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.
Color preferences
The simple and cozy interior of the living room, which can be seen in almost any country when visiting the Mediterranean, is distinguished by a restrained positive palette. Most often these are gray or beige shades. They make the design modern and pleasant, allowing you to maintain the features of this style.
The Italian style of living room design will be just as laconic - in warm tones of ocher, olive or muted terracotta. The color in the living room interior in this direction will be calm - without overly bright details.
The choice of colors for the Greek living room will lie in a cooler spectrum - blue, crimson, yellow, turquoise accents and patterns are applied to the white base. Contrasting solutions are allowed here, for example, rich blue or purple pillows on a snow-white sofa. However, the background in a Greek interior will always be blindingly white, and your imagination will tell you how to dilute it.
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.
Finishing work
Interior finishing work in a Mediterranean-style living room is not particularly difficult, because creating this style does not require expensive materials, moreover, there is no need to level the walls and ceiling, and even moreover, uneven wall and ceiling surfaces only emphasize the style.
The only difficulty in creating this design is that it requires large windows, so you will have to increase the window openings, otherwise you need to abandon this direction of the interior.
- Apartment renovation services
- Application of polyurethane foam to pipes
- Nobo convectors - heating economically
So, in order to create a Mediterranean-style interior in your living room, you need to plaster the wall surfaces without leveling.
The next step is to paint the walls in the chosen color, and it is best to make the ceiling white. Main finishing features:
- If there are no ceiling beams in the living room, you need to glue their polyurethane counterpart to the ceiling.
- It is best to use laminate or tile as flooring.
- If there is no fireplace in the living room, then you can make an imitation of it.
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.
Interior design
The main principle of interior decoration is simplicity, which allows for significant savings, since expensive materials and careful leveling of surfaces are not used. Uneven planes are the calling card of this interior.
Bar counter in the living room - practical solutions for how to decorate the interior (65 photos)- Shelves in the living room: TOP 100 photos of the best new products in the interior
Floor in the living room: options for ideal design and combination (65 photos)
The design of a living room in a Mediterranean style involves the implementation of a mandatory list of finishing works:
- plastering walls without leveling;
- painting/whitewashing in accordance with the selected base tone;
- gluing decorative beams or finishing real ones;
- increasing window openings;
- laying the floor with real tiles or laminated coating, with imitation porcelain stoneware;
- building in a fireplace (decorative or real if possible).
When decorating the space, do not forget about the main feature of Mediterranean design - naturalness.
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.
The main features of the Mediterranean style and its types
Lightness is the main feature of the Mediterranean style, which is manifested in every detail. In this design style you will not find the slightest hint of luxury, pretentiousness of the environment, or ornate furniture. It is characterized by simplicity, thoughtfulness and practicality. These properties make it resemble classic country music. All the charm that is inherent in the nature of the Mediterranean, with all its life-giving energy, permeates the interior of the room, from the color scheme to the shapes and ornaments of the environment. The Mediterranean style is divided into several varieties, but each of them is characterized by the naturalness, naturalness and “sunshine” that are inherent in the style as a whole. Its main types are Greek and Italian in orientation.
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.
Features of the Italian Mediterranean style
The Italian style differs from the Greek in that it has only light, warm tones, which are achieved using yellow, orange, green, olive, gold and brown. If you add brickwork (or its imitation) to these color shades, then you are guaranteed an unprecedented feeling of comfort. Various elements made by hand create special energy. These include, for example, mosaics or paintings on the floor or wall. By creating a deliberate roughness, the owner of the house will plunge even more into the elements of the Italian Mediterranean style. At the same time, do not forget about furniture, which can be forged or wooden. It happens that in one room there are bright tiles, mosaics, brick inserts and various designs. Do not be afraid that due to such a clutter of accents, the interior of the room will deteriorate. This is not true at all. On the contrary, this combination will give your room even more originality, and overall the room will look very advantageous. The final style touch is large windows. Their presence is mandatory even in the bathroom. With their help, the room will be filled with natural light and air.
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.
Decor
The Mediterranean version is characterized by its own design features. If we look at history, the design was created by mixing interiors that came from coastal countries. Therefore, natural, marine motifs are used for decoration.
As for the creation and decoration of the walls, for this purpose one shade is used, which will be the main element in creating the living room design. Most often these are shades of beige or blue. If we talk about blue tones, then desaturated colors are used so as not to overload the design. If you don’t like monotony, but want to dilute the design with some interesting details or elements, then you can use materials and inserts that are created in the form of wood and have the effect of an “old panel.” It looks quite beautiful and adds its own characteristics and uniqueness to the design.
It is worth noting that such an interior is characterized by naturalness. Therefore, you need to pay special attention to the decoration of the walls so that everything looks natural.
Living room in a Mediterranean style in a country house on the Black Sea coast.
The living room is interesting with the correct selection of decorative elements in the Mediterranean style. Shelves with paintings, bright pillows, and living plants make the atmosphere cozy and light.
As for floor finishing, the main material used for this is marble. Sometimes stone or wood flooring is used to create the floor. It is known that marble is a fairly cold material, so when creating a room using this stone, you need to take care of heating.
As for textiles in creating Mediterranean design, this material should be used to a minimum. If massive wide curtains are used for classic interior design, then this definitely cannot be said about this type of design. You can use blinds or roller shutters in pastel colors. As already mentioned, the Mediterranean option creates special coziness and comfort. Therefore, you can use small-sized knitted rugs, which are the result of handwork, or bedspreads and tablecloths. Cotton is mainly used to create them.
As for decorative elements and accessories, various dishes, such as ceramic, are used to create them. You should not think that such decorations can be used in the kitchen and eaten from them. Such dishes serve solely as a decorative element. The Mediterranean style also incorporates elements of an oriental accent, so in the decor of a living room in this style you can often find accessories in the Moroccan version, such as lamps. It is worth remembering that this design is characterized by simplicity, so sophisticated and expensive products cannot be used here.
The decoration of the wall above the sofa is attractive and unusual. Six round mirrors in thin frames make the interior unusual and exclusive.
Mediterranean style gives preference to furniture made from natural materials. The living room, decorated in Mediterranean style, has its own small wine storage.
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.
Decor
It is the decorative design that personifies the spirit of the Mediterranean coast. In the form of themed accessories, it is appropriate to use indoor plants and fresh flowers in bright pots, ceramic dishes, paintings, colorful photo frames and figurines. An original panel made using shells and sea stones will fit perfectly into the interior.
The photo shows living plants in the interior of a Mediterranean-style kitchen.
Mediterranean-style surrounding decor should work well with each other without cluttering the space. Traditional interior design always has freedom, simplicity, airiness and lightness.
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.
Calm palette
Mediterranean decor according to the Italian type requires filling the rooms with warm shades: terracotta, sand, beige, light brown, dark brown, cream, Neapolitan white with the addition of green accents and black in small quantities.
Greek Mediterranean interior prefers white color for both external and internal cladding of rooms - it best neutralizes the effect of the hot sun, reflecting the sun's rays rather than absorbing them.
In the living room, in addition to white, you should use colors such as turquoise, azure, light blue, cobalt, bright yellow and lemon, light terracotta, sand, light green. The colors of the sea and sun in accessories emphasize the Mediterranean style against the backdrop of neutral natural colors.
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.
Finishes and materials
In order to fully comply with the thematic direction, you should choose the right cladding.
- Floor. The most suitable material is considered to be terracotta-colored tiles. This flooring is decorated with panels or friezes. To create an interesting accent in the interior, choose marble mosaic with decor and inserts. An equally well-known Mediterranean-style floor finish is wood and laminate boards, which are several tones different from the wall cladding. This way you can achieve excellent, barely noticeable contrast.
- Walls. The surface is decorated with bleached plaster, which is complemented by wallpaper with a large striped print or ceramic tiles with painted patterns. Mosaics or imitation bricks are also used as wall decoration.
- Ceiling. To cover the ceiling in a Mediterranean style, paint in soothing pastel or light colors is used. Along the perimeter the plane is decorated with false beams or even logs.
- Window. The traditional solution is to have large window openings that provide a large amount of natural light. Mostly, wooden frames are installed, which are simply varnished or painted in light shades.
- Doors. Door leaves are made of wood and decorated with forged parts. Doors in the interior are complemented by a transom or artificially aged using patination.
The photo shows a white wooden ceiling and tiled flooring in a living room interior in a Mediterranean style.
Stucco material, which is a mixture of gypsum, lime, marble particles and water, looks very natural on the walls.
The photo shows a Mediterranean bedroom interior with dark wood sliding doors.
In apartments in the Greek style, there is a decoration made of real marble or tiles with its imitation. Short-cut carpets, wicker or knitted runners are often laid on the floor in the room.
Mediterranean style in the interior of an apartment photo
Selection of furniture and accessories
Just as there are no strict rules in design, there can be no uniform trends in choosing furniture for a living room in a Mediterranean style.
Common furnishing features include:
- squatness;
- simplicity of forms;
- naturalness of materials;
- matching the color palette of the entire room.
What’s interesting is that a combination of simple modern models of upholstered furniture with openwork wrought-iron tables, antique lampshades, vintage cabinets, and unique oriental lamps is appropriate here. It is eclecticism that creates that aura of relaxation that everyone encounters on the shore of a warm sea, basking in the rays of the sun on the heated sand.
As decor, the Mediterranean style welcomes patterned pillows, vases, lamps, and forged parts. The color scheme depends entirely on the chosen direction. This can be either a contrasting composition or a restrained solution in two or three basic tones.
Wicker interior items that seem completely out of place in a city apartment look unusual and comfortable in such a living room. A similar design and decor in the oriental style will be supported - mosaics both on the walls and on the floor (just don’t forget about heating), openwork screens for zoning the space, vaulted ceiling structures, Moroccan carpet, etc. Shells, characteristic landscapes, etc. will help add sea charm. photo wallpaper.
Greek (Cycladic) current
The basic colors of the direction are blue and light blue in combination with white (the composition is reminiscent of the national flag), green and lemon yellow. Despite the fact that the colors are predominantly cold, the interior ends up being light, warm, and the overall mood is joyful. To place accents in the Cycladic style, inserts of red and, a little less often, pink are chosen. Typically, these colors are found in furniture linings, fittings, removable pillows on the sofa, etc.
An important aspect is the alternation of shades. Often they use furniture from the same set, painted in different colors. Objects are placed one after another in such a way as to create an alternation of colors.
Important: in the Greek style, accuracy and consistency prevail, but there is no talk of pedantry. The atmosphere is free, light and joyful.
main idea
The considered types of the Mediterranean direction are very different, however, they are imbued with a common idea. When arranging a space, you can combine different ideas, use parts of different types, embody everything that comes to mind, but respecting the main idea of the flow. Here are its basic principles:
- simplicity and ease in everything;
- using a large amount of textiles (pillows, bedspreads);
- emphasis on little things that are made in a contrasting tone with the main color;
- availability of handmade items;
- big windows;
- Lots of free, uncluttered space.
By keeping these basic rules in mind and adhering to them, as well as using the tips and examples outlined above, you will be able to create the room of your dreams using the Mediterranean style in the interior.
See also Avant-garde style in the interior of a modern apartment
We decorate different parts of the house
The Mediterranean interior of each room, while supporting the general idea, will still be different and have its own characteristics. You can keep the apartment completely in one of the types. However, if you have not yet decided where you want to go, to “refined Italy” or “spacious and fresh Greece”, you can combine them. Using elements from different trends within one room will be somewhat inappropriate, but you can easily create a unique design by choosing different types of style for each room.
How to proceed? By following simple instructions, you can easily determine what you need to use and what actions to take to create the design of your dreams.
- First, decide what you would like the room to be like: spacious and bright, or dark and cozy.
- Next, select a color palette (decide what type it corresponds to).
- Choose furniture (more massive, or simple and comfortable).
This data will help you decide which option to choose. Next, we move directly to the arrangement of various spaces.
Bright room design in Mediterranean style
Apartment interior in Mediterranean style
Modern Mediterranean style room design
See alsoGrunge style in the interior
Bedroom
A warm background is suitable for decorating a bedroom, which means it would be more appropriate to resort to the Italian style. Soft shades promote relaxation and good rest.
Be careful! Don't use too much brown. It is considered depressive and, in excess, negatively affects the psychological state.
The obligatory background in the Mediterranean style is white. In the bedroom it can be combined with beige, peach and other pastel colors.
A good addition would be details in black paint (figurines, photo frames, etc.). The design will be emphasized by a massive carved bed.
See also: DIY plasterboard arches for the hall: photos and detailed instructions
Living room
If the living room is small, light shades will visually expand it. In this case, it is better to give preference to the Greek direction, and carry it out in accordance with all the rules of the Mediterranean theme.
Furniture should be as simple and comfortable as possible, but at the same time delicate and elegant. A white carved table and chairs work well. The image will be complemented by a sofa of the same color with many accessories (it is better to take the entire spectrum of blue as a basis). The walls can be made in soft blue shades, decorated with marine or floral patterns. All that remains is to focus on some bright red or pink details (ornament on the wall, flowers, etc.), and the delicate, spacious and elegant living room of your dreams is ready.
Mediterranean style in the interior of the room
Chic apartment design in Mediterranean style
If you want to make it warm, cozy, and gather in the evenings with your family by the fireplace, use Italian trends in the interior of the living room. In this case, you need to choose a massive carved sofa, and also decorate it with a large number of pillows in olive, gold, and brown colors.
Brickwork or its imitation is suitable for finishing the wall. Then place a fireplace in this wall. On the mantelpiece, place various decorative items of your choice that contain the color black.
A good addition would be a wide window sill, equipped as a sofa with beautiful pillows. The window opening should also be lined with decorative bricks in accordance with the wall. Such a room will be very cozy and create a warm atmosphere.
See also: Color of doors in the interior: match the floor or walls?
Bathroom
A bathroom with Mediterranean motifs will be spacious, bright and at the same time delicate. A good base would be green or blue tiles with floral patterns. It will be complemented by a large bathtub, which is usually installed in the center. It is better to make the sink in the shape of a bowl made of granite or natural stone.
Bright room design in Mediterranean style
Apartment interior in Mediterranean style
Modern Mediterranean style room design
See alsoEcostyle in the interior: history, photos, tips
Kitchen
Italian style is perfect for the kitchen. It is made in a warm manner, which has a beneficial effect on appetite.
Important! It is believed that cold colors, especially blue, discourage appetite, so it is not recommended to make a kitchen in these colors, which is typical for the Greek design.
The kitchen set should be chosen in beige, yellow, and peach. It is better to choose darker shades of the proposed colors. You can choose a kitchen set with a worn effect, which will give it an antique, sophisticated look.
There can be a lot of little things in the kitchen that will highlight this direction well. This can be various kinds of decorative dishes, jars, handmade candy bowls.
Mediterranean style in the interior of the room
Chic apartment design in Mediterranean style
See alsoBlack color in the interior: color combination, photo
Loggia
When choosing options for a loggia, you first need to decide what function it will perform. If it is intended for warm friendly or romantic gatherings, it is better to give preference to the Italian style.
In this case, you can choose a low sofa in brown, handmade wicker rocking chairs a tone or several lighter. Decorate all the furniture with pillows. Arrange lighting to create a romantic atmosphere. It should be soft light; you can choose candle-shaped light bulbs. A cozy interior for pleasant gatherings is ready.
If the loggia has a beautiful, fresh view from the window and is intended for daytime relaxation, you can use the Greek design. To do this, you need to choose not very dark shades of green, blue, light blue, etc. For furniture, choose a white ottoman or swing, in which it will be comfortable to sleep, relax, and even work.
Bright room design in Mediterranean style
Apartment interior in Mediterranean style
Modern Mediterranean style room design
You can decorate such an interior with an abundance of pillows and various accessories in the Mediterranean style (a decorative anchor or steering wheel). Complement the image with a bright accent such as a basket with red flowers, and a bright, spacious loggia is ready.
And a prerequisite for each room is the presence of large windows. Even in the bathroom you need to make an imitation of a window, or build a real one, and choose curtains for it.
Mediterranean style in the interior of the room
Chic apartment design in Mediterranean style
See alsoFrench style in the interior: tips, photos
