How to Make Your Home Old World Style

Use muted colors on the walls to convey Old World style. Ochre, terracotta and ecru are appropriate choices. For upholstered pieces, choose rich but muted colors that appear aged. Burgundy, navy, dark green and gold damasks and brocades are options for sofas, chairs and window treatments. Echo the rich but weathered colors on the floors with Aubusson rugs.

Mix pieces from different periods to project the collected-over-time look that is essential to Old World decorating. Antiques should mingle with reproductions, and dark-stained furniture should stand alongside painted pieces. Age new furniture by sanding the corners and applying stain to the bare spots. Rub the hardware with steel wool to make it look weathered. Use tea-stained fabrics to make curtains and pillows look vintage.

Use overscaled, imposing pieces of furniture to make the room seem important. Towering bookcases, armoires or sideboards should be prominent pieces in Old World rooms. Seating should be substantial and roomy. Gilt-framed mirrors that reach the floor to ceiling often lean or hang on the wall of an Old World room.

Incorporate lots of accessories and accent pieces throughout the rooms. Prominently display objects such as silver tea sets, stacks of fine china, brass candlesticks, leather-bound books and crystal bowls. Sculptures and urns are other important pieces in the Old World look, as are wrought-iron accents, such as sconces, chandeliers and candle holders.

Decorate the walls. Old World rooms feature towering oil portraits and paintings. Gold-framed mirrors often hang above mantles. Huge tapestries, originally hung to provide warmth to chilly stone walls, are also central to this style. Dress windows with heavy panels lined with tassels, trim or beads.