The Hamilton Spectator

The decor trend you never saw coming is here

There’s something to be said about traditiona­l interiors executed in fresh, new ways

- GABRIELLE SAVOIE

Increasing­ly minimal interiors have been dominating decor trend reports for a while now, but as we all know, the pendulum always has to swing back the other way at some point.

We started seeing a glimpse of this shift in esthetics on New York Fashion Week’s runways earlier this year and predicted interiors would follow suit. In the past month, this sentiment has only been confirmed with the proliferat­ion of ultracool traditiona­list interiors popping up everywhere.

Have we seen enough of monochrome interiors with minimal styling? Maybe not (we’re still all over the new modern trend), but there’s something to be said about a traditiona­l interior executed in a fresh new way.

Just like a good Chanel suit will always look flawless on Anna Wintour, some elements of traditiona­l interiors always add flair to a room.

Want to learn the best tricks for decorating a traditiona­l home without making if feel stuffy? Get ahead of the curve and incorporat­e these timeless decor rules in your own space.

Use one dominant colour

No matter how much of a minimalist you are, it’s hard not to fall in love with Marie Claire fashion editor Zanna Roberts Rassi’s trick for a traditiona­l interior that also feels fresh and modern: going bold with one colour.

Throw in modern lighting

You may have an entirely formal and traditiona­l dining room, but there’s one quick way to make it feel fresh again: just add a minimal chandelier. This is a great way to refresh your space when you inherited a set of furniture that isn’t necessaril­y your style or to infuse personalit­y into a space that feels too formal.

Go entirely neutral

If there was one house that had the power to turn anyone into a traditiona­list, it would be Mark D. Sikes’s Los Angeles home. His trick for making a classic interior feels bright and fresh: decorate entirely in shades of white and cream (with a few black accents). This unity in tone allows the shapes of the furniture to shine without looking overpoweri­ng.

Light up your bookcase

There are a few elements of traditiona­l design that are timeless staples, and for good reason: they work every single time. Case in point: picture lights above bookcases and artwork always add a sophistica­ted flair to a space, no matter how traditiona­l or modern.

Mix and match

The quickest way to make your traditiona­l room feel stale is to decorate with only one style. Instead, use your maximalist flair for mixing in elements from different parts of the world and different periods. Mix and match chairs to blend modern and traditiona­l.

 ?? DREAMSTIME VIA TNS ?? You may have an entirely formal and traditiona­l dining room, but there’s one quick way to make it feel fresh again: add a minimalist chandelier.
DREAMSTIME VIA TNS You may have an entirely formal and traditiona­l dining room, but there’s one quick way to make it feel fresh again: add a minimalist chandelier.

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