There is no more enchanting setting than the Italian countryside. We’re talking about breathtaking sunsets, miles of vineyards, and rustic stone villas that blend in with the landscape.
The simplicity of Tuscan home design is as important as the strategic use of plaster, recycled wood, wrought iron, and space. Even if you are in a different state or country, the vaulted ceilings, tapestries, rich embroidered fabrics, plastered walls, murals, and old timber for ceilings and frames will transport you to Europe.
With this Tuscan style guide that will completely transform your home, we’re certain to make your fantasies of bucolic European living a reality. The only thing missing will be a glass of wine. With these Tuscany design ideas, you can bring a little bit of Tuscany, Italy, into your home.
Utilize Warm Colors
A color scheme inspired by Tuscany conjures up images of the sunny countryside. Their color palette is inspired by nature, featuring beiges, browns, creams, Sienna, yellows, terracotta orange, golds, and brick red.
Greens are also included, but they are slightly “dusty” and overall muted. Shades such as sage, olive, and deep forest green are among them. You can use bolder colors in a Tuscan design, but they should only be used as accents. Consider blue, deep purple, and cool turquoise accents.
Tuscan colors have a passive, lazy warmth to them. A Tuscan-inspired space can easily lull you into a sun-soaked trance no matter the weather outside.
Scale
In Tuscan design, scale is very important. The scale and size of features such as windows, fireplaces, and doors should be appropriate for the room’s ceiling height and size.
Furniture should easily fit into the room and create harmony and balance. Nothing must stand out as either too small or too large for the available space.
Make Use of Antique Wall Art
Antique artwork is an absolute must when transforming your modern home into an Italian villa, whether you prefer a cohesive gallery wall or larger statement pieces. Antique oil paintings are an excellent finishing touch, and they don’t have to be prohibitively expensive. In antique shops or smaller auction houses, you can find lovely art pieces by lesser-known artists that should fit your budget.
Packing your walls with antique art and paintings allows you to be creative and let loose without worrying about everything being the same color or matching. Antique artwork looks best when it is not too matchy, so have fun and choose the pieces you like the best instead of focusing on what might appear best next to something else.
Iron Elements
Metal, specifically iron, is among the most commonly used materials in Tuscan decor. There are numerous ways to incorporate iron into your space, whether through a global style bookcase, an elegant, old-world style bed, or hanging an industrial iron light fixture.
Faux Paint or Plaster Walls
The proper wall treatments are crucial in Tuscan-inspired décor. Thick plaster walls characterize vintage Tuscan homes, similar to Spanish-style homes. They frequently feature murals or frescoes and are commonly hung with handcrafted tapestries.
Modern homes cannot replicate these features precisely, but you can obtain the thick walls by using a faux paint technique wherein sponges are used to achieve a rustic plastered look. This painting style is a classic Tuscan design idea, and it’s an easy way to add a Tuscan touch to an otherwise contemporary room.
Add a Few Columns (if Possible)
Though only possible in larger homes, adding columns to your property’s structure is the ultimate way of transporting guests to the Italian countryside. Columns are excellent for dividing space, separating rooms, and elevating the prestige and stature of your home. Columns, for example, are a great way to distinguish between your dining room and living room if you don’t have a door between them, especially if you have different styles or color schemes in every space.
While many columns are ivory or white to match the surrounding walls, you can elevate your columns by selecting marble ones. For centuries, these architectural icons were used for aesthetic and functional purposes. If you like the idea of columns but don’t have the budget to purchase bigger ones, use miniature ones to spice up your mantle or fireplace to add a classy European flair.
Keep the Floors Bare
Since Tuscany is a hot region, the floors of Tuscan villas are kept bare to keep cool. Instead of using rugs to add textural depth, the Tuscan design incorporates other elements such as eye-catching metalwork and arched doorways.
Hardwood, tile, stone, and marble are examples of flooring materials. Tile and wood will complement the shabbier chic Tuscan styling, whereas marble will boost your Tuscan styling to a more upscale level.
Install Ceramic Tiles in Areas Like the Kitchen and Bathroom
Ceramic tiles are a classic part of Italian design, whether for a bathroom wall embellishment or a floor mosaic. While Tuscan-style homes use neutral paint colors and palettes, ceramic tiles allow you to add some color while keeping a clean and traditional Mediterranean look. Though there are many different types of tiles to choose from, Italian tiles are among the best.
From warm orange tiles to vibrant blue tiles, ceramic tiles add an artistic touch to any home, regardless of color scheme. If you have a property with steps leading up to your front door, installing ceramic tiles on the back of every step is a game-changer that can instantly spruce up your front yard. Furthermore, if you prefer more neutral tiles that look like stone or marble, Italian tiles are the best at mimicking that authenticity.
Go Crazy With Wood
A great deal of natural wood is used in Tuscan home décor. Heavy wood furniture pieces are combined with prominent wood trim to generate the rustic country feel characteristic of the Tuscan style.
The wood stains are generally dark, contrasted with lighter-toned wall colors and fabrics. A room with a strong Tuscan flavor will also have ceiling wood beams.
The more worn, distressed, and weathered a piece is, the better. If you’re looking for benches, tables, or storage, rough-sawn timber is the way to go. Reclaimed wood with nicks, knots, and other imperfections gets extra points.
If you’re planning to visit Tuscany for design inspiration, here’s the best time of year to visit!