Welcome to the Traditional style interior design style guide where you can see photos of all interiors in the Traditional style including kitchens, living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms, foyers and more.
Related: All Interior Design Styles | All Residential Architectural Styles | Luxurious Bromptons Home Interior | White Connecticut House | Types of Wall Sconces
Traditional Style Homes (Exteriors)
Check out these spectacular homes showcasing the Traditional style architecture.
1. Breathtaking Modern Day Mansion in Traditional Elegance by Antarya Design
An elegantly traditional mansion with clay tile roofing that contrasts the beige exterior that suits the concrete driveway. This is paired with a wide concrete set of stairs leading to the main door that has intricate designs on it for a warm welcome.
See more. Designed by Antarya Design
This beige mansion has several windows of different sizes that are tinted for privacy and matches the flat roofing. It complements the garage doors that have a French-style glass aesthetic added to its frosted glass. The facade of this house is lit with several wall-mounted lamps placed in strategic spots.
2. Astounding Whole House Remodel by 2e Architects
This is a charming home that has an aura of history and tradition to its welcoming arms. The facade is painted in a delightful shade of beige paired with elements in its tall windows and balcony supported by six white pillars that stand guard by the entrance.
See more. Designed by 2e Architects
The delightful shade of beige is complemented by dark gray Gable roofing and a peppering of dark blue window accents that stand out against the light hues. The lovely porch has the support of six white columns adorned with the lush greenery of the landscaping.
3. Timeless Home Embodies California Luxury with High ceilings and Hardwood Floors
This is the front view of this brilliant two-story house that is predominantly white accented with various navy blue elements like the glass front doors, garage doors and the Gable roofing that has a pair of white chimneys jutting out as well as a sunroof in the middle.
This is the backyard of this lovely house that has lush landscaping and pool. The house opens up to this landscape several windows and a balcony on the second floor that also serve as roof for the patio underneath. There’s also an outdoor dining area and cooking area for afternoon get-togethers.
4. Very Nice White Connecticut House with Gambrel Roof
This home oozes warmth with its stone walls and white wooden shiplap walls paired with the warm yellow light coming from wall-mounted lamps and from the glass doors and windows. There is a couple of dormer windows at the top of the gambrel roof that looks out at the sunset.
This side of the war white house features an outdoor dining area and patio that are warmed and comforted by an outdoor fireplace that is inlaid with rough stonework extending to its tall, magnificent chimney towering in support of the side of the house surrounded by windows.
5. Classic New Westminster Custom Home by Clay Construction
This wonderful light gray hued house has a pair of A-frame roofs that are mimicked by the entryway that has a rough stonework structure to welcome guests with a wooden door complementing the dark flooring. The white linings of the roof and tall windows are a nice touch against the light gray facade.
See more. Designed by Clay Construction
A nice view from the back that offers a warm glow from yellow lights shining from the tall windows, glass walls and brilliant lanterns that comfort the outdoor dining area and patio that has a fireplace inlaid with stonework that is also seen on the support columns of the patio roof.
6. Luxury Home with Rich Hardwood Floors, Soaring Ceilings and Sun-Filled Spaces
This spectacular house has clerestory roofs and a flat-roofed three-car garage with white garage doors that contrast the concrete driveway outlined and accented by terracotta bricks. The pure white house is outlined with black lines on its drainpipes and roofing for accent.
This is a welcoming front view of the house that has wide glass windows and a terracotta walkway flanked with well-manicured lawns leading up to the wooden main doors slightly recessed into the white walls of the house to allow a small part of the flat roofing to cover the terracotta stairway.
7. Southern Colonial Red Brick Home Design (5,300 Sq. Ft.)
This traditional house has a festive vibe to its red walls accented with rows of white pillars on the ground floor and second floor. This stands out against the lush green landscaping of the front lawn that wonderfully foregrounds the elegance of the grand house with a Gable roof and a dormer window.
See more. Source: Architectural Designs
This is a nice and relaxing backyard with an elegantly-shaped pool against red brick flooring leading up to the light gray house that has massive windows and a balcony to appreciate the beauty of the landscape.
8. Traditional Home with Wide Plank Oak Floors Throughout and Custom Designer Window Coverings
This lighthearted house has a driveway made of concrete blocks outlined with green grass that extends to the front lawn. This is a nice foreground for the brilliant hues of the exterior of the house augmented by the warmth of the wall-mounted lamps.
This is a charming exterior of a light grey home with white gates supported by grey pillars that match the gray wooden walls. This is then complemented by white windows and trellises that augment the traditional Gable roofing.
9. Cape Cod Style Home with High Ceilings and White Oak Floors Throughout
This is a traditional home with Gable roofing complemented by tall glass windows that are flanked with black accents that match with the dark wooden main door topped with a lantern-like pendant light.
This backyard has a lush lawn of well-maintained grass beside a pool. This view is enjoyed by the house through its tall and wide windows as well as an obscure balcony on the second floor. The living room opens up to the backyard with a whole wall opened to the outdoor ding area and a grill.
10. Sprawling Seattle Landmark Tudor Mansion (Renovated)
This is one of those traditional houses that seems like a great setting for a novel with its abundant landscaping, red brick walls and brown accents that match the A-frame roofing as well as wrap-around windows.
See more. Source: ZillowTM Listings / Zillow DigsTM
This charming house has red brick walls that match well with the brown of the roofs and walls as well as the lovely fountain that adorns the flowery landscape.
11. 2 Story Home with Formal Living Room and Stately Dining Room
This house somehow mixes simplicity and grandeur with its simple white walls and uncomplicated design paired with a concrete walkway with terracotta accents. The grandeur of the house comes from the size of it halls, windows and the massive columns guarding the entrance.
The sunset is a nice background for this lovely and wide backyard of this grand house. It has a big pool with places for lounging surrounding it. The house enjoys this view with a patio paired with a second-floor balcony along with glass doors and tall windows.
12. Impressive Traditional Estate with High-Coved Ceilings and Limestone & Hardwood Floors
This impressive house has a tall 2-story stance that boasts arched glass doors to a pair of small balconies flanking the top window of the entrance that has a wooden double main doors lit with warm yellow light for a nice welcome along with its brick-walls and wrought iron gate.
This backyard view of the house shows its trio of white chimneys jutting out of the roofs. The white walls are paired well with French glass doors and windows complemented by trellis leading to a fine garden that highlights an elegant brick fountain.
13. Luxurious Contemporary Plantation Home Design
The traditional house features three dormer windows on the simple hip roofing supported by multiple white columns on the ground floor and second floor with tall French windows placed strategically in between columns. The wooden main door faces a wide walkway with a white fountain in the middle.
See more. Source: Architectural Designs
This backyard view of the house showcases a wide pool surrounded by terracotta flooring leading up to the patio that has arched entryways supported by white columns with Gable roofs that complements the white walls and tall windows.
14. Remodeled Tennis Court Estate in Guard Gated Monteria Estates
This brilliant 2-story house has silvery and shiny roofing that complements the textured beige walls that has an abundance of wide windows. The bottom half of the walls have rough stonework that pairs well with the charming landscape of shrubbery and trees.
The winding walkway and driveway of this charming house are made of concrete blocks that work well with the lush greenery of the landscape. This front view of the house is highlighted with warm yellow light coming from the wide windows and the balcony doors of the tower-like main hall.
15. Traditional Estate with New Age Flair
This traditional house has a tall stonework chimney reaching up to the sky over the beige half-hipped roofing. The stonework finish of the chimney could also be seen on the walls near the greenery for a nice aesthetic. The rest of it is in plain white that is accented with light gray lines and windows.
This is a backyard with a nice big well-maintained lawn of grass that stands in contrast to the white walls of the 2-story house. There is a large dormer window on the second floor that has wrap-around windows over the patio below that is illuminated by the warm light coming from the glass doors and windows of the ground floor.
Traditional Style Interior Examples (by Room)
The following are photo examples of Traditional-style interiors (room-by-room). Below each photo are links that take you to extensive Traditional-style photo galleries for each room.
The following examples are from this house (Design by Oleg Klodt Architecture & Design).
Living Rooms
See more traditional-style living rooms here.
This traditional living room has a tall white ceiling that contrasts the dark hardwood flooring. This is then topped with a light-hued area rug complements the blue-green velvet cushioned armchairs facing the beige sofa with a tall window behind it.
Kitchens
See more traditional-style kitchens here.
This traditional kitchen has pastel green patterned floor tiles that contrast the white wooden shaker cabinets and drawers that blend in with the white walls and ceiling where a shelf hangs over the white kitchen island.
Dining Rooms
See more traditional-style dining rooms here.
This is an elegant and traditional formal dining room that has hardwood flooring contrasted by the light hues of the cushioned dining chairs surrounding the white dining table that matches the white cabinet by the white wall. The long table is topped with a couple of thin white chandeliers hanging from the white coffered ceiling.
Bedrooms
See more traditional-style bedrooms here.
This charming traditional bedroom has green floral walls that serve as a nice background for the wooden dresser that complements the hardwood flooring. There is a light gray area rug underneath the gray bed with a green cushioned bench at the foot of the bed.
Bathrooms
See more traditional-style bathrooms here.
The brilliant silvery freestanding bathtub is the highlight of this bathroom that has light green patterned floor tiles that match the beige countertop of the vanity area that has green walls adorned with framed artworks and wall-mounted lamps.
Entry Halls
See more traditional-style entry halls here.
This is a traditional foyer given an elegant twist with its black walls and dark gray flooring contrasted by the white ceiling that supports a golden chandelier that stands out against the black frames of the French doors.
Traditional Style Home Landscaping
See more traditional-style home landscaping here.
This traditional landscape features an outdoor patio with a wooden gray platform flooring adorned with plants in black pots of various shapes and sizes. This is a nice complement for the tall trees that tower over the patio that has comfortable woven wicker sofas and coffee table.
What is Traditional Interior Design
The traditional style is the evolution of the 18th to 19th-century European style. It’s considered a little bit predictable because every item, furniture, curtains, colors, match throughout the home. This creates a feeling of comfort and harmony.
All fabrics will match with similar patterns and color palettes throughout the home, taking colors from the main fabric, to create a cohesive look throughout the room. The traditional style goes well in older homes because renovations are not necessary. You will want to keep aspects of natural finishings and floorings to create a cohesive and balanced look throughout the home.
Traditional Interior style features
In the Traditional style, everything in your home should match. To do this, try to find furniture and accessories from the same collection consistently throughout your home. Upholstery and fabrics should also share the same theme and color palette. Pull colors from the fabric to create a cohesive look throughout the room.
Everything should match and go together, including all accessories – lights, pillows, and rugs. To keep everything matching, find the most prominent pattern in each room and use hues from the pattern for the colors in the room. The lightest color should be used for the walls and the darker colors for the upholstery and rugs. Ceilings are often white but may have simple beams. Some other aspects of the interior style include:
- Pairing: having pairs of accessories creates a balanced space. Having two identical lamps, chairs, or end tables, can bring attention to the main focus of the room, like a fireplace.
- Symmetry: pieces in the room all have their own place. Paired items are placed on opposite sides, like end tables placed on opposite ends of the couch. Items are also placed in a way to center the room. The bed will be centered against the largest wall and the sofa may face the fireplace.
- Patterns: traditional style has an emphasis on patterns. The colors are based on the colors found in the patterns. As stated before, lighter shades should go on the wall, and the darker shades should be used for everything else. The popular patterns are florals, damask, paisleys, chinoiserie prints, geometric shapes, and stripes. Upholstery and cushions will usually have the same or matching patterns.
- Subdued colors: tones are often in the mid-range, but dark and lighter colors may be used. In the traditional style, neon-bright colors and clashing combinations should be avoided. A floral palette could include peach and green tones with tan and purple hues. Colors can also be found together with a tone-on-tone balance.
- Wood and metal: wood often used in this style have deep, rich tones like walnut, cherry, mahogany, and oak. For a cohesive look, the same wood with the same finish should be used throughout the home. Metal accents on the wood should be brass, bronze, and copper, with a satin finish.
- Detail: detailed millwork is seen in this style. They include crown molding, valances, cornices, tray or coffered ceilings, columns, wood paneling, and built-in cabinets.
- Window treatment: curtains are important for this style. Fabrics used are often in rich tones to offset the neutral wall color and patterns in the room. Windows will have heavy drapes with under drapes and valances made of fabric or wood.
Traditional Exterior style features
The exterior of a traditional home reflects historical design elements. In keeping with the tradition of the styles of Europe in the 18th and 19th centuries and the French countryside, the exterior of the homes may be Victorian, Colonial, or French Country. Design elements can include a porch, columns, and shutters, and boast straight lines. Some examples are:
- Townhomes: these homes are practical and often found as row homes in urban areas. They also have a traditional layout and gabled roofs.
- Tudor: popular in the early 20th century, homes of this style boast multi-gabled, steeped roofs and decorative framing.
- Colonial: this is a formal style created in the 1600s when the colonists first settled America. There were different variations of the style due to the diversity of the colonists and include Dutch Colonial, Georgian Colonial, and Federal Colonial. It’s characterized by evenly spaced shutters, columns, and dormers, which are windows that project out of the roof.
- Neo-Classical: this style has elements of symmetry, tall columns, and evenly spaced windows. It’s classic and reflects the architecture of Greece and Rome.
- Victorian: as with its name, this style became popular during the reign of Queen Victoria. It’s aesthetic is ornate, with an asymmetrical shape and multi-faceted rooflines.
These styles of home are consistent with traditional homes because these are the types of home traditional style evolved from. All have some similar features as detailed in the interior style, like symmetry and balance.
Traditional Furniture style
In Traditional style, the furniture should be classic and oftentimes may feel outdated. The idea of this style, though, is to create a calm and orderly atmosphere. It’s a familiar style that is comfortable for any age group. The upholstered furniture has classic lines with details that are understated. It is meant to be functional and simple.
Edges are soft and smooth and use a mix of vertical and horizontal lines, with light carving details. They also showcase gentle curves, wingbacks, tufting, and piping. There aren’t usually any sharp angles, but furniture may have a skirt. In the dining room, the table is often rectangular with matched chairs placed evenly around it. There will also be a matching sideboard, buffet, or china cabinet centered on the main wall. Some examples of the furniture that can be found in Traditional style include:
- Acme Furniture Sofa: this living room set features matching fabric and ornate detailing. Notice the layout of the sofas and how everything matches, including the drapes in the background.
- Dark Cherry End Table: this end table would work well as a pair on opposite sides of the Acme sofa or another sofa of a similar style. Try looking in the same collection as this table, as in the above Acme sofa, to find matching pieces for your living room.
- Licona Traditional 10 piece Dining Set: with this dining set, you can see how the china cabinet is placed against the wall and the table is in the center of the room with the matching chairs placed evenly around it. This set would be perfect in your dining room where you can showcase your china collection to family and friends.
Traditional Materials Used
Like any design style, materials used are important for the effect of what the style is trying to create. For the traditional style, the atmosphere should be inviting and familiar. Due to the history of this style, the materials used are simple and basic in nature. Some of the materials that are used include:
- Wood: walnut, cherry, mahogany, and oak with rich tones are often used for furniture.
- Metal: furniture often has metal accents like brass, bronze, and copper.
- Fabric: a range of fabrics in different patterns and neutral colors are used for curtains and upholstery. Fabric patterns are often floral, striped, damask, tone-on-tone, and geometric. The fabric used is usually high-end fabrics like silk, leather, and velvet.
Traditional Decor
The accessories in Traditional Decor are often paired together to create a balance in the room. Everything in the room should go together and be predictable. Nothing should be surprising because everything in the room should look like it belongs there, which creates a homey, calming, and familiar feel.
Many things will be paired together, like candlesticks, lamps, and end tables. Other accessories that may be showcased are urns, plants, mirrors, framed prints, china, vases, and a book collection. In this type of home, you do not want to showcase a piece of modern art or any stainless steel furniture. Look for more classic pieces like classic art, small tapered vases, and lamps with ivory or white shades. Some examples of decorations are:
- Antique Brass Table Lamps: notice how these are made with a brass finish and simple white shade. These would do well on opposing end tables to create a cohesive living room or bedroom.
- Claude Monet Painting: this canvas print of the classic Monet painting would be perfect to pull all the colors of the room together. This painting is neutral and would blend well with the blues, whites, and pinks, of the fabric. Try to look for a painting that can pull the colors straight from your fabric to make the look cohesive and balanced.
- White Crackled Ceramic Vase: this vase has a floral and pheasant detail on it with neutral colors. It could easily blend with the furniture given as the example above or any furniture in a traditional home. Add some silk or fresh flowers and add to end tables or on opposing ends of the fireplace.
Styles that Mix Well with Traditional
The traditional design is a classic design. It has evolved from historical designs, so there aren’t many styles that could mix well with this style. The styles that would go together, would also be steeped in history or share similarities in nature with tradition.
That should not deter you from trying to blend this style with others. Try to find similarities in the design, so as not to deter from the balance that traditional style tries to uphold. Some styles that would mix well with traditional are:
- Transitional: this style is a blend of modern and traditional design. Therefore, this design will mesh well with Traditional. The modern elements of traditional are not too strong, and the colors are neutral, so it would mix well.
- Modern: if transitional is a mix of modern and traditional, that can only mean that modern designs can fit into a traditional design setting. Don’t add too much modernity to your design however, you might lose the sense of tradition you are trying to create.
- Rustic: traditional style takes a lot from history, taking some aspects from the French countryside, so rustic accessories will work well with traditional style. Rustic also uses natural materials like traditional, like reclaimed wood flooring or ceilings with wooden beams that would be easy to coordinate in a traditional home.
- French Country: some parts of traditional design come from the French Countryside feel, so having some extra elements of the country is not a far stretch to add to this design. This style boasts warm colors of reds, yellows, and golds, and also uses natural materials. Add fabrics with these warm and inviting colors and you can easily create a cohesive look throughout your home.
Brief Historic Overview
The traditional design is inspired by the 18th and 19th centuries. It takes ideas from the furnishings and accessories of that century to create a classic and homey feel for today. Some of the styles it takes from are not just from 18th century England, but also from the French countryside and the far east.
It uses a lot of floral prints and some homes have oriental rugs to pull the room together. The popular styles are British Colonial revival, 18th century English, 19th century neoclassical, and French Country. You can see the aspects of these designs in both the exterior and interior of traditional homes today. It may seem boring to some, but the concept of traditional design is still proper today and is able to incorporate different styles, as seen above, to create a comforting feeling for everyone.
Why Traditional looks great
Traditional has always been a classic and timeless style. It may seem boring or old to some, but it’s also familiar. It is ageless and exudes a comfortable feeling for any home. It can blend well with other interior styles but stays true to its history. With this style, you can easily create a home that is fit for royalty.
The popularity of 18th and 19th-century histories can be seen from the many television shows and movies that have recently been created. If that doesn’t draw your attention, think about how the traditional style wants things to match. It’s not overpowering, and everything has its place, which is great for people who do not like clutter.
Accessories can be paired together and collections, like books or art, are showcased. Tradition is great for any home because it provides a comforting and calming atmosphere that is predictable and homey. You will always feel at home in a traditional space.
