Mediterranean style in interior design (85 photos)

Contents

1. Characteristics of the Mediterranean Style
2. Finishes and Materials
3. Mediterranean Style Furniture
4. Decor and Lighting
5. Mediterranean Interior Styles – Photos

A living room with a fireplace and large windows.

The name of this style largely speaks for itself, but few know that the Mediterranean style in interior design encompasses not just summer-sea design motifs, but also the rich colors of a group of warm countries with interesting traditions: Spain, Italy, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, France. Such a contrasting and simultaneously cozy interior can delight you and visually compensate for the lack of sunshine during the colder months.

Characteristics of the Mediterranean Style

Every interior design has its unique characteristics. The Mediterranean style combines romantic aesthetics, succinct functionality, and utmost comfort. The main features of this style include:

1. Sunlit color palette. The right choice of light shades for finishes, textiles, and furniture can fill a room with light. Such colors as turquoise, lavender, light blue, lime green, olive, peach, beige, white, gold, and red will look harmonious.

2. Natural materials. Ideally, furniture, finishes, and decor (at least 50%) should consist of components like wood, glass, stone, iron, and silver.

3. Light curtains. The fabric shouldn’t be dense or dark. It’s best to choose airy materials in natural shades. Small patterns also look good. Using draped curtains is not recommended.

4. High ceilings. This is also a requirement for a successfully designed Mediterranean interior. The ceiling color can range from milky to beige.

5. Minimal accessories. No decor detail should weigh down the overall light atmosphere. Simple and functional items (clocks, candles, paintings) that harmoniously complement the overall picture are a good choice.

6. Presence of mosaic elements. This creative option is also considered optimal for Mediterranean motifs. Small ceramic tiles can be used to achieve this. Such unique decor is most often embedded in kitchens and hallways.

7. Unique furniture upholstery. Here, you can unleash your creativity using the right set of appliques and paints.

8. Two-color combination. Following this simple rule turns any room into a designer masterpiece. Successful shade combinations include white and blue, peach and turquoise, beige and green.

A dining room with blue chairs and a piano.

A dining room with orange walls and a white table and chairs.

A living room with wooden beams and a fireplace.

A living room with ornate furniture and a large mirror.

Finishes and Materials

Successfully achieving a thematic design direction is not just about the right choice of color palette, textiles, and furniture, but also about creating the right finishes.

Ceiling

Light, sunlit tones should dominate. This is the foundation of everything, so a high-quality whitewash would be a simple and aesthetic solution. A more original approach would be decorating with wooden beams (or their imitation).

A kitchen with a tiled floor and wooden cabinets.

A kitchen with wooden beams and wood floors.

A dining room with a glass table and chairs.

Walls

For wall coverings, unleash your imagination. Appropriate elements include decorative plaster and colored small mosaics. Each of these options can skillfully emphasize the beauty of the dwelling.

A bedroom with blue walls and a white bed.

A room with a blue and white tiled wall.

A blue kitchen with tiled walls and a sink.

Floor

One of the most popular options is wood. Following this are tiles and laminate. It’s best to choose shades that are one or two levels different from the walls. Such a harmonious combination will create a sublime yet slightly noticeable contrast.

A room with a white table and chairs and a brown tile floor.

A kitchen with white cabinets and black counter tops.

Mediterranean Style Furniture

It’s worth noting first that furnishing rooms in Mediterranean design shouldn’t be too conservative or strict. The color palette, shapes, and composition of the furniture can vary widely. Large wooden trunks for clothes, simply designed dressers, metal stands, glass cabinets, and furniture made of untreated wood are popular aesthetic choices. Such selections help create comfortable, stylish, and practical rooms.

Two pictures of a living room with blue and white furniture.

A white kitchen and living room with yellow accents.

A dining room with blue walls and a wooden table.

Decor and Lighting

For unique thematic room styling, you always need to use the appropriate decor and lighting. The main things are imagination and an individual approach, which will help embody the Mediterranean mood. Decor could include uniquely shaped sea stones, seashell panels, live flowers, vibrant blue-shaded photo frames, glass vases, handmade accessories, and landscape paintings depicting the sea, ocean, or coastline. The light should be bright: neat chandeliers, wall lamps, pinpoint lanterns, floor lamps, and bulbs.

Two pictures of a kitchen with blue shutters and wicker chairs.

A living room with blue walls and white furniture.

Two pictures of a living room with a stone fireplace.

Mediterranean Interior Styles – Photos

When designing a home, you don’t need to stick to the motifs of a single colorful country. Each room can reflect a variety of different traditions.

Mediterranean Bedroom Design

Simplicity defines this style. For instance, a Greek bedroom should have functional furniture (bed, bedside tables, cabinets) and decorated dressers, chairs, and tables. You can break the monotony with unique decor, unusual colors, and vibrant rugs and throws, which will undoubtedly become the room’s highlight. Italian touches include beautiful metal furniture, handcrafted carvings, and symmetrical patterns. In all other respects, it’s essential to consider the harmonious combination of light shades and unique elements of the chosen country. Such a cozy bedroom offers its owners a comfortable rest and a positive mood.

A bedroom with a four poster bed and a chandelier.

A bedroom with wooden beams and a white bed.

A bedroom with blue walls and a canopy bed.

A bedroom with a large window overlooking the ocean.

A bedroom with a bed, dresser, and a painting.

Two pictures of a bedroom with blue and white furniture.

Two pictures of a bedroom with blue and white striped furniture.

Mediterranean Kids’ Room Design

There are two main approaches to designing a kids’ room with southern touches. The first is the Greek motif, which involves contrasts of white with other colors. The second option is Italian design, characterized by warm transitions, delicate shades, and a lack of contrast. Also, don’t forget about decorative frescoes, bright mosaics, and seashell paintings that all kids will love.

A brightly colored bedroom with blue and green accents.

A children's room with colorful walls and a colorful rug.

A child's room with a swing and bookshelf.

A children's room with a canopy bed and colorful furniture.

A child's room with blue walls and white furniture.

Two pictures of a girl's bedroom with a bed and a window.

Mediterranean Living Room Design

A primary feature of Mediterranean countries is that their inhabitants greatly value family and friend gatherings around a meal, turning it into a whole ritual. Hence, a living room should definitely have a table (preferably made of wood, woven, or metal). Decorative elements can include ceramic pots, amphoras, wrought iron lamps, and wooden accessories. You can easily spice up the light shades of the decor with vibrant sofa cushions or colorful rugs.

A living room with blue and white striped curtains.

A living room with couches and a fireplace.

A living room with blue shutters and a fireplace.

A living room with white furniture and a chandelier.

A white living room with wooden beams and a view of the ocean.

A living room with a fireplace and white walls.

A living room with white furniture and a fireplace.

A living room with arched ceilings and white furniture.

A living room with a blue and white striped rug.

Mediterranean Kitchen Design

Someone who wishes to design their kitchen in this extravagant style should opt for kitchen sets with inserts of natural materials (glass, stone, metal), small cabinets with open shelves, chairs with wide or slightly curved backs, and sinks in bronze shades. Otherwise, the kitchen nook can combine muted colors with bright shades and a plethora of small practical accessories that delight the eye without overshadowing the overall theme.

A kitchen with blue cabinets and a wooden table.

A kitchen with blue cabinets and a wooden ceiling.

A kitchen with blue tile and wood floors.

A kitchen with blue shutters and white cabinets.

A kitchen with wooden cabinets and wooden counter tops.

A large kitchen with wood beams and granite counter tops.

A kitchen with a center island and chandeliers.

A blue and white dining room with a chandelier.

Mediterranean Bathroom Design

This corner of the home serves the special purpose of relaxation both before starting the workday and after it. Southern motifs excel at achieving this purpose. The main rule for decorating a bathroom in a Mediterranean style is to have a compact round bathtub (or shower cabin) and to maximize the use of natural materials, ranging from finishings to bathroom accessories. The most common choice for enthusiasts of this style is decorating in Roman or Egyptian themes.

A bathroom with a wooden wall and a toilet.

A bathroom with blue and white tiled walls.

A bathroom with a blue ceiling and a bathtub.

A bathroom with yellow and white tile and a sink.

A bathroom with a blue tiled floor and a window.

A bathroom with colorful tiled walls and a tub.

Mediterranean Style Entryway Design

For this small space, a handmade cabinet (filled with sea souvenirs) is a great fit, along with distressed mirrors and a floor setup reminiscent of natural elements. Colors like emerald, pistachio, sand, and coffee will especially enhance the entryway’s charm.