Mediterranean style in the interior: Origins
The origins of the Mediterranean interior style arose in the era of Antiquity, so its authentic examples should be sought in Greece and Italy. Later, this design spread throughout the southern coast of Europe and even took root in North Africa, where Moroccan design was created on its basis. The latter can be considered a mixture of Mediterranean interior style with the traditions of home decoration characteristic of the Arab East.
In France, the Provence style was created on the basis of the Mediterranean. True, in the province of the same name it was adapted to the conditions of rural life and given a French flavor.
The Mediterranean interiors, in which Spanish influence can be traced, also look charming. They are more colorful as they are a mixture of Southern European and Moorish designs.
Mediterranean style house
A private house in a Mediterranean style is beautiful and status-worthy. Obviously, such structures were originally intended for southern latitudes, so residents of the northern regions should think twice before deciding to build a home in this style.
The Mediterranean style in architecture involves the construction of houses that will be cool, even in the hottest weather. It is not pompous, so its exterior contains limestone, marble, ceramics, metal, plaster, in combination with wood.
Mediterranean style home: features
A house or cottage in a Mediterranean style always stands out from the surrounding buildings, thanks to the following characteristic features:
- the use of tile roofing, which is covered with red, brown or orange tiles;
- open plan;
- the presence of a patio, which is a courtyard with a place to relax, filled with tubs with greenhouse plants;
- large windows, which are typical even for rooms such as a hallway or a Mediterranean-style bathroom;
- the presence of niches, arched openings, balconies, galleries, open terraces and balconies;
Very often in the courtyard there is a pool or mini-pond with a fountain, which is surrounded by pots with decorative greenery.
Mediterranean style home: 60 ideas
A traditional Greek Mediterranean style house may have a flat roof. It is suitable for use as a place to relax in the evening or at night. For exterior decoration, only white plaster and blue paint are used. It is also appropriate to use dark wood in the exterior. It is permissible to use forged decorative items, including original lamps.
See also:
- Contemporary style in the interior
- Greek style in the interior
Mediterranean-style doors occupy a special place in the exterior of the house. They should be made of wood with visible wrought iron fittings. Their characteristic details include the transom located in the upper part of the window. If you want to give your home a rustic flavor, then use the technique of artificial aging of wood and patination of metal parts.
Features of the Greek Mediterranean style
The main colors of this trend are white, blue, yellow and green. Despite the fact that these colors are cool shades, when you find yourself in a room filled with such colors, you will feel the warmth of the Mediterranean sun, which will lift your spirits. The Greek style is also called the Cycladic style. The emphasis in it is on white and blue stripes with pink inserts in furniture, ceramics, and household items. White, blue and yellow colors create the appearance that you are in the vast expanse of the sea, shrouded in the sun's rays. Another important feature of the Cycladic style is the alternation of colors. Even furniture made from the same set can be covered in completely different color shades. However, it must be located in strict order. The style is constructed in such a way that all surrounding objects and household accessories look quite strict and neat. At the same time, a person who finds himself in a house where the Greek style reigns will not have the feeling that everything is overly pedantic and orderly. Sometimes in the Cycladic style you can find splashes of black. At first glance, it seems that he is superfluous here. However, this is a mistaken opinion, since a small amount of paraphernalia, made in dark colors, will add even more charm to your room, refresh it, and, of course, will only please the owner of the house. If we talk about bathrooms, then white-blue shades and green colors for ceramic tiles will come in handy. In general, the color variety should be quite modest, but the decor itself should be distinguished by its brightness and richness of tones. In all other respects, you need to adhere to the traditional component, which must certainly have a large amount of light, the presence of floral patterns, as well as that elusive feeling of freshness that is characteristic of this style.
Mediterranean style apartment: features
A Mediterranean-style apartment is suitable for cheerful people who prefer light colors. This design will look ideal if we are talking about a spacious home with windows on the sunny side. It is advisable that the apartment have a minimum number of partitions.
To create a cozy interior, wooden furniture is used, which should have a rough appearance. In particular, the use of objects with polished surfaces is unacceptable. As for upholstery, options made from light, natural fabrics are suitable. The most characteristic is the striped blue and white pattern.
Mediterranean style colors
In terms of color scheme, the Mediterranean style is characterized by natural colors. These include both cold (blue, indigo, yellow, green, white) and warm shades (olive, brown, emerald, orange-red). Quite often they combine white and blue colors as part of the decor. We are talking about tile inserts located on the wall, shelves for souvenirs and other small items and accessories.
Conciseness is an important component of the Mediterranean style, so do not use all the different colors! It is enough to choose only 2-3.
Mediterranean style in the interior: Options
Most often, two versions of this design are used: Italian and Greek. They are united by the use of natural materials, a slight vintage feel and the absence of any pomp.
Greek variety
The recognition of a Mediterranean interior with a Greek accent is ensured by a color palette that includes white, all shades of blue, emerald, and lemon yellow.
Pink and red colors can be used as bright color accents.
A house or apartment in a Mediterranean style has a design built on contrasts. One of the unusual features is the alternation of light and dark shades. For example, when arranging furniture, it is advisable to maintain contrast. To do this, you can use an unusual technique - paint furniture items from the same set in different shades.
A characteristic element is the simplest possible finishing of all surfaces. It is made using natural materials.
When decorating rooms, it is recommended to use ceramics, glass and various accessories.
Italian variety
Despite the fact that Italian culture was formed on the basis of Antique culture, the birthplace of which is Ancient Greece, Greek and Italian design traditions have many differences.
First of all, this concerns the color scheme. The “Italian” palette is brighter. It includes bright yellow, green, brown, gold and olive colors.
The “Apennine” Mediterranean style in the interior has a somewhat vintage connotation, so all surfaces should be rough and rough.
Mosaics, paintings, ceramic tiles and brick inserts are used to decorate the walls. Decorative stucco plaster, which contains fine marble chips, looks especially authentic on the walls.
Ceramic plates, vases, large bottles and colorful pillows look ideal in an Italian interior. They give homes a special flavor.
Mediterranean style in the living room interior
The joyful Mediterranean style appeals to many people. Indeed, how nice it is to find yourself in interiors that are reminiscent of the sunny southern region in the cold, dank season, warming with their entire appearance.
A Mediterranean-style living room (photos clearly demonstrate this) combines all the advantages of this “hot” style and the warmth of family and friendly communication . Let's consider the basic rules for creating the interior of such a living room.
Mediterranean interior is not necessarily a spacious room, so even a small apartment can be decorated in this style
Finishing
The main materials for decorating a living room in a Mediterranean style are stone (tiles) and wood. Forged and textile products are used to create interesting accents.
The big advantage of this style is that when finishing surfaces, they do not need to be specially leveled. On the contrary, roughness and unevenness of walls and ceilings are welcome.
The ceiling should be plain, preferably white, with wooden beams. If it is not possible to use natural beams, then you can glue their polyurethane imitation to the ceiling.
Wooden beams are a classic technique for decorating the ceiling in a Mediterranean interior.
The floor can be covered with ceramic tiles, wooden boards, or, in order to save money, use high-quality laminate, linoleum with the texture of wood or tiles. An interesting solution is a coating that imitates a wooden deck. The floor can be covered with mats made from natural materials.
Terracotta tiles on the floor look very authentic
The decoration of the walls is quite varied. It can be:
- rough textured plaster;
- patterned tiles;
- imitation of frescoes with Mediterranean themes;
- wallpaper in light colors;
- wooden panels.
Most often, matte plaster is chosen to decorate the walls of a living room in a Mediterranean style.
The main thing is that all the details of the decor are consistent with each other and form a stylistic unity.
So, using these recommendations, you can implement a simple but very elegant Mediterranean style in your interior. Photos of the living room allow you not only to see the features of the style, but also to determine the nuances of the room’s design.
Color spectrum
The interior of a living room in a Mediterranean style is decorated using:
- white;
- blue;
- green;
- white;
- olive;
- terracotta;
- pink;
- blue;
- yellow;
- beige and other colors.
Mediterranean style uses natural rich colors for interior decoration - blue and azure, turquoise, olive, yellow and sand.
Thanks to these shades and their combinations, a Mediterranean-style living room becomes the embodiment of freshness and naturalness, the soft warmth of the southern seaside region. The following nuances should be taken into account: if the room faces the sunny side, you can give preference to cold tones. If there is not enough natural light, then it is better to choose a palette of warm shades.
Mediterranean style living room
A Mediterranean-style living room is a chic choice for a spacious private home or cottage. Thanks to the variety of options, both lovers of bright colors and light palettes can choose their own design. Consider the design with an Italian “accent”.
Italian Mediterranean style in the living room interior
Do you want to bring the breath of the south and summer into your home? Then this design option will be a great choice for you.
An Italian interior should be devoid of pomp. When creating it, special attention should be paid to ensuring the comfort of the owners and guests of the house.
It is ideal if the living room is spacious, with high arched windows allowing a lot of sunlight into the room.
When finishing it, you need to use wood and plaster. It is also possible to simply paint the walls a warm shade of beige or cream.
Note! The Italian Mediterranean style in the interior is radically different from the antique or Tuscan style.
The latter is also a variety of Country. However, this is the rustic style of the winegrowers of Tuscany, while the Mediterranean was created by the inhabitants of the Italian province, whose life is connected with the sea.
Mediterranean-style curtains for the living room should be light and airy. Combining them with through shutters, reminiscent of blinds, will help protect the room from the scorching sun.
You can also use Roman blinds in a Mediterranean style. They have a design that allows you to reliably protect the room from prying eyes. The best options are made of thick fabric, lined.
Mediterranean style bedroom
A Mediterranean-style bedroom is comfortable and conducive to a restful sleep. This design is best suited to spacious rooms with huge windows. As already mentioned, two design options are possible. Let's talk about what a Greek bedroom in a Mediterranean style should look like.
This Mediterranean style in the bedroom interior is created in a light color palette. In order for the eye to have something to “catch onto”, dark wood is used. In particular, furniture is made from it, as well as decorative beams placed on the ceiling. They give the interior a rustic flavor. In addition, the room requires the use of greenery. For example, pots with indoor plants or tubs with dwarf palms and other trees.
Furniture
A Greek Mediterranean style bedroom should be furnished with wooden furniture. Forged furniture items are also suitable. For example, a high metal bed with a beautiful headboard would look appropriate.
If a wooden option is chosen, it should have an artificially aged appearance. Models with intricate carvings or polishing should not be used. All furniture should look as if it were made in a craft workshop.
Another country accent that will help emphasize the Mediterranean style in the interior is the textile design of the bed. It should be as simple as possible.
You should not use fluffy bedspreads or expensive shiny fabrics.
It is also not recommended to use floral textiles with a lot of ruffles and frills. Its use is typical for interiors in the Provence style.
In addition to the bed, you can install a massive chest of drawers for linen in the bedroom. It is better to refuse the dressing table as such. A large mirror in a massive wooden frame will be a wonderful addition to the interior.
Returning to the topic of textiles, we want to tell you what Mediterranean-style curtains should be for a bedroom. Traditionally, in the countries of this region, natural fabrics of light colors are used to sew them. Curtains decorate not only window openings, but also doorways.
Mediterranean style in the interior: main features
To create a harmonious composition in the spirit of Mediterranean style, you need to pay attention to:
- furniture;
- textiles;
- lighting;
- accessories.
Furniture
The main advantage of the Mediterranean style is flexibility. Unlike the classics, which impose strict requirements on furniture, this style allows liberties. You can choose a low or tall cabinet, narrow or elongated in width. The main thing is that you personally feel comfortable.
But there are requirements that cannot be deviated from.
1) Massiveness. The product should not look light and weightless. It is important to feel that it exists, is in the room, and has weight in it. You immediately notice cabinets and chests in Italian style. The sofa looks remarkable and immediately attracts the eye. The more “weighty” an object seems, the better.
2) Natural colors. No acidic shades, no unnaturalness. Warm wood tones are the best idea. And the richest decoration is considered to be the natural texture of wood.
3) Eco-friendly materials. First of all, they are Mediterranean styled originally, so it's a bit of an homage. Secondly, such materials look noble and last a long time. Bog oak, spruce, pine are traditional solutions. If you can’t buy such furniture, you can take an analogue from environmentally friendly laminated chipboard. For example, the catalog contains several interesting ideas from high-quality, safe laminated chipboard that has passed all the necessary tests.
Textile
The same requirement applies to textiles as to furniture: it must be comfortable. Mostly natural fabrics are used, but if this makes life more comfortable and simpler, you can use artificial ones.
At the same time, the color scheme should remain concise. It is best to choose plain panels of natural, soft colors. Minimal ornamentation is possible.
In the Mediterranean style, textiles are used much less frequently than, for example, in classic or Provence. The fabric is mainly used where it is impossible to do without it: in the kitchen - for napkins and towels, in the bedroom - for bedding, in the living room - for bedspreads on the sofa. Even windows are not always covered with curtains: preference is given to wooden blinds.
Lighting
Sunlight is critical to the Mediterranean design movement. Without it, style virtually does not exist. In the middle zone it is difficult to get such an amount of light, especially in winter, so it is replaced with lighting devices.
You shouldn't skimp on this item. The more lighting, the better.
Add spotlights to the ceiling, and to make the composition more original, hang several lamps. The number of devices is not limited by anything other than the principles of harmony and aesthetics.
A good solution is lamps on the floor or on the walls. A lamp on the table will also not be superfluous. Along the border of the ceiling, you can place a strip of LED light bulbs, which will create the illusion of summer sunlight. And in the dark they will do an excellent job as a night light.
Accessories
They will help recreate the atmosphere of Western Europe or the East. The souvenirs you brought from your trips will be put to good use here.
A panel made of sea pebbles or thrown ashore will remind you of the coast. Bright ceramics will evoke associations with summer. Canvases with sea views, Italian landscapes, Moroccan figurines will create the necessary atmosphere. The main thing is not to overdo it. Limit yourself to one painting, a group of ceramic items or a set (for example, decanter + water glasses) made of Venetian glass.
Mediterranean style kitchen
Both Greek and Italian housewives, especially in the provinces, cook a lot. In this regard, special traditions of decorating kitchen premises have been formed in these countries.
Generally speaking, this design requires space. You are unlikely to get a Mediterranean-style kitchen on a “couple” of square meters. Although, with a skillful approach, even in a Khrushchev-era building you can create a minimalist interior with a Southern European flavor.
Of course, it will not be possible to do without modern storage systems. It’s just that when choosing them, you should give preference to options with simple wooden facades, without polishing.
The interior should contain a lot of ceramics, including dishes, as well as forged items.
The main element of the decor can be an apron, which for the Italian version of kitchen design can be decorated with mosaics.
Mediterranean style lighting
It is believed that lighting plays a big role in the Mediterranean style, so pay special attention to it. In this plan, you can purchase lamps that will hang from wooden beams located on the ceiling. You will also like the different types of floor and wall lamps. A good idea would be to use LED strips that can be placed around the entire perimeter of the ceiling. They will serve as an additional light source for other lighting fixtures. As a result, the room will be better lit. At night, LED strips can be used as a night light.
Mediterranean style in the bathroom interior
A traditional Mediterranean-style bathroom will look best when decorated in the Greek design tradition. Its white and blue color scheme looks great in the bathroom interior, as it is associated with seaside holidays. The use of large tubs with plants allows you to add a “Mediterranean” feel. Mosaic would also be an excellent decorative option. It can be used to decorate a border or to create a panel on one of the walls.
If your choice is an Italian Mediterranean-style bathroom, then choose terracotta color and various shades of beige and brown. The combination of light natural stone and wood will look interesting. An unusual solution would be to decorate “stone” walls with wicker wallpaper in the lower part.
Furniture selection
In this case, it is best to use furniture made from natural wood. However, as an option, you can use one that will be painted “like wood”. Products made antique or handmade from special reed will look great. Yes, they will be quite expensive, but such furniture will definitely bring you a lot of joy. In addition, it is very convenient for relaxation. A large amount of furniture is made in Mediterranean style. These include various forged chairs, tables, tabletops made of ceramic tiles, wooden benches, chests of drawers, rocking chairs, vases and other pieces of furniture.
Children's room (Mediterranean style)
Do you want your baby to spend time in a room with a bright and comfortable design? Then a children's room for which the Mediterranean style has been chosen in the interior may be suitable for you.
Let’s say right away that if you are not ready to give up using images of Winnie the Pooh, Transformers and other heroes of modern cartoons in decoration. They just don’t fit into the interior of a Mediterranean-style living room.
To decorate it, choose blue finishes for the walls and ceiling. White furniture will look great against its background. In particular, choose a wooden bed painted white and decorate it with a translucent canopy.
For finishing the floor, a light laminate is suitable, on which you can lay a white-blue striped carpet.
Roman blinds are suitable for window decoration. They reach up to the windowsill, which makes these models a practical choice for families where children are still quite small.
Mediterranean style attributes
Using interior decor, you will achieve a true Mediterranean style atmosphere. Remember that the nature of the Mediterranean is very rich, so your imagination will have room to run wild in terms of interior decoration with various accessories. You can place pots of herbs and flowers in your home that will remind you of the nature of the Mediterranean. The energy of the sea can be transmitted, for example, through various panels made of stone or shells. A characteristic feature of the direction are open shelves. You can place a variety of ceramic products on them, which will depict ornaments in the form of marine and plant paintings. Various pieces of art can be used to decorate rooms. For example, paintings with a marine theme, decorative plates, figurines. Don't be afraid to experiment! Thus, African and Turkish Mediterranean motifs, with a reasonable ratio, will only decorate the room and bring originality to the Greek-Italian direction.
