More people than ever before are choosing to live in period properties, with rustic barn conversions and renovated cottages being among the most popular homes on the market. However, just because you live in a period house doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to live with old-fashioned décor. While going for a look that is too avant-garde will not fit in well with the feel of the property, adding a few contemporary touches brings just enough modern appeal within easy reach.
Choose Stylish Modern Fabrics
If you have natural materials such as stone and wood on your walls and floor, you can afford to add some exciting splashes of colour or vibrant patterns. When it comes to choosing cushions, rugs or made to measure curtains, neon shades, earthy greens and denim blues are all popular this season and will give a sophisticated yet up to date styling to any period property without overstepping the mark. Alternatively, opt for one of today’s metallic fabrics in gold, silver or bronze, bringing an industrial edge into an otherwise vintage room. These work especially well when used in conjunction with other metal details such as brass lamps, stainless steel table legs or iron candlesticks.
Make a Bold Statement With Stripes
Stripes may be a daring move, but when paired with neutral shades and rustic wood they add plenty of contemporary appeal. A large space could benefit from a striped wallpaper feature wall, while smaller rooms will have a boutique feel when decorated with subtle striped details such as photo frames, lampshades or artwork. The key to the successful use of stripes is to avoid going overboard – opting for an entire striped room or a mish-mash of styles and colours would be a mistake. Instead, go for stripes in just one or two shades which complement the main theme of the room, and decorate either one larger area or, alternatively, add a handful of delicate touches. Bold striped curtains are an eye-catching feature without appearing excessive.
Beautiful Prints for Understated Elegance
When decorating a period home it can be all too easy to fall into the trap of opting for an old-fashioned look. While vintage style is popular at the moment, the effect can be too much when paired with traditional furnishings and original features, and going for retro choices can lead to your property appearing dated. One way to avoid this is to choose bold, modern fabric prints for your home accessories. Leaf prints are extremely fashionable at the moment and will look wonderful in contrast with wooden flooring. Exotic and colourful floral cushions bring a splash of colour to a neutral space, while today’s bold geometric prints look wonderful on a plain background when incorporated into curtains or rugs.
Modern fabrics are a great way to explore your creative side while bringing your classic property bang up to date. Be inspired by these contemporary style ideas and combine the best of old and new in a sophisticated and beautiful way.