wood is used for decoration, heavy solid boards, doors with scuffs and iron fittings, beams, a solid wood bed, a low sofa.

Stonework, marble, natural textiles, the absence of bright colors and homemade decor create the Italian country style.

The photo shows an Italian country bedroom interior with massive dark furniture and wood paneling in the attic of a country house.

Italian Mediterranean style

It features arched openings, high ceilings, frescoes, a combination of ocher and soft yellow, soft lighting, forged lamps, wicker decor, vessels, fresh flowers, carved frames and figurines.

Italian classic style

Tends to ostentatious luxury, characterized by natural furniture with carvings, ceiling decoration with frescoes or stucco with a voluminous chandelier, arches or columns. For decoration, dishes in the buffet, clocks, paintings, frames and homemade accessories are used. Here there are large windows or an exit to a balcony, veranda, bay windows, free space and combined zones, interior doors and partitions are rarely used.

Italian Tuscan style

Comes from the province of Tuscany and combines features of Italian, French and Spanish styles. The interior is inspired by nature, warmth, architecture, vineyards and cypresses. The main colors are brown, olive, ocher, blue and yellow.

Aged plaster, molding or frescoes are used for the walls. The beams are not hidden, tiles, marble and granite are laid on the floor. The furniture is decorated with painting, the decor is provided by vases with fruit, painted dishes, lace.

Modern Italian style

Preserves the traditions of the classical interior, but uses modern materials for finishing (wallpaper, decorative plaster, ready-made frescoes), laminate and decorative stone. Wood can be replaced with MDF, and marble with acrylic. Beams can be made of PVC construction and false molding, columns can be used. The furniture includes modern sofas and a coffee table with a bar and a chest of drawers.

The photo shows a modern interior with wall sconces, which are the only sources of light according to the canons of the Italian style, combined with a stone floor and white walls.

Apartment interior

Kitchen

The kitchen in the Italian Mediterranean style has distinctive features that make the city kitchen look summery. It is important to use mosaics, majolica, tiles with ornaments in green and blue tones when finishing the apron.

The floor should be plain made of stone, tiles, laminate. The furniture should be matte, wooden or with painted MDF facades. The dining table is selected from wood, the tabletop is made of marble. Forged iron and wickerwork go well with plastered, painted walls or plain wallpaper in beige, pistachio and orange.

Living room

In a Mediterranean style interior, the living room should have a wide window or it should be decorated with curtains so as to leave the window as open as possible. For the floor, use a board with scuffs and roughness.

Plaster, paintable wallpaper with imitation bark beetle, solid wooden doors with a texture of cracks will do. Forged chandeliers, wicker chairs, low sofas will suit the Italian interior.

The photo shows the interior of a living room with a wide window, patterned curtains against the background of plain wall decoration, wicker decor and porcelain dishes.

Bedroom

In the Italian interior, the bedroom should not be overloaded with complex drapery of curtains; light curtains, taffeta, plain curtains are suitable for this style.

Straw and sand shades are selected for the walls, natural floor finish, wooden furniture on legs. The style of the bedroom is seen in the absence of unnecessary decor, curtains in the same color as the walls, classic floor lamps, frescoes.

Children’s

The interior of the children’s room should be different from the bedroom, there is a combination of bright colors, patterns. The furniture is painted white, the ceiling is plastered or wooden, the bed has legs and a forged headboard.

The photo shows a modern Italian children’s room interior with a wooden table, a chalkboard, modern furniture, flowers and homemade decor.

Bathroom

The interior of the bathroom in Italian style is distinguished by wooden cabinets, white, green, gold and blue finishes. Tiles, porcelain tiles, mosaics, frescoes and decorative tile compositions are used.

Porcelain tiles imitating stone or dark oak color are laid on the floor. Accessories – mirror, wooden towel holders, plants, candlesticks instead of sconces.

House interior

It is easier to create an Italian style in a country house due to its original spaciousness and easy access to nature. Arches and a high ceiling, large mirrors, forged iron and stone, plants and wooden beams will reveal the Italian interior.

An important attribute of the living room is a large window, which can be made by combining two window openings.

A spacious kitchen should be of the island type made of solid wood with a large round dining table.

A large mirror and a wrought iron chandelier are a must in the bathroom.

The bedroom and children’s room are no different from the interiors of an apartment in the Italian style.

The photo shows a bedroom in the attic with wallpaper and wood trim, a bed on legs and not overloaded with decor. Crystal wall sconces are the source of light.

Finishing

Walls

For finishing walls in the Italian style, natural shades of yellow and gold, beige and brown tones are used. Plain wallpaper, liquid wallpaper that creates the effect of color transition and soft plaster, stone cladding, wooden panels covered with varnish and plaster are used.

Floor

In the Italian interior, the floor should be either stone or marble, which gives a shine, or wood (laminate, parquet, board) with the effect of aging and abrasion.

Ceiling

For the ceiling in the Italian style, beams, plaster, uneven texture under clay are used, there are no moldings. The ceiling is quite high and simple, decorated with a wide hanging chandelier with a forged or wooden frame.

Features of choosing furniture

Furniture for the Italian style is selected massive, wooden and low. The sofa and armchair can have forged decor, there are also rattan chairs.

The living room must have a low table near a squat sofa and a couple of armchairs. The chest of drawers, stools, sideboard, shelving, and wardrobe are placed freely from each other and not along the walls. Furniture can be sanded for artificial aging.

The photo shows a classic Italian interior with a bronze chandelier, paintings, Venetian plaster and classic natural-colored furniture with a coffee table. The furniture is arranged spaciously without accumulations in one area.

Choosing textiles

To decorate an Italian window, you need to use light fabrics without additional decor and garters. Fastening only to a forged or tubular cornice. In general, it is better to give preference to natural textiles made of linen or cotton.

Plain curtains, translucent organza, tulle, taffeta will do. Also, the window is often left without curtains, you can use blinds. The colors of the curtains are selected in natural green and yellow shades, as well as white or beige.

Lighting and decor

Lighting should be unobtrusive and soft, diffused from the main source. Local lighting is also used with 5-6 wall sconces, which provide shading in the center of the room. Also suitable are lampshades, forged chandeliers.

The photo shows the interior of the house with an arch, fresco, forged chandelier and plastered wall. Ornamental tiles and a countertop made of decorative stone imitating marble were used in the kitchen.

For decor used:

• ceramic tableware (vessels and plates, amphorae and clay cups);
• candlesticks made of metal and ceramics;
• a vase with fruit;
• carpet;
• paintings in frames;
• frescoes and reproductions;
• molding and mosaics, pilasters;
• live flowers and plants in pots.