One of the first decisions you will have to make before decorating your home is choosing the style. Together we will explore some of the many styles in which your home can be decorated and some of the colors and furnishings that make each style unique.

Style is something that is as unique as the individual that chooses the décor of a home. There are many decorating styles to choose from, some of which can be combined to create your own unique style. The following descriptions can help you to decide which style you choose for decorating your home:

Primitive – this style represents the early development of tools and furnishings when true craftsmanship and hard work were something to be proud of. Handcrafted antique items such as wooden hay rakes and other primitive tools, handmade rag dolls, and beautiful hand pieced quilts are a few of the items found in this style of decorating.

Country – this style represents an era when tools and furnishings were a little more than primitive. Wood furniture and tools as well as cotton fabrics are representative of this style. Antique cotton quilts, stoneware bowls, Hoosier cupboards, enamelware, and wooden dovetail boxes are just a few of the items found in a country décor.

French Country – this style uses a mixture of elegance and rustic to create a unique style. Yellows, blues, and pinks are the colors that are predominant in this style. Rooster collections, tiles on walls and floors, and sunflowers in dripware pitchers are a few of the items that represent the French country décor.

Cottage Country – people who lived in big cities and lived in small country cottages during the heat of the summer months created this beautiful style. Colors representing the cottage country style come in an array of pastels such as pinks, pale greens, blues, peaches, and mauve in colorful floral or fruit prints. Since many cottages were located on beaches, many items found in the country cottage style include nautical items such as lighthouses, seashells, and stones.

Victorian – rich brocades and velvet represent this elegant style of décor, from elegant furniture covering to wall and window dressings in burgundies, blues, mauves, and greens. Decorative items representing the Victorian style include wicker furnishings and baskets, high button shoes, porcelain dolls, hats and hatboxes, and fanciful buttons.

Rustic – this style represents the rustic living of log cabin days and includes such items as bear skin rugs, antique snow shoes, oil lamps and woodsman tools, and furniture made from tree trunks and branches. Plaids patterns of red, green, and black are the predominant colors representing the rustic style.

Traditional – this style represents a classic elegance and beauty. Items may include elegant pieces such as framed landscapes, fine china, and crystal candlesticks. Natural colors and light play an important part in creating the traditional style focusing on colors such as gray, off-white, and beige.

Modern – this style represents the high tech world of the future and includes the use of concrete, stone, metal and glass to create bright open spaces and square lines. Hand blown glass pieces and abstract artwork work well with a modern décor. The color schemes are representative of the basic colors with splashes of bright color throughout.