Georgian Colonial Decor

Furniture

• Colonial-style furniture had a simple design, sometimes with rustic accents. The influence of the Georgian style is mainly due to the beauty of the furniture. Some of the famous designers of the period, including Chippendale and Sheraton had a profound effect on furniture ideas for decades. Wood types used for colonial furniture include birch, cherry, pine and walnut. Using antiques as decor elements will give a home an authentic Georgian feeling. In the kitchen, use granite, laminate or soapstone countertops and stained or painted wood cabinets.

Colors

• A multitude of colors for interiors and exteriors are used for colonial-style houses. For interiors, choose earth-tone colors, including reds, creamy yellow, ochre, beige, brown and taupe. Use red as an accent color for kitchen cabinets and drawers, and select shades of dark brown and black for baseboards. For exteriors, the most used color for colonial houses is white, but you may also choose shades of blue, cream, beige or yellow-orange.

Lighting, Walls and Floors

• In colonial-style houses, lightening is simple, almost rustic. Choose iron or wood light holders or a chandelier in the living room for a more sophisticated effect. For getting an old-fashioned colonial look, use metallic wall sconces in lobbies and bedrooms. Specific colonial floor options are ceramic, linoleum and wood. For walls, choose wallpapers with specific Georgian prints, scraps in ornate frames and large mirrors.

Accessories

• Accessories add warmth to the rooms of colonial-style houses. Select embroidered fabrics for quilts, throws, cushions and upholstery. For an old-fashioned colonial look, use black and white or sepia family photos. Display pottery or fine-patterned china to perfect the look of your rooms. As typical colonial house windows are double hung without shutters, choose curtains in earth tones to add texture to your rooms.