Follow These 11 New Ways to Update Your Tired Tuscan Style
Tired of Tuscan Design?
The topic has been popping up again, whether people want to “lighten up” in terms of color and a fresher feel or de-clutter the runaway train that can happen when we latch on to a specific style – and keep adding pieces without “editing” the existing pieces. It’s certainly OK if you still love your “Tuscan style” – it’s your home. However, many clients are just plain tired of it. Many cleaner lines and soft contemporary/transitional are going on these days. The dark colors and heavy furnishings have given way to more optimistic, lighter, casual, and comfortable looks.
*I’m just calling this Tuscan style for the sake of this article – it never really looked like true casual, farmhouse, breezy Tuscany – it’s a combo of formal Old World looks – to be more accurate.
Where to Start?
There are little changes, more extensive changes, and there is re-decorating or remodeling in Scottsdale. Only you can decide how much or how little you are comfortable doing if you’re tired of the Tuscan style.
The #1 change we are making for our clients is replacing heavy chenille draperies and valances with lighter weight, lighter color, and clean patterned fabrics that still coordinate with much of the existing furnishings!
1. Decide what style direction you want to pursue.
Don’t know? Go to Houzz and create an Ideabook. Start saving photos of rooms you love, add comments about the room, and share the Ideabook with me on the Amy Wolff Interiors page. This will quickly help to determine your style! (Warning this can be addicting – next thing you know, 2 hours will fly by, so do this when you have the time to play! Hint: quit after you’ve added 10-20 photos – that’s enough! If you need help doing this, call me at 480-683-0200.
2. Do a quick inventory of what needs to go and what you want to keep (only if you LOVE it).
What you can re-purpose, and what you can update with paint or fabrics. Donate or take the unloved items to consignment.
3. Overhaul your accessories.
Many Tuscan-style homes have too much stuff – lots of heavy accessories everywhere! It’s OK to keep a few items that you enjoy, maybe 20%. This will help A LOT! De-clutter and get rid of it.
4. Replace big heavy lamps with cleaner, lighter-looking ones.
Depending on the lamp, you may also be able to paint it or change the lamp shades to something that feels lighter looking.
5. Get new throw pillows.
Lose the heavy chenilles and leathers – go with lighter, brighter fabrics that appeal to you now.
6. Change your bedding to lighter, more soothing colors.
Yes, you can still have lots of colors if you like! Just lighten up the palette with more cheerful colors. Paint over accent walls that serve no architectural purpose – those are OUT, too! (Yes, new home developments use these – but only as “memory points” – so when you are looking at six different floorplans, you remember that you liked the one with the orange wall (you’ll never remember that you enjoyed the Saguaro floorplan with the Mesquite façade!).
7. Re-paint dark (or faux) walls to lighter or brighter colors.
Yes, you can still have lots of colors if you like! Just lighten up the palette with more cheerful colors. Paint over accent walls that serve no architectural purpose – those are OUT, too! (Yes, new home developments use these – but only as “memory points” – so when you are looking at 6 different floorplans, you remember that you liked the one with the orange wall (you’ll never remember that you liked the Saguaro floorplan with the Mesquite façade!).
For those with a more generous budget
8. Replace your heavy or dark window treatments with lighter color fabrics or top treatments.
9. Change out dark, heavy-area rugs for lighter, brighter ones.
A new area rug you LOVE can establish your whole color palette and make other decisions much easier.
10. If you have high-quality upholstered furniture, reupholster a favorite chair or sofa in a more contemporary fabric.
11. Evaluate your hard furniture.
Can a bookcase be painted or re-stained another color? Can a table be painted or a glass top added? Is there just too much furniture for the room? Should you move a heavy credenza to a guest bedroom and swap out a lesser-quality piece? Furniture can be expensive, so we often find a way to re-purpose some pieces – or frame the expensive sofa with more modern occasional tables.
Remodeling
This is a separate topic that includes replacing flooring, and counters, updating cabinetry, fireplaces, etc., so I’ll address that in another article. Meanwhile, you can also learn from our blog about Interior Design Tips for Your Next Remodel. Let me know what you have done to lighten up by posting a comment below. Give me a call if you need advice on your situation at 480-683-0200.
