Living room in Italian style

Decorating a living room in Italian style can be a panacea for those who, for whatever reason, find it difficult to choose a design for this room. Indeed, the school and traditions of Italian artists have a long history - so why not use their achievements and experience when planning the appearance of the room that is the face of the apartment? The impression that your home will make on guests primarily depends on the design of the living room - the room in which you will receive them.

On the other hand, you and your family will spend a lot of time in this room: relaxing after a working day or just talking to each other. This means that the living room should not only be “status”, but also cozy and comfortable. The Italian style combines all these qualities, and is equally appropriate both in the home of a rational entrepreneur and in the studio of an artist, an inhabitant of the bohemian world.

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Decorating a classic Italian living room

Marble or granite porticos, semi-columns and columns, stucco moldings, moldings and rosettes, fireplaces lined with natural stone or tiled, aged bronze or gilding - this is not a complete list of the main elements of the Italian living room.

What distinguishes an Italian-style living room from a Japanese-style or high-tech living room? The first and main difference is smooth, elegant lines, classic geometric shapes, symmetrical elements and a strict hierarchy of all interior components. No random items that do not fit into the overall concept, and certainly high-quality, status, expensive things and materials.

Marble or granite porticos, semi-columns and columns, stucco, moldings and sockets, lined with natural stone or tiled fireplaces, aged bronze or gilding - this is not a complete list of the main elements of the Italian living room.

It is acceptable to use mirrors that will visually increase the space of the room, provided that they are framed with massive frames under natural wood. Paintings, sculptures are welcome, if space permits, floor and table vases. It is also desirable to replace the windows with stained glass, or at least use stained glass inserts.

What is a classic Italian style living room:

• walls decorated in light and golden colors, decorated with mirrors and paintings;
• smooth lines of classic furniture, very often antique, upholstered in leather and velvet;
• marble or parquet floor of the room, on which lies a rectangular patterned carpet;
• ceiling with one or more chandeliers, ornate and voluminous.

The interior of such a living room is a compromise between rationality and luxury, and when decorating a room with furnishings, it is very important to find the right balance: both an excess of moderation and a lack of it are equally harmful.

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Color combinations in a classic Italian living room

In addition to white, when decorating a room, the main colors can be blue, turquoise, light green, beige. In general, the Italian style is characterized by the use of light shades of soft, natural colors.

The choice of colors is the first step in designing the interior design of a room. For an Italian-style living room, white is used as the main color in most cases.. The main elements are perfectly combined with it: stucco, gilding, natural stone, wood. Chosen as the dominant color, pure white, together with these elements, gives the impression of luxury.

In addition to white, when decorating a room, the main colors can be blue, turquoise, light green, beige. In general, the Italian style is characterized by the use of light shades of soft, natural colors.

Cold tones will be appropriate in living rooms with windows facing south, sunny side. When decorating such an interior, it is recommended to furnish the room with furniture made of bog oak or other dark wood. In general, this will mitigate the effect of bright sunlight on the interior. Warm tones, on the contrary, are chosen if the room is oriented to the north side. It is better to choose furniture from natural light wood - walnut, plum, wenge.

The combination of light and dark tones opens up ample opportunities for experimentation, allowing you to achieve interesting optical and visual effects.. A small pattern on light walls, for example, visually enlarges the space of the room horizontally, “pushing the walls apart”, and vertical elements, such as columns and false columns, vertically, “raising” the ceiling. If you use dark colors to decorate the floor, while making the ceiling light, then this will significantly increase the height of the room.

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Basic rules for decorating a living room in a classic Italian style

Finishing work in the living room starts from the top, i.e. from the ceiling. First, the ceiling must be leveled, which is carried out in two stages: first, starting, after - finishing plaster. After leveling, they start painting, for which white latex paint is used, ideally matte.

The aristocratic appearance of the living room is given by the white ceiling, so when finishing it, it is highly recommended to use the highest quality paints from leading manufacturers. Such paint is resistant to external influences, does not turn yellow over time and is easily cleaned of dirt.

After finishing the ceiling, you can move on to the walls. The classic design of the living room in the Italian style involves either wallpapering the walls or their plain color. Likewise, finishing materials should only be of the highest quality.

The last stage of finishing is the floor. There are only two types of materials acceptable for Italian-style flooring.:

• parquet, both artistic, with a pattern, and simple, from a parquet board. Material - only high-quality natural wood, very desirable, expensive and valuable species. After laying the parquet, the wood is covered with several layers of varnish for additional protection and a shiny surface. Please note that the protective coating needs to be updated periodically;
• marble, granite and other natural stone tiles.It is acceptable to use tiles that imitate high-quality natural material. In the latter case, products with a glazed and matte surface can be used. When finishing the floor, you should know the following rule: the larger its area, the larger the tile should be.

Both parquet and tiles can create patterns. For example, sockets made of stone of different shades will look good in the center of the room.

The best material for doors is solid wood of the appropriate color or high quality wood veneer with brass and bronze lining. Also in the living room of a classic Italian style, empty doorways decorated in the form of arches will look good.

The design of windows should match the design of the doorway. It is unacceptable to use plastic, even laminated - only wood or wood with aluminum. It goes without saying that the color of the window frames should be in harmony with the color of the doors.

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Italian living room interior

The Italian-style living room interior consists of three main elements: furniture, textiles and lighting.

Furniture. All pieces of furniture in the room must be of the highest quality, made of natural wood. It is best if it is made to order, but in the absence of such an opportunity, it is quite possible to choose suitable factory models. They can be decorated with brass and bronze overlays, gilding or carving - the main thing is that it fits into the overall concept of the interior. It is also acceptable to decorate with decorative elements made of forged metal.

From the furnishings in the living room of a classic Italian style, a soft corner or a sofa covered with genuine leather or fabric will be appropriate. On the sofa, pillows made of the same material and the same color will be appropriate. Upholstery fabric should be 3-4 tones darker than the dominant color of the room.. Such furniture will make the living room stylish, even a little solemn, but at the same time comfortable and cozy.

Textile. This element of the interior should be selected for furniture - it should be in harmony with both it and with the finish. Classic Italian style fabrics are velvet, velor, satin, jacquard and silk. It is acceptable to use both plain fabrics and fabrics with a discreet pattern. The floor, as a rule, is decorated with a carpet with ornate patterns, and the windows are decorated with large curtains or curtains, with tassels and fringe. If the ceilings in the room are high enough, the window composition can be supplemented with a lambrequin.

Lighting. The final touch in the design of the classic Italian style living room is the creation of a lighting system, which consists of a chandelier and lamps.

The best solution is a multi-lamp chandelier made of crystal or its high-quality imitation, with numerous pendants. Its base should be elegant in shape, best of all - forged, gold or silver. A large bronze chandelier with shades in the form of candles or frosted glass balls will also harmonize well with the interior. A must-have addition to the chandelier are floor and wall lamps made in the same style.

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Conclusion

High requirements for the design of an Italian-style living room, unlike many others, do not tolerate mistakes and savings. Planning, designing and implementing an interior is complex and costly - but it pays off handsomely with an end result that will delight both you and your guests!

Photo gallery - Italian-style living room:

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