Mediterranean Decor Style Guide – What is Mediterranean Style Design?

Welcome to the Mediterranean home decor style guide where you can see photos of all interiors in the Mediterranean style including kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, foyers and more.

Related: All interior design styles | All residential architectural styles | Mediterranean Style Homes | Mediterranean Floor Plans

Distinguishing Mediterranean Decor Features

Exterior

Below is a diagram pointing out some of the elements that in totality create a Mediterranean style.  Keep in mind that not all elements are unique to the Mediterranean.  They are also found in other styles; however, it’s when used in unison the design becomes the Mediterranean.

• Stucco or brick exterior
• Ornate eaves and decorative elements
• Plenty of brick, especially on walkways and driveways.
• Use of arches for windows, doors and entry-points.
• Earth tones.
• Tile roof.
• Juliet balconies.
• Plenty of curves.

Interior

Below is a photo pointing out some classic Mediterranean interior design features.

Many interior features echo exterior features.

Here are key Mediterranean interior style features:

• Arches
• Columns
• Ornate features including furniture
• Tile and brick
• Earth tones
• Large furniture
• interior balconies
• Tall ceilings (not always, but it’s not uncommon)
• Curves.

Related Styles

• Tuscan
• Spanish
• Southwestern

Mediterranean Interior Decor Examples (by Room)

The following are photo examples of Mediterranean style interiors (room-by-room).  Below each photo are links that take you to extensive Mediterranean style photo galleries for each room.

The following examples are from this house (Source: Home Bay).

Living Rooms

See more Mediterranean style living rooms here.

This spacious and airy Mediterranean-style living room has a high ceiling that has large white exposed beams that is complemented by tall glass doors that gives this area an option to be open to the backyard or closed with large beige curtains for privacy. This setup is matched with a large L-shaped sectional sofa and a wooden coffee table.

Kitchens

See more Mediterranean style kitchens here.

The light gray shaker cabinets and drawers that surround this Mediterranean-style kitchen is complemented by the hardwood flooring and the white ceiling with recessed lights making the white countertops shine as well as the stainless steel appliances.

Dining Rooms

See more Mediterranean style dining rooms here.

The wide hardwood flooring of this Mediterranean-style dining room complements the beige cushioned dining chairs that is paired with the rectangular wooden dining table that has a dark brown tone. This is contrasted by the two white crystal chandeliers.

Bedrooms

See more Mediterranean style bedrooms here.

This spacious Mediterranean-style primary bedroom has a large beige platform bed  that is complemented by the light gray walls that has wide arches leading to the tray ceiling. There is a comfortable sitting area on the other side of the bedroom that is adorned with a colorful abstract painting that contrasts the white sofa set.

Bathrooms

See more Mediterranean style bathrooms here.

This bathroom has bright white flooring tiles that match the walls and tray ceiling that is accented by edging lights. The far wall of this bathroom has three arched glass doors that lead to a balcony. This brings in natural lights to the light pink bathtub that is adorned with a large painting above it.

Entry Halls

See more Mediterranean style foyers here.

This gorgeous Mediterranean-style foyer has hardwood flooring that blends with the spiral staircase on the right that has wrought iron railings. There is a piano on the left side by the wall-mounted painting. The dominating force here is the large crystal chandelier hanging in the middle from the high ceiling.

Mediterranean Style Home Landscaping

See more Mediterranean style home landscaping ideas here.

This Mediterranean-style landscaping provides a simple yet elegant pairing for the large blue swimming pool. This pool is complemented by two large and imposing palm trees on the grass carpet that also sets a nice backdrop for those relaxing on the lawn chairs by the pool.

Mediterranean Exterior Design

Check out these spectacular homes showcasing the Mediterranean style architecture.

1. Old World Tuscan Style Custom Built Home

This charming Mediterranean-style home has distressed beige walls to give it that old-world vibe that pairs well with the wide brown clay roofing. This is given a nice foreground of a hedge garden that lines the walkway toward the wooden main doors.

See more. Source: Zillow Digs^TM

This backyard view of the house showcases a firepit surrounded by comfortable wooden chairs on a circular plot of land that has gray stone blocks on the borders that contrast the carpet of grass surrounding the area. This serves as a nice view for the large glass walls and glass windows of the Mediterranean-style home.

2. Grand Contemporary Mediterranean Style Home on the Lake

This Mediterranean-style home has a dark clay roof that has several chimneys sticking out along with a large circular viewing deck in the middle. This view shows the many arches and columns that support the sides of the of the balconies that are glowing with warm yellow lights.

See more.  Designed by LotPlans.com.

This gorgeous home has a central cylindrical hall in the middle that is dominated by glass walls showing glimpses of the warm interiors. The main light source is the majestic chandelier hanging in the middle of the large spiral stairway.

3. Montecito Estate with a Backdrop of Vast Ocean and Mountain Views

This beautiful home has gray concrete exterior walls that are complemented by the red clay roofing that also makes it stand out against the lush green property. This backyard view shows tall pine trees and well-maintained hedges that border the Mediterranean-style home and making way to the gray concrete walkway to the garden.

See more. Source: Home Bay

This is the view of the main entrance of this home that has a wrought iron gate flanked by wall lamps that cast warm yellow lights. This gives the exterior walls a welcoming aura that is augmented by the tall palm trees and the beautiful intricate landscaping.

4. Exquisite Italianate Home

This Mediterranean-style home’s exterior walls glow with the white lights of the wall lamps that flank the garage doors and the main entry way that has a high arch leading to a frosted glass door. This brightness accentuates the lovely line and angles of the exterior as well as the lines of the walkway and driveway.

See more. Source: Architectural Designs

This closer view features the wide modern glass windows and the two garage doors. The left one is smaller than the right garage door that could fit two vehicles. This closer look also shows that the exterior walls have a light gray tone to it and is adorned with low shrubs and small trees by the entrance and those lining the walls at intervals.

5. Modern Mediterranean Primarypiece

This modern Mediterranean-style home has dark flat roofs that complement the beige exterior walls and the various sizes of the windows. The middle section of the home has rough stone accents that go well with the smooth beige walls as well as the lush landscaping.

See more. Source: Architectural Designs

This backyard view showcases an irregular-shaped pool that seem to follow the lay of the home making way for an outdoor dining area beside the pool. There is also a comfortable sitting area with open walls on the far side near the pool entrance.

6. Super-Luxurious Mediterranean House

The terracotta walkway leading to the white exterior walls of the Mediterranean-style home is flanked with beautiful palm trees and colorful shrubs that stand out against the bright white exteriors and glowing windows. This presents a welcoming embrace for the guests that walk up to the glass main door under the arched entryway.

See more. Source: Architectural Designs

The unique blue textured roof of this Mediterranean-style home blends with the blue sky. This is paired with bright exterior walls that seem to blend with the bleached concrete flooring of the backyard. This makes the irregular-shaped pool to stand out as well as the large windows and glass walls.

7. Contemporary Mediterranean Primarypiece in Brentwood

This home has its own tennis court with a tall white fence one side of this fence connects with the pool area that has brown marble flooring tiles that has day beds and a sitting area at the far end. This whole area can be viewed from the many small balconies that line the second level of the Mediterranean-style home.

See more. Source: Home Bay

This different angle shows more of the beautiful Mediterranean-style home that has central circular section flanked by two similar sections that are filled with tinted glass doors that have white frames complementing the light beige exterior walls.

8. The Villa on Stone Canyon

This gorgeous Mediterranean-style home looks like it has magical quality to its brown walls that are filled with arches, windows and warm yellow lights from wall lamps. This tone makes it look like it sprouted right off the stone canyon or carved out of a single large rock.

See more. Source: Home Bay

This closer view features the dark brown garage door that is large enough to fit two vehicles. You can see here the the arches and the stone columns that support them reaching up to the third level with verandas and balconies complemented by various potted plants and wall lamps.

9. Classic Mediterranean Bel Air Estate

This backyard view boats of a luxurious glowing pool that is adorned with shrubs and tall hedges on the sides for privacy. These makes the glowing Mediterranean-style home stand out with its brilliant warmth emanating from the interiors onto the balconies and various relaxing areas by the pool.

See more. Source: Home Bay

This Mediterranean-style home has that classic look of luxury and beauty. You can see that on its red clay roofing and stark white exterior walls that are complemented by the lush green landscaping with tall trees and tall hedges for privacy on the fence.

10. Hill Country House with Upstairs Game Room

This simple Mediterranean-style home is given a nice and charming front lawn that complements the exterior walls and contrasting dark roofs. The concrete walkway and driveway toward this home is adorned with carpets of well-manicured grass.

See more. Source: Architectural Designs

The driveway leads to this area with two garage doors standing across from each other. The left one is large than the right. The dark brown tone of these garage doors stand out against the light exterior walls that blend with the driveway. This also sets a contrast for the arched wrought iron main door.

11. Mediterranean Dreamscape

The beige exterior walls of this Mediterranean-style home is complemented by the glowing yellow lights of the wall lamps and the terracotta-colored roofs with a single chimney jutting out. The walls are dominated by multiple glass walls and balconies that all direct to the beautiful infinity pool surrounded by gorgeous landscaping.

See more. Source: Architectural Designs

The palm trees on the front yard are all lit with yellow spotlights making them stand out against the surrounding grass and shrubs of the landscaping. This matches with the dream-like glow of the home that has tall arched windows and three garage doors with the same spotlights.

12. Contemporary Mediterranean with Dark Custom Wood Floors

The sections of this home is dominated by large glass walls, windows and glass doors that all direct to the beautiful blue pool on the concrete flooring of the backyard that has lawn chairs and several charming shrubs that adorn the sides of the exterior walls.

See more. Source: Home Bay

This side of the home also showcases the wonderful landscaping like the tall hedge that complements the wall in between the two arched glass doors with dark frames. This matches with the windows and balcony doors of the second level that has wall lamps on its exterior walls.

13. 2-story Luxury Home with a Residential Elevator

A pair of tall palm trees stand guard on the side of the driveway and walkway of this Mediterranean-style home. This leads to a dark brown garage door that has wall lamps on either side. This is mirrored by the main entryway leading to the glass main doors.

See more. Source: Architectural Designs

This large pool gives an ethereal bluish glow to the exterior walls of the house. This makes the open areas stand out with their comfortable sitting area that has warm yellow lights coming form the interiors that shares its light with the various windows and the second floor balcony overlooking the pool.

14. Mediterranean Home With Circular Dining Room

The main driveway and walkway has an earthy terracotta hue that works well with the bright exterior walls and also matches the unique roofs where there is a small viewing deck towering over the rest. The arched windows and entryway of this Mediterranean-style home glows with yellow lights from the interiors.

See more. Source: Architectural Designs

There is a small firepit by the entrance of this charming pool that is surrounded by terracotta flooring blocks as well as a couple of white stone pillars that support the dark roof over the sitting area that has comfortable outdoor sofas and an outdoor dining area beside it.

15. Luxury Tuscan House with Finished Walkout Basement

The dark roofs of this home has different styles coming together into this unique look that complements the beige exterior walls and the charming stone walls of the arched entryway and the chimney. These are all given a nice foreground of a wide carpet of grass.

See more. Source: Architectural Designs

This amazing carpet of grass is freshly cut with the tracks of the lawnmower still visible. This serves as a nice contrast to the beige walls of the left section that has dominating glass walls and windows unlike the right section that has stone walls and small windows but has a balcony and a patio underneath.

16. Modern Mediterranean Beauty in a Park-Like Setting

This Mediterranean-style home has a grand and stunning aura to it with its imposing large glass wall in front that is augmented by the pair of lion statues that are standing guard on either side of the large double doors. These are all complemented by lush landscaping.

See more. Source: Home Bay

This charming backyard  has a lovely swimming pool that embraces the Mediterranean-style with its bright patterned tiles and surrounding dolphin statues that most likely spout water onto the pool. These can all be viewed from the pair of balconies from the second floor.

17. Mediterranean Estate with Extravagant volume and Top-of-the-Line Finishes

The gray concrete walkway has a wide area that it feels like walking in a park surrounded with low shrubs and hedges that complement the gray stone exterior walls of the Mediterranean-style home that has beautiful concrete railings for the balconies and arches for the main entryway and its windows.

See more. Source: Home Bay

This view from the backyard pool shows the Mediterranean-style beauty of the home that has tall arches in the back patio leading to the pool. You can see the magical quality of the home reflected on the gorgeous pool that has lawn chairs on the side as well as a complement of a large palm tree.

18. 1920s Mediterranean Estate with Turrets and a Soaring Juliette Balcony

This simple and elegant Mediterranean-style home has stark white exterior walls that go well with the surrounding green landscaping that looks prim and proper with its well-maintained hedges and tall shrubs. The white walls are contrasted by the dark blue main door as well as the wrought iron railings of the windows.

This wrought iron gate that has intricate designs open up to this serene view of the Mediterranean-style house. There is a central open yard in the middle of the U-shaped home. By the arches on the far side is an outdoor dining area adorned with creeping vines and potted plants.

See more. Source: Home Bay

This is the lovely swimming pool that has a classic look you see in the movies. This is surrounded by large blocks of concrete embedded into the grass carpet with several lawn chairs and armchairs with the same white hue as the exterior walls. The sides facing the pool are filled with wide glass windows.

19. Italian Tuscan Villa in Encino, South of the Boulevard

This lovely scene invokes a sense of peace and contentment that you can almost hear a soft music in the background as you gaze up the sunset sky that complements the beige exterior walls and warmly lit tall glass windows and doors leading to balconies.

See more. Source: Home Bay

This Mediterranean-style home has a large glass entryway with a high ceiling supported by elegant pillars paired with large potted plants. This type of landscaping elevates the beauty of the beige exteriors that are filled with arches on the adjacent side leading to the garage door.

20. Tuscan/French Country Villa Primarypiece in the Palisades Hills Enclave

This is the view of the home from the road. You can see here that it is bordered with a low concrete fence painted with the same earthy beige as the exterior walls. This is complemented by the brown Gable roofs of the three sections of the home that has small dormer windows extending to a small balcony.

The wrought iron railings of the second floor balcony has a design that matches with the elegant wall-mounted lamps. This balcony looks over the serene pool with a bluish glow that complements the beige stone walkways surrounding it. This pool is adorned with an outdoor bench, birdbath planter and a stone statue.

See more. Source: Home Bay

This aerial view allows you a look of the large backyard that has the pool on the right close to the main section of the home. This leads to a large garden filled with various trees and shrubs that set an amazing backdrop for the central fountain in the middle.

The best features of the Mediterranean design are the tiles. These are one of the most iconic aspects of the style and they’re the piece that most people really think of with anything Mediterranean and it’s extremely important.

They come in with a range of different colors and styles, as well as patterns that will create a unique look that you can do anything you like with. Other design features include the textured walls and the rounded doorways contrary to the more standard rectangular forms of other styles.

Other distinguishing features include arches, columns and earth tones such as beige, mustard yellow, brown mixed with splashes of bright colors (via tiles).

It’s all influenced by some Moroccan style and it does this with the bold colors and the filigree styling of lights. Everything is going to be textured and layered to provide even more texture or to showcase the spaces, which are generally large in this style.

Materials

When it comes to the materials associated with this style you’re going to find a whole lot of texture. You’ll see layered paint on the walls and a whole lot of bronze, iron, and lighting.

All of this is going to create a unique look that really showcases the Spanish and southwestern influences. It has warm and earth tones throughout the patterns and different materials.

You’ll find terra cotta tiles, stucco accents, wood beams in rustic styles and tones, and much more. All of this can be in a range of different colors that sometimes flare out in a bold flash in one area or another or even in shimmery styles from the metals that are popular as accent pieces.

Furniture

The furniture in this style of home is going to be ornamental and styled. You may get some basic aspects to the furniture but there are always going to be accents throughout that feature intricate and beautiful carvings.

You’ll see some bolder and more neutral colors accompanying each other and you’ll even have some more plush fabrics and padding. This translates to some formal but still somewhat comfortable furniture. Furniture is generally very solid and long-lasting as well, in materials like wood, wrought iron a whole lot more.

You’ll find some furniture pieces that feature bronze to provide an accent and you’ll definitely see pieces that feature arches coming from the doorways and even the windows that are already in these accented styles.

Décor Accessories

If you want some accessories you’re definitely going to want to look at bolder and more fun colors.

The Mediterranean style has influences with a lot of layers. You will find burnished bronze accent pieces along with all the tiles that can be inlaid into the furniture, decorative on the floors or even on the walls in frames or just alone.

The biggest accessories are really the exposed beams in the ceiling and the shaped doorways and windows. You’ll find gold accents as well as flowy curtains, wrought iron and some filigree fixtures for lights. You’re also going to have a whole lot of heavy pieces of furniture.

When it comes to the accent tables you’ll find heavy pieces but the flowy accents that go along with them help to balance this out. The walls and everything around you will have texture or layers and you’ll find some stenciled patterns that are developed throughout the room and on everything in it.

You’ll have things like mirrors with bold wooden frames or a large table with heavy carving countered with light and gauzy curtains or tile work laid into the floor.

Why it Looks Great

The Mediterranean style is most definitely something you want to put in your home and that’s because of the colors and textures that get mixed together.

The influences of a variety of different aspects like Moroccan and Spanish will create something unique. You’re also going to have more freedom to get a little bit random and a little bit eclectic. That’s because of the bold colors and the varied styles that all come together or can be pulled together at the same time. It’s definitely something you won’t want to miss.

If you like a bold and bright color palette with Spanish and Tuscan décor and a stunning Mediterranean kitchen or dining room, this is somewhere you can get that without feeling like you’re too overwhelmed with clutter and belongings.

Related Styles

Often interior designs are a mix of styles in which case it can difficult to classify the design.  Common combinations that include Mediterranean are rustic, farmhouse and Spanish.