Create an ideabook for your next remodeling project!
Browse more than 1,500,000 photos from top designers and save your favorites
Sourcebook: Traditional Style
For a refined look that leaves stuffiness in the past, bring home classic furniture and more from these companies and websites
I'm a decorator who can't get enough of antique finds, amazing textiles, fresh flowers or coffee! Check out my blog at www.maggieroseonline.com
I'm a decorator who can't get enough of antique finds, amazing textiles,... More »
Traditional design can have the reputation for being dark and dated. But by following a few simple principles, you can have a formal, traditional look and skip the stuffy vibe. Look for furniture in traditional shapes and use symmetry and matched pairs to arrange them in a classic way. Keep everything fresh with lighter, brighter colors and by updating details like lamp shades and curtains to give a nod to current trends. Here are a few great sources to keep on hand if your style is traditional.
Related: So Your Style Is: Traditional
Related: So Your Style Is: Traditional
| When shopping for traditional furniture, look for antiques or antique shapes, like a bergère (shown here), wingback or slipper chair. Curvy legs and detailed carved wood are signs of traditional design. Instead of stiff and uncomfortable upholstery, look for down-filled cushions that are more forgiving for modern activities such as watching TV. |
by Ballard Designs
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
You don't have to buy antique for traditional design. You can find lots of classic furniture shapes online that you can customize with different fabrics.
Where to find it:
• Ballard Designs has bergère chairs and other traditional furniture.
• Horchow has many beautiful seating options.
Where to find it:
• Ballard Designs has bergère chairs and other traditional furniture.
• Horchow has many beautiful seating options.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
If your taste leans toward more formal and elegant traditional pieces, you may find what you're looking for at Wisteria. The site even offers some antiques.
Where to find it:
• Wisteria has case goods and other traditional styles.
• Home Decorators Collection offers many classic pieces.
Where to find it:
• Wisteria has case goods and other traditional styles.
• Home Decorators Collection offers many classic pieces.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
When you're ready to splurge on a true antique but can't make it to the flea market in Paris, 1stdibs has an unmatched collection of antique and vintage pieces, and you can sort by era and price.
Where to find it:
• 1stdibs has tables and other beautiful antiques.
• Search for local shops that specialize in "fine antiques" to see pieces in person before purchasing.
Where to find it:
• 1stdibs has tables and other beautiful antiques.
• Search for local shops that specialize in "fine antiques" to see pieces in person before purchasing.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Part of traditional style is architecture, usually what you might find in a turn-of-the-century home. You can restore or add architectural details like wainscoting, crown molding or beadboard to evoke a more traditional design.
Where to find it:
• New England Classic
• Hardware stores and lumberyards. A designer can help you think through the styles, and a contractor can install your choice.
Where to find it:
• New England Classic
• Hardware stores and lumberyards. A designer can help you think through the styles, and a contractor can install your choice.
by Ethan Allen
»
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
A ginger or temple jar lamp (whether authentic or just the same shape) is a very traditional and versatile light that will always be in style. Shades, however, can date quickly. To keep your traditional lamp from feeling stuffy, try a simple pleated shade like this one or a silk or paper shade with no pleating in a solid color like black. Avoid off-white, which looks dated.
Where to find it:
• This one is from Ethan Allen.
• Lamps Plus has many ginger jar lamps.
• Search Etsy for terms like "ginger jar," "temple jar" and "chinoiserie lamp."
• Browse ginger jars on Houzz.
Where to find it:
• This one is from Ethan Allen.
• Lamps Plus has many ginger jar lamps.
• Search Etsy for terms like "ginger jar," "temple jar" and "chinoiserie lamp."
• Browse ginger jars on Houzz.
Like it? Save it to your Ideabook »
Designers known for their traditional style:
• Legendary decorator Billy Baldwin loved slipper chairs (like the ones shown here) and used them often — always skirted. Check out his book Billy Baldwin Decorates.
• Suzanne Rheinstein's interiors are extremely elegant and use ample antiques and fine fabrics.
• Bunny Williams loves color and has an amazing eye for detail, both in furniture and accessories.
• Tobi Fairley uses traditional shapes and arrangements but with a Southern flair for hospitality.
• David Mitchell's smart use of color and interesting furniture layouts breathe new life into traditional pieces.
Browse more designers
More inspiration on traditional style:
Houzz Tour: Traditional-Style Townhouse in Colonial Williamsburg
Get Cozy With Traditional Old-World Decorating
Home Styles: New Traditional Design
Tell us: Is your home decorated in the traditional style? Share a photo below!
• Legendary decorator Billy Baldwin loved slipper chairs (like the ones shown here) and used them often — always skirted. Check out his book Billy Baldwin Decorates.
• Suzanne Rheinstein's interiors are extremely elegant and use ample antiques and fine fabrics.
• Bunny Williams loves color and has an amazing eye for detail, both in furniture and accessories.
• Tobi Fairley uses traditional shapes and arrangements but with a Southern flair for hospitality.
• David Mitchell's smart use of color and interesting furniture layouts breathe new life into traditional pieces.
Browse more designers
More inspiration on traditional style:
Houzz Tour: Traditional-Style Townhouse in Colonial Williamsburg
Get Cozy With Traditional Old-World Decorating
Home Styles: New Traditional Design
Tell us: Is your home decorated in the traditional style? Share a photo below!
Comments
Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel Some nice examples. The ginger jar lamp is so boring with that shade! It would be much nicer with a taller, smooth cylinder shape, in a non-traditional color, depending on the decor, but I'm thinking coral or black.
13 months ago · Like
· 
1
1
Maggie Rose Interiors @FineArts&PortraitsbyLaurel That's a great idea!
13 months ago · Like
· 1
1
Tahani Al_Masri beautiful
7 months ago · Like
Tracy Dunn Design, LLC Using color, antiques, and new pieces as well as different elements of texture all lend itself to a warm comfortable traditional room. 
6 months ago · Like
· 5
5
Ideabook published on April 27, 2012.
What are you working on?
News From Our Partners
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
