Have you ever wanted to step back in time to a simpler era? It is possible to visually bring the past into the present by furnishing and decorating a home in colonial style. Even a mudroom can have neoclassical charm with the addition of period wall decor, inexpensive pine flooring and more. Find out how easy it is to begin furnishing and decorating a mudroom with colonial style, and give your home an eighteenth-century makeover without spending a small fortune.
Begin with Classic Colonial Colors
A local builder decided on furnishing and decorating one of the model homes they designed with colonial style decor. I fell in love with the home, and I took mental notes. Some day I plan on building, furnishing and decorating a colonial style home, and although I already know what it entails from my years of experience, I remembered my favorite details.
When furnishing and decorating a colonial style mudroom, consider using classic colonial colors. Since a mudroom is generally small, paint the walls creamy antique white. The lighter hue will help to visually enlarge the space. Typical neoclassical colors are colonial blue, forest green, deep red and chocolate brown. Choose one for the baseboards, trim and doors, and use it as an accent hue when decorating and furnishing the space.
Add Historic Details Including Simple Pine Flooring
Flooring can be a huge expense, even when furnishing a small mudroom. Spare the expense of top-of-the-line flooring. Opt for something that coordinates with colonial style and save money in the process. Choose ordinary pine flooring complete with knots and dings. Although pine will scratch and dent easily, the natural marks and scuffs will give it a patina that will lend natural beauty to the colonial style of the home.
Illuminate the Mudroom with Candelabra Lighting
Candles were a main source of light in colonial times, and when decorating and furnishing a modern mudroom with neoclassical style, consider candelabra lighting. Buy a metal candelabra fixture with a pewter or wrought iron finish. It does not have to be designed from these types of metal. Base your choice on color and style. Some of the most stylish lighting for a neoclassical space is also some of the most inexpensive.
Colonial Wall Decor for the Mudroom
The mudroom in the colonial model home I toured was decorated simply but beautifully. It was embellished with a sturdy shaker-style pine bench. The wall included a strip of wood, otherwise known as a picture rail. It matched the painted trim and woodwork. The picture rail held several simple wrought iron hooks. On the hooks hung a handmade corn broom, an old-fashioned umbrella and a straw hat. The decorating scheme was plain but beautiful. The mudroom looked hundreds of years old, but it provided a place to sit, store footwear and more.
With historic detailing, the mudroom looked as if eighteenth-century residents were going to return any moment. I have a vivid imagination, an eye for art and a photographic memory. I am able to easily transport my mind to another place and time. As my mind wandered to a simpler age, I felt as if I were a guest in a warm and lovely colonial home.
Source: Personal and Professional Home Decorating and Design Experience