What do you think when you hear about Italian Mediterranean interior style? Personally, my mind goes straight to the warmest vacation sites, with their blue waves, juicy food and full-bodied red wines.
Mediterranean style features bold, vibrant tones emphasising the colours and textures of the surrounding landscape. In particular, Italian Mediterranean style stands out for its earthy tones (like terracotta, turquoise and yellow) contrasted by bright whites.
We should be aware that it’s not a modern style. Therefore if you don’t know it well, it may result in either an old-fashioned or tacky look. That’s why I’m going to tell you how to get it right in 5 easy steps.
Things you should focus on to make the perfect Italian Mediterranean interior style
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Overhead beams
Appartamento, Venezia © Ugo Carmeni
Nothing screams “Tuscan style” more than dark wooden beams on the ceiling. Italian Mediterranean interior style has got many elements from Tuscany region, beams are one of them.
If you want to get balance between old and new that’s the way to go: weathered beams give the space the authentic feeling you are looking for. And then you can go a bit more modern in the accessories.
Appartamento DL, Venezia © Ugo Carmeni
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Rustic stone floors like terracotta tiles or hardwood
Appartamento, Siena © Only Home Staging
Another important feature is the floor. Going for local materials is obviously the right choice, as long as they are very textured and warm. Therefore Italian terracotta tiles are the first choice in this type of interior design.
Not a fan of tiled floors? You can get the same feeling with a rustic solid timber floor. Just make sure to choose one that’s aged and very textured, in a dark colour.
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Textures and weathered stucco walls
The last surfaces to consider are the walls. As you may have guessed, here the keyword is textures. Typical Italian textured walls are the ones in weathered stucco, which is a special plaster finish suitable for both indoor and outdoor spaces. Ideally you would keep the walls in a neutral or white colour.
Some local clay tiles can do the trick as well.
B&B Setteangeli Rooms © Only Home Staging
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Regional style furniture and patterns
Agriturismo Pianconvento, Forlì © Only Home Staging
Ornate timber or wrought-iron pieces with curve shapes are a must of this interior style. Remember, Mediterranean style is all about the soft edges so if you don’t have any curve architectural feature (like doorways or staircases) make sure your furniture is not entirely made of straight lines.
Also, local patterns and bright colours can be incorporated in the accessories and built-in pieces of furniture.
Appartamento Giudecca, Venezia © Ugo Carmeni
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Indoor/Outdoor continuity
This is actually the most important feature: terraces, patios and courtyards are a continuation of the interior. Mediterranean style is typical of South Countries with warm weather where obviously a big part of the day is spent outside.
Have fun with plants, rattan/wicker furniture and again wrought-iron pieces (like tables) to give indoor/outdoor continuity.
Would you like to know more about Italian style? You’re in the right place. Have a look at our article How To Create The Perfect Italian Style Interior In 6 Steps.
