With thoughts of the sea: decorating the interior in Mediterranean style

Lovers of spacious and bright rooms, in which it is pleasant to relax and easy to work, have long appreciated the possibilities of Mediterranean interiors. Mediterranean style in the interior has a very special charm, the main components of which are peace, space and individual elegance. Just what a modern person needs. How to decorate an interior in this style, what should you pay special attention to, and how to reveal all the possibilities of this design in an ordinary apartment? Today's article is exactly about this.

Mediterranean style in apartment design: distinctive features

• This design movement strives for colors inspired by sunny nature. The key to recreating this style is choosing the right colors for the walls, floors, furniture and fabrics. Look for inspiration in the blue, turquoise, lavender shades of the sea, lush flowering plants, the warm sands of the coast, as well as the coolness of the cloudy sky. If you don’t like cold shades, give preference to terracotta, olive, red, pink and deep yellow “sunny” colors.
• Finishing, furniture and accessories must be made exclusively from natural and reliable materials: wood, wrought iron, glass, stone. Their natural, cool tones need to be diluted with bright textiles: pillows, rugs and bedding.
• Mediterranean-style interior design allows for ceramic tile floors that can be “insulated” with a soft rug. It is also possible to cover it with wood laminate or rough bleached wooden boards.
• To dilute the heaviness of furniture, preference is given to curtains made of light, airy fabric. A neat pattern is acceptable on curtains. It is strictly forbidden to use curtains with lambrequins, tassels and drapery. A forged cornice will become a discreet decoration.
• The ceiling should be high. The optimal color palette consists of matte sand, beige, and milky shades. In the original, the ceilings are decorated with massive wooden beams.
• Wallpaper and wall paneling are not typical for houses on the south coast. It is enough to plaster the walls and paint them in a light shade.
• When choosing accessories, you should remember that they must be functional, otherwise you risk burdening the interior with unnecessary details. A Mediterranean-style apartment does not tolerate excess. The hallmark of this style is its unpretentious beauty, functionality and conciseness. Remember that pretentiousness and luxury are completely alien to him.
• A creative approach to home decor can be expressed through detailed wall textures and furniture upholstery. Finding materials with which you can implement this idea is not difficult. There is a wide selection of paint and applique sets on sale.
• The design of a Mediterranean-style apartment looks more complete if it contains mosaic elements. To do this you will need small or chipped ceramic tiles or a set of mirrors. You can find mosaics inside and outside the house, as well as in the kitchen, pool area and hallway. If you want to add a little playfulness to the room, then you can use it in any corner of your apartment or house. For example, when decorating an apron in the kitchen.

What materials and elements are used

The Mediterranean interior, like the Provence style, should be decorated using natural materials. Decorative plaster allows you to hide any unevenness on various surfaces of the room. Using a rough type of plaster, you can not only ideally decorate a room in Provence or Mediterranean style, but also save money and effort on repairs. The Mediterranean style also involves brickwork, but its quantity should be minimal; for example, it can be used for laying a fireplace or kitchen walls.

The Mediterranean style guest room is spacious and bright. Light wood parquet was used to finish the floors.

The soft blue color gives the living room interior design a peculiar lightness and simplicity.

Provence style (like Mediterranean) involves the use of the following types of elements in the interior:

1. Ceramic tableware.
2. Capes, lace napkins, needlework, various crafts.
3. Wicker cane chairs.
4. Furniture made from natural materials with forging.
5. Blinds or curtains made of lightweight materials.
6. Tiled floors or wood flooring in a terracotta shade.

A Mediterranean-style interior involves the use of hand-made furniture.

The combination of light oak or pine furniture is ideal for this style. The presence of wooden furniture with forged or lacquered legs in the interior of Italian houses is popular. This makes the “Mediterranean” room more sophisticated, as can be seen in photo 1. Natural stone with textile upholstery allows you to create a cozy atmosphere in the rooms, as shown in photo 2.

Masterful Mediterranean-style dining room design in the home of a French politician.

The veranda in a large country mansion is decorated in accordance with the requirements of the Mediterranean style.

Mediterranean style kitchen: what to consider when decorating

The kitchen or kitchen-living room in this interior is a delicious cocktail of cultural traditions of southern countries. Do you want to embody the idea of ​​comfort, hospitality and convenience? The Mediterranean kitchen style will provide you with functional variety. A design can include many elements. But this does not mean that the room should be oversaturated with details. Choose any combination: from sunny colors to muted sand shades. Everything is limited only by your imagination and budget.

Furniture

1. Large dining table for 4-6 people for a comfortable meal.
2. Kitchen set. Choose sets made of natural wood with inserts of ceramics, glass and metal fittings.
3. Chairs. You can choose a set of wooden chairs with wide backs or elegant metal frames and soft seats. Chairs upholstered in cotton or linen checkered fabric will look harmonious.
4. Closet. The Mediterranean-style kitchen interior allows for a laconic cabinet model with open shelves filled with beautiful accessories (bright kitchen utensils or decorative plates).
5. Tabletop. Opt for countertops made of natural stone, ceramic tiles, or a combination of both.
6. Washing. A large bronze-colored ceramic sink will perfectly complement your kitchen interior.

Walls

Wallpaper and panels in the kitchen are rare in this design. As a rule, the walls are faced with tiles or stone. Mediterranean style tiles can be laid out as mosaics. As for the choice of colors, the most common are rich shades of yellow, soft cream, sand, as well as various splashes of “sunny” colors. The kitchen design can also be decorated with various warm colors, which makes it even more cozy in the winter season.

Floor

As for the floor, it is often covered with ceramic tiles in a color scheme that harmonizes with the walls and ceiling. If you find the ceramic floor cold, place a soft rug.

Ceiling

A popular element of ceiling decor are massive wooden beams in gray and dark brown. They are ideal for a spacious kitchen. In an apartment, it would be best to paint the ceiling with matte beige paint.

The Mediterranean style kitchen design includes a large dining area. In this case, the cooking area and dining area can be separated by an additional work surface or bar counter.

Where can this finish be used?

Various styles of the Mediterranean coast can be used in any room, both in an ordinary city apartment and in your own home.

Living room

The visiting card of the owners of the house is the living room. If you prefer the Spanish direction of Mediterranean design, then you can choose a plain wall decoration in a beige tone. Against this background, dark wooden furniture on a terracotta floor will look decent.

If the hall is large and spacious, there is enough sunlight, then it can be decorated in the Greek version. The snow-white and blue colors of the living room, which provides a minimum of furniture, is sure to have light airy curtains or blinds on the windows - this is an excellent option for lovers of the sea and open space.

Bedroom

The color scheme of a bedroom largely depends on the chosen direction. It can be made quite bright in the Spanish style, decorated in the maritime theme of Greece, or choose the calmness and restraint of the Italian tone.

Tip: Although mosaics are widely used in the Mediterranean style, they are definitely not suitable for use in bedrooms.

Venetian plaster is often used to decorate walls in bedrooms. Against the background of calm shades of decoration, bright colors of bed linen, bedspreads, and decorative pillows will look beautiful.

Kitchen and dining room

The traditions of southern countries have always been famous for their hospitality. In kitchens and dining rooms of this style, you can use all shades of sunny colors and sand colors. Often the main place is given to snow-white surfaces. These could be walls, ceilings, tablecloths.

The Mediterranean style kitchen interior traditionally uses:

• Ceramic tiles and mosaics.
• A natural stone.
• A large number of wooden objects.

Furniture sets here must be made from natural solid wood; tables are usually large in size. Chairs are selected from wood, with forged parts or a metal frame. You can often find open kitchen cabinets that are filled with bright decorative items: various utensils, plates, ceramics.

In this style, walls, floors and kitchen splashbacks are laid with ceramic tiles. You can often see various versions of mosaics here.

Dining areas are usually quite spacious. They are often combined with the kitchen itself. Zoning of the room in this case is done using a bar counter or desk.

Mediterranean style bedroom: main motives

Are you starting to decorate your bedroom in a Mediterranean style? First, decide which country you want to follow. Colorful Spanish or blue and white Greek? Or maybe a more restrained Italian? Here are some of the most popular options.

Italian Mediterranean

This style is characterized by rough, rustic motifs. Old world charm is achieved through dark floors, luxurious heavy furniture and wooden beamed ceilings. A bold combination of bright orange and red is often used when choosing bedding. Earthy and neutral finish colors serve as a backdrop for bright accessories. Mediterranean style in a bedroom interior can also include the texture of Venetian plaster.

Greek Mediterranean

The Greek influence in the interior can be easily distinguished by the deep blue and turquoise tones that convey the colors of the sea. This marine color palette is often combined with snow-white plaster and whitewashed floors. White walls complement the authentic Greek patterns on the ceiling and bedding. This choice can safely be called both traditional and modern.

Universal design

Mediterranean bedroom design is ideal for such a space because of its warm and inviting decor that combines classic, modern and unconventional options. Thus, a richly decorated bed with four turrets looks luxurious when combined with modern table lamps, bedding and delicate window curtains.

Mediterranean style - origin and development

The formation of the style was simultaneously influenced by the cultures of several countries. These are mainly Greece, Italy, Türkiye, Morocco. Many elements of the style were borrowed from the peoples of Tunisia, Egypt and Algeria.

The formation of the style began during the prosperity of the Greek and Roman empires. Further, the Kingdom of Spain contributed a large treasure to the development of the Mediterranean direction, then it was supplemented with elements of the culture of other Mediterranean countries.

The active introduction of style into residential interiors began after the Second World War.

At that time, residents of small coastal villages moved en masse to the cities for the purpose of employment. It was these people who brought elements of the Mediterranean style, borrowed from the design of private country houses, into city apartments.

Mediterranean style living room and its features

Color

First of all, you should choose the right palette, but first decide which trend will be decisive. If you choose Italian, then give preference to earth tones: from gray, sand to yellow and terracotta. In the case of the Greek direction, the ideal choice would be white, blue, olive and light terracotta colors.

Furniture

Regardless of the stylistic direction of the living room, make a choice in favor of wooden pieces of furniture. To convey the richness of Italian aesthetics, purchase furniture with elegant wrought iron elements. The living room interior usually includes a low sofa, a pair of armchairs, a coffee table, a bookcase or a shelving unit. In addition, you can put a chest of drawers. For decoration, add lamps and high chairs.

Filling the living room with simple “rustic” wooden furniture is quite in the Greek spirit. Wicker chairs and poufs with cotton covers and capes are also acceptable. In this case, the furniture should be arranged so that there is enough space for comfortable movement.

Floor

As in the bedroom, the flooring is usually ceramic tiles, natural stone, painted wood planks or raw laminate.

Walls and ceiling

To meet the style requirements in the living room interior, any wall treatment should be excluded, except for relief plaster and painting in a matte shade. Rough wooden beams on the ceiling, a decorative element characteristic of the original design, are chosen to match the window and door openings. A chandelier with forged parts should be purchased only if you are recreating the Italian style in the living room.

Decor

Are you finished with the renovation work? It's time to start decorating. It will create coziness in your living room. Therefore, feel free to buy decorative ceramics: pots, decorative plates, amphorae. Forged copper candlesticks and lamps will add a special cozy charm to your living room. Don't forget also about bright sofa cushions and soft rugs.

Mediterranean-style bathroom: design specifics

A Southern style bathroom is very easy to recognize thanks to its original decor. In this case, it is advisable to abandon a massive bathtub. Replace it with a shower stall or a neat round-shaped bathtub.

Natural materials are used here in everything from finishing materials to bath accessories. The bathroom interior will be ideally complemented by plant decorations, as well as an antique mirror or amphora. The walls and ceiling can be decorated with stripes in an antique or Roman style.

For walls, it is recommended to use tiles in colors traditional for this design solution. It is advisable to equip the floor covering (made of wood or ceramic tiles) with heating. The ideal bathroom combines naturalness and elegance with a minimum amount of decor.