Arts and Crafts Interior Design
Arts and Crafts interior design features hand-crafted elements and rich wood details. You can find it in popular American home styles like the Craftsman bungalow, the mission-style home, and the prairie-style house.
Even if you don’t live in a traditional Arts and Crafts home, you can develop this interior design style by focusing on quality and nature. Here’s how to get the look.
The History of Arts and Crafts Interior Design
The Arts and Crafts movement spanned from about 1880 to 1920 in Europe and the United States. It was a return to hand-crafted materials and simple furniture after a period of mass-produced factory furnishings.
The movement against Victorian-style designs began after the Great Exhibition of 1851. The organizers had a distaste for the over-ornate furnishings, which led to a design reformation that spurred the Arts and Crafts movement.
Some of the leading designers and architects in the Arts and Crafts Movement included Augustus Pugin, William Morris, and John Ruskin.
Textile designer William Morris believed that craftspeople should take pleasure in their work and consumers should purchase items they value. Morris was one of the most influential figures in the Arts and Crafts movement. His designs also influenced the Art Nouveau style.
Many of Morris’ designs drew inspiration from medieval times, featured nature-inspired motifs, and used raw, natural materials. His design firm, Morris & Co, crafted furniture, textiles, carpets, and embroidered items that were featured at the Arts & Crafts Exhibition Society in 1887. The exhibition gave a name to the movement.
The style continued to spread through Europe and North America until about 1920. Then, after World War I, design trends leaned toward less expensive manufactured items.
Interior Design Characteristics of the Arts and Crafts Movement
You can incorporate arts and crafts style design elements in your home by looking for hand-crafted items and nature-inspired decor. Here are the Arts and Crafts interior design elements.
Arts and Crafts Color Palette
The color palette from the Arts and Crafts movement is earth-toned. While popular colors include cream, beige, green, warm red, and muted yellows, the best color palette is nature-inspired and complements your home’s wood tones.
High-Quality Materials
The central belief of Arts and Crafts interior design is that all items in your home should be high-quality and, when possible, hand-crafted. Furniture made by artisans and woodworkers trumps mass-produced items. The same goes for linens, artwork, and critical elements like flooring and countertops.
An Abundance of Woodwork
Arts and Crafts homes often feature detailed but simple wood trim, exposed wood ceilings, wooden ceiling beams, hardwood floors, and wood-paneled walls. Other wood features include built-in bookshelves and benches.
Function Over Ornamentation
Ornamentation, or over-decorated pieces, spurred the Arts and Crafts movements. The founders of this idea believed that artisans should make furniture with function in mind, not decoration. Look for simple, well-made furniture and steer clear of items that look busy.
Nature-Inspired Decor
Nature-inspired decor is heavy in Arts and Crafts movements and includes stained glass windows, floral wallpaper, animal motifs, and tapestries. You could also opt for artwork that depicts scenes in nature, hand-made vases, and embroidery.
Examples of Arts and Crafts Interiors
Here are some examples of Arts and Crafts interiors.
Arts and Crafts Entryway
The abundant use of dark-stained wood is typical of an Arts and Crafts style home, and so are the window muntins. The lighter wood floors contrast the darker trim and paneling, and the entryway tile ties the two together.
Modern Arts and Crafts Kitchen
These homeowners wanted an Arts and Crafts style in their kitchen and opted for high-quality wood and other natural materials to get the look. They kept items simple but chose long-lasting finishes like copper, stone, and iron.
Arts and Crafts Style Living Room
Fireplaces play a significant role in Arts and Crafts homes since they create a warm focal point. Other key features in this home include the wood paneling, trim, and crown molding.
Arts and Crafts Style Bedroom
Dark wood trim is one of the most common themes in Arts and Crafts spaces, and this room is no exception. The designer chose warm earth tones to give the room a relaxing and nature-inspired feel.