New traditional design style

New traditional design style is a current 2024 design trend. While I’m not a huge fan of following or obsessing over trends, I will say that if a trend comes along, it is a style you’ve envisioned and speaks to you; use it in your home.

This trending design style that incorporates traditional furniture and patterns but mixes them with modern elements. It is different from transitional design, which is has less ornamentation and can feel similar modern farmhouse. This trending design style is cozy yet luxurious and involves quality over quantity, much like traditional furniture.

Pattern and Texture

Often, traditional patterns were dark colors mixed antique white walls, which made spaces look dirty in comparison to newer design styles. But patterns in traditional design were great. Choose timeless patterns and textures in your design style by using stripes, florals or houndstooth. Use modern tables and lighting in a brass finish, giving a modern piece a traditional flare. Mix pinstripes with a modern pillow, or add traditional timeless molding to the walls with an organic buffet and a modern side chair.

Furniture

Traditional design styles had dark and heavy furniture with lots of ornamentation, while new traditional has some of those details but lighter wood stains on the furniture or some detailed pieces with light and airy fabrics on chairs and sofas plus it is less matchy-matchy like typical 90s interiors. So, you could mix and match your furniture with traditional end tables that are different and match them but in a light oak stain, which is popular right now. And mix it up with a modern lamp or modern coffee table.

Details

1700s colonial or Victorian period was dark, heavy, overly detailed, and feel fancy or snobby. It made the home dark, too. New traditional is all about the fine details in wall moldings, furniture and decor but more cozy and less items all together. Keep the details on the walls and ceilings but pair those ornamental elements down with less blocky and bulky furniture, more slim but still ornate. You won’t find heavy ornate drapery either. Instead of highly custom detailed drapes, we can use linen drapes or sheers that feel luxurious but cozy.

Decor

Traditional styles have a lot of decor and stuff all over every surface. New traditional is all about quality over quantity. Choose minimal decor or just less stuffy things. Like many plants, books you read, or just a lamp and flowers by your bed. The decor feels personal and like a getaway at a cottage. Bring in some color as well. Traditional style was very dark and heavy with dark earth tones. Go for lighter earth tones, pastels, or updated houndstooth and polka dots with all your favorite colors. 

Lighting

Traditional lighting was often large, dark, and heavy. Add simple lamp shades with a quality wood or stone lamp. Or choose fun, colorful lamps for bedrooms. Use a more open and less heavy-looking chandelier, or choose all modern lamps and lighting to make the space feel light and sophisticated. Modern lighting is the easiest way to make your very traditional home feel more new, traditional, and updated.

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