How to Incorporate Mediterranean Design Into Your Home
Bring a feel for the Med to your interior.
Looking to elevate your space with some Mediterranean flare? Creating a vacation-style escape aesthetic in your own home is trending and it’s easy to see why. Mediterranean interior design is the sophisticated cousin of coastal design and is ready to bring the essence of the Amalfi Coast, Santorini and the Algarve right to your doorstep. Sprinkle these Mediterranean house design ideas into your style to create your own coastal paradise at home.
Colour Palette Is Key
Incorporating the right colours into your style is one of the most important parts of Mediterranean interior design. Luckily, this palette is easy to add to most spaces and is based off the colours you’d see while vacationing on the coast of the Med – think neutrals and natural colours as your base such as creams, sands and ivories; finish with Aegean blues and warm shades of yellow that are reminiscent of water and sunny days. The goal is to feel like you’ve entered a seaside oasis every time you walk into your home.
Aside from the colour palette, the materials in your space are crucial to creating the Mediterranean experience. Incorporate natural materials and finishes such as wood, wicker, stone, clay and tile to create a rustic, coastal aesthetic and add a Sicilian or French Riviera feel to your home. Traditional Mediterranean home design ideas include wicker chairs, wooden tables (both accent and dining), wooden beams and wood, stone or tile flooring that makes a statement. To add a touch of contemporary style, weave in some transitional pieces, like a glam table with gold finish or an intricate chandelier.
Since Mediterranean home design ideas are based around vibrant, textured and vintage-inspired decor, furniture design and structure is more on the minimalist side for balance. Choose furniture pieces that feature texture but focus on straighter, cleaner lines and simple shapes. A clean white base and blue-green accents have more of an impact when the room is clutter-free and styled thoughtfully.
Show Your Outdoor Oasis Love Too
Mediterranean home design ideas go beyond your indoor style – outside decor is just as important. The Mediterranean aesthetic is all about bringing the outdoors and natural elements into your home, so there’s an emphasis on making your patio extra coastally inspired. Create a gathering space that looks as if it could have naturally always been there. Use materials like wood or wicker for your furniture and stone or wood for your flooring; keep your tones neutral and bright. Then add in some artificial plants to make your space look more lush and your outdoor oasis will feel just like Santorini.
Pro tip: Learn more about creating an outdoor oasis with these Modern Patio Ideas.
Focus on the Architecture
Mediterranean interior design is also defined by large open spaces, high ceilings, arching doorways and windows or doors that allow lots of light into the room. Take advantage of natural light with window panels in doors or using sheer curtains to create a soft glow. Consider adding in some wood beams for a rustic and unfinished feel. Arched windows, doors, and casings are a perfect addition for a foreign-coast look, they add a soft, romantic air to any room.
While your larger pieces may be minimalist, adding movement and shape through sculptures and vases is a great way to expand on the Mediterranean story. Abstract sculptures made of wood, resin or clay build on the other natural materials used in the room and look like 'souvenirs' from somewhere off the coast of Europe like Greece, Italy or Spain. You can also inject more colour or texture into your space with a painted table lamp or sculptural vase.
An easy way to include Mediterranean house design ideas in your home is through dinnerware. Look for sets with sophisticated, rustic designs that include those aegean blues or blue-greens that are Mediterranean interior design’s bread and butter. We like how this blue and brown dinner set has a homemade pottery feel to it, but with a professional glaze. Bonus: The gold metal silverware adds a touch of transitional chic to the setup.
