Your home should always be comfortable for you and your family. Even if you live in an older house, you can make a few adjustments to make it better fit your needs. One of the best ways to make your property feel more like home is to redesign the interiors and turn it into something that suits a modern American family. If you’re ready to try a new American-style interior design, this article is for you. Get ready to get inspired by design ideas from modern trends and turn a boring house into an appealing and welcoming abode. Keep reading for some great tips!
Embrace Neutral Tones
American-style interior design favors classic colors, so it always plays with neutral tones. Although neutrals can look boring to many people, they can be difficult to mix and match if you don’t have a trained eye. Too many colors of the same family close together can also easily look bland and lifeless, so you must be careful with them. When done correctly, they’re not so boring after all.
These colors are timeless. They looked good in the past, and they still look good now. Especially as paint colors, they can add a clean backdrop for everything you add to the space, from vases and lamps to sofas and tables. You want to hire professional interior painting services to get the right neutral paint colors and avoid peeling, bubbling, or fading paint in the future. They can also tell you what colors to paint other walls if you want more exciting colors like jewel or metallic tones.
You can also play with other decor in neutral tones. Playing with textures is the best way to prevent creating a dull room. Instead of making everything look like shades of brown oak, try to play up the design with brown plush pillows, brown hardwood floors, brown leather sofas, and brown acrylic artwork. With enough variety in texture, your brown room will always feel interesting despite the color.
Incorporate Natural Materials
Many people also love the look of natural materials inside the house. In the old days, American-style interior design always played with readily available materials like wood and stone, and it persevered until today. Try experimenting with various woods, stones, and woven plant materials to bring the great outdoors feel inside. This adds a calming warmth to your interior and keeps everything grounded, even if you have many modern devices like TVs, laptops, and smartphones.
Start with the floor. Modern hardwood flooring is a beautiful and sturdy material that can last years if you care for it properly. With some dusting, waxing, and polishing, you can keep it looking brand new. You also get many wood options, from oak and cherry to hickory and maple. They’re a solid investment if you want lasting flooring for years.
Next, find natural accents to add more personality to the space. For example, you can choose a natural stone design to decorate your fireplace and a bamboo table to complement your sofa. Some people also add cork to various areas like coasters and pots. The best part is that these natural materials are sustainable. They don’t feel hard and cold like metal because they can decay faster after a few years. With a touch of nature in your indoor space, you won’t have to worry about having an unwelcoming home space.
Farmhouse Chic
Older homes have that farmhouse feel because they were on farms and used by real farmers. But if you want to create an American-style interior design in your house, you can try this concept to bring new life and interest to your space. This kind of aesthetic melds the rustic charm of old farmhouses with the modern elegance of an American home, resulting in a stylish and inviting space for family and guests alike.
A classic kitchen setup is one of the main focuses of a farmhouse aesthetic. Look up kitchen cabinet ideas if you want it to look like a lived-in space. The cupboards, shelves, and drawers all contribute to the aesthetic with the rustic look of painted wood. You want the exposed grain to peek through despite the color. You can change your countertop from hard stone options like quartz and granite to more sustainable wood.
Aside from the kitchen, you must create a different vibe in the bedroom and living room. The cozy feel of a farmhouse should translate well in these living spaces. Try exposing some reclaimed wood beams and posts, vintage tex tiles, and many plants in clay pots. This can help you create a rustic yet sophisticated farmhouse aesthetic. Try not to make everything perfect because these little details sell the aesthetic and push the lived-in and loved feel.
Mix Patterns and Textures
Make sure you also play around with patterns and textures because these make up the classic American-style interior design aesthetic. If you don’t know where to start, try experimenting with fabrics on your upholstery. Change the fabric of your couch cover and add a different texture to your throw pillows. You can add another layer of interest with blankets and table mats. These seemingly mismatched pieces create a cozy and comfortable lounging setup.
Next, try it in your bathroom. Although it can be scary to experiment with tiles and caulk, it can add new life to the space. Additionally, you can change your shower curtains and rods to something more interesting, like printed patterns and embossed engravings. If you have bathroom rugs, these can also add to the aesthetics, so try plush rugs with sleek towels.
When mixing and matching textures, focus on creating balance. This is the key to not overwhelming the space with so much interest. For example, you can benefit from creating one or two focal points in a living room and keeping everything subtle and neutral to stay in the background. Visual interest helps to keep the eye moving, but it doesn’t try to make someone dizzy by placing every known pattern to man in one room. You can add depth and dimension to your home space with the right amount and placement.
Showcase American Collectibles
You can’t go wrong with displaying some American collectible items when creating an American interior design. If you love the US so much, try to showcase some of its heritage and history with various vintage objects and decor. Although finding some of these decorative or practical items in good condition can be difficult, you can still find some online. From antique flags and vintage signs to old-school soda bottles and figurines, you’ll surely find many things that will help you showcase your support for the country.
Some collectible items may also be appliances that have been part of America’s history and have led to the present gadgets and gizmos we use. For example, an antique toaster can be fun in your home, but you just might make it work with professional appliance repair. Just ask the technician to keep as many original parts as possible to keep them looking like a piece of American history.
Spread these items around the home as much as possible. Try to avoid containing them in one space because you don’t want your living room to look like the American flag is printed on everything in there. Balance a modern and rustic aesthetic, including these vintage finds. Just dust off these heirlooms, find a good spot for them in your home and display them with a proud smile.
Open Floor Plans
Now, let’s experiment with your floor plan. An open floor plan is the most common aesthetic for American-style interior design because it clears a room and leaves wide pathways that people can walk on without interrupting others. This ensures you can watch TV without having your partner walk in front of you because everything feels cramped.
A good floor plan maximizes the available space. For example, the kitchen can become a disaster if you narrow the walkways in favor of a large countertop. To fix this, find an experienced professional like a countertop contractor to reduce the size of the kitchen prep counter and open the pathways around your American-style home. You should also ask your contractor to ensure seamless transitions from one room to another.
Once you’ve got an open floor plan, maintain it and keep it as open as possible. Avoid cluttering the space with clothes, decor, or other items that don’t belong there. You want the open space to stay open. This isn’t just about aesthetics. You’re essentially setting yourself up for growth in an open home. So don’t be afraid to get your contractor to knock down some walls and pillars to enhance your home’s property.
Cozy Seating Areas
Of course, everyone should feel comfortable in your home, starting when they sit in your living room. You want your collection of sofas and other chairs to look cohesive, soft yet sturdy and durable. Make sure your seating areas are the best places for visitors to sit and chat with you about life.
You should start with the furniture. Consider changing your couch to look more classic and timeless instead of trendy. You can also look at your other decor, like curtains, table mats, and even your carpets, to ensure they’re clean. Washing your curtains and table mats is easily done in the washing machine, but carpet cleaning might be a more sophisticated process that you’d hire a professional for to ensure you don’t ruin a perfectly good carpet.
One key to building an American-style interior design is to layer carefully. Play with various textures and designs to add warmth to the space. Make it as cozy as possible with throws, blankets, and pillows to ease weary guests. Once you’re done setting it up, always clean these guest seating areas to keep them dust-free for the next group of visitors.
Blend Old and New
After textures and patterns, you should also consider blending old and new home items to create an American-style interior design. With the timeless aesthetic of vintage and antique items and the advanced and futuristic look of new decor, you can turn a place into the perfect space for your family. Each piece will have a story, which you can learn much from while growing. From attics and flea markets to malls and shopping districts, browse various stores to find the right combination of old and new.
For example, if you have an old piano, you can buy a new flatscreen TV to sit beside it. The juxtaposition of a weary piano can complement the aesthetic of a sleek new TV. Just make sure you’re decorating your space safely and with the help of professionals as necessary. For example, you might ask for help from a professional piano mover to avoid accidents. They can also place the heavy piano in the right place and keep it there if you can no longer move it yourself.
Maximize Natural Light
Next, ensure enough natural light can enter the house. Natural light offers various benefits, from illumination and visibility to positive moods and productivity. American-style interior design will also tell you to open the windows to let in the fresh air and sunlight. This lets you enjoy some positive conditions outside while still staying indoors.
You can also invest in various window styles and treatments to change the vibes of the space. For example, window shutters will allow you to control how much light gets in while also adding security by blocking out the view from the outside. Of course, you can also employ curtains to further limit or let in the light. Soon, you’ll feel much healthier in a brighter home.
Personalize Your Space With Cherished Heirlooms, Travel Souvenirs, or Handmade Crafts
Finally, try adding personalized items to make the space uniquely yours, from heirlooms and souvenirs to handicrafts. These cherished items add life and adventure to your space as you constantly remember a few memories from the past. This is especially helpful for loved ones far away. For example, old photo albums, antique sets, and simple precious materials can evoke a unique space that satisfies your needs.
To display these items, consider hiring custom cabinet makers to construct spaces specifically for your personalized items. This cabinet will also be a part of the display, so you must take it seriously and find something timeless and beautiful. Whether it’s a new bookcase or a handmade crafting table, you’ll find something that will suit your American-style interior design project.
American-style interior design is a good aesthetic to emulate if you love its aesthetic look. But always try to incorporate your personality in the design to ensure you’ll always love it. Don’t be afraid to get creative and play around with colors, textures, and antique or modern items. With this transformation at your fingertips, you can have so much fun in your cozy and stylish home sanctuary.