Transitional Design: Blending Modern & Traditional Styles
Every few years trends shift, bringing new colors, textures, and design ideas to make your space feel new and fresh.
Fortunately, home trends tend to stick around for several years, so you’re not having to update your floors and furniture often. But after so much time in our homes during the pandemic, many homeowners have decided it’s time for a change. The grays and whites that have been popular for the last several years are being replaced with warm neutrals and natural wood colors. Natural textures and elements are also growing in popularity.
You may find the new trends appealing but don’t want to completely remodel your home. There is a way to blend the more contemporary look with the more traditional look that is coming back around. Transitional design does just that. With transitional design you can create a space that combines the open spaces, clean lines, and lighter colors of a contemporary style with the wood, richer colors and textures, and more warmth of a traditional style.
What is Transitional Design?
Transitional design combines contemporary design elements with traditional ones. It features the timelessness of wood and a neutral color pallet to help you tie your room together. When done correctly, your home will have a cohesive look instead of a hodgepodge of mixed pieces and design elements.
For example, you may have large, oversized furniture common with a traditional look with the wispy drapes to let the sunlight in. No matter how you choose to blend these styles, you will love how comfort combines with an open-feeling space. Any way you decide to express the transitional style in your home, the flooring you choose will be what helps tie this look together for you. The flooring will become a background element that makes this design style possible.
Choosing Flooring for Transitional Style
Since contrasting colors and textures are at the center of making this design style work, you’ll need to spend time thinking about your overall look before choosing your flooring.
Color: Typically, you will want medium or light neutrals instead of dark colors when you’re going for a transitional design. Medium and light neutrals give you a versatile background to work with in creating your overall look. Though browns are making a big comeback in home design, you may still prefer the clean, openness of grays. A lighter neutral will add a nice contrast to more traditional, oversized furniture. Using neutrals for your flooring also allows you to add accent colors with your area rug or décor. This gives you the added bonus of being able to change up your look easily by replacing your rug, throw pillows, artwork, or other pieces.
Flooring Type: The flooring types you choose will most likely be either hardwood, laminate, luxury vinyl plank, or wood-look tile. These flooring types all feature the beautiful characteristics, natural elements, and neutral colors of a timeless wood flooring. You can also use a neutral-colored carpet, area rug, or even a neutral tile to help you achieve this design style. So, really, your options are varied, allowing you to choose from a multitude of products that will match your overall aesthetic and your lifestyle needs.
Material: When it comes to the materials you choose, natural is always better for a transitional style. You’ll want to focus on wood, stone, marble, wool, leather, or metal. When it comes to flooring you may want a wire-brushed hardwood to showcase beautiful features and characteristics – or choose a laminate or luxury vinyl plank that mimics this look. This would contrast with a plus armchair or shag rug. Sleek marble countertops would pop against natural wood cabinets in your kitchen. And in your bedroom, you can choose a short-pile neutral carpet with a dark wood bedroom suit. Natural materials bring in a beautiful mix of textures into your home without much effort. Since these elements are eye-catching on their own, you won’t need to add a lot of décor to really make your room stunning.
Transitional design is a great option for people who want comfort, and a functional, well-designed space. When designs trends shift, as they are now, utilizing transitional design allows you to keep your favorite pieces while making upgrades to make your space feel fresh again. It is the perfect combination of modern and traditional that will help you create a home that never goes out of style.
We, at Classic Flooring Center, in Rockledge, FL., are here to help you find all your flooring needs, no matter your design style. We can help you find the perfect flooring and tile to create the space that’s right for you. Contact us to begin your next flooring project, today!
