Transitional design strikes a balance between traditional and modern styles, blending the best of both worlds. This approach often combines elements from various aesthetic movements, creating a timeless look that emphasizes comfort and personal touches. It’s a popular choice among designers and homeowners alike.
“We love to work with a transitional lens because it’s the most welcoming and friendly of all design styles,” says Meredith Heron, TV personality and principal of Meredith Heron Design. “The style is more harmonious because it mixes periods and finishes and works with things you love or have a sentimental attachment to, such as a family heirloom.”
Read on to learn everything you need to know about transitional style and how to incorporate this versatile design into your home.
What Is Transitional Style?
Transitional style blends traditional and modern design elements across various periods, incorporating them through furniture, architectural elements, fixtures, palettes, and materials. The goal is to create a timeless interior that defies easy categorization. Key aspects of transitional style include:
A Combination of Period Styles
Furnishings, fixtures, decorative objects, and finishes can draw from a range of periods and design movements, such as art deco, midcentury modern, minimalism, and Victorian. The key is to ensure they complement each other.
“The key to mixing period pieces is to always remember to work with scale and proportion, and deliberately not matching colors to be exact,” says Meredith Heron.
Neutral Palettes
When combining various styles, a neutral color palette provides a versatile background. These colors typically include taupe, ivory, some grays, and tan, along with darker earthy tones like brown and certain shades of green and blue.
Mimi Meacham, founder and principal designer of Marian Louise Design, notes that whites, blues, greens, and greige are ideal for transitional style. While neutral tones are foundational, bolder colors can be used as accents to add interest without overwhelming the space.
“Styling your shelves with pops of color and whimsical accessories will draw the eye and freshen up your home,” says Meacham.
Hospitality Design Influence
Transitional style often incorporates the comfortable and luxurious touches you’d find in a hotel guestroom or lounge. This can include anything from a plush club chair and layered textiles to ornate millwork and striking wallpaper.
Colleen Bute Bennett, founder of CBB Design Firm, recalls designing a formal living room with neoclassical wainscoting and molding paired with a 70s-inspired cocktail table.
“It shows you can mix all the different eras and textures effortlessly in a single room,” says Bennett.
Minimal Accessories
Some designers suggest keeping accessories minimal in style, while others recommend limiting their number. Another approach is to strategically incorporate unique items like keepsakes, collectible art, and quirky flea-market finds. Bennett believes that transitional style often benefits from antiques and one-of-a-kind pieces, which help blend different period designs.
“We always talk about adding something ‘ugly’ to a room, often a mismatched pillow or antique piece that brings its own baggage,” Heron says. “The goal is to give the feel that it just landed here and maybe wasn’t intended to be in this room. This makes for a much more fun space.”
Statement Lighting
In transitional style, statement lighting is key. Whether it’s a chandelier, pendant, or floor lamp, a bold lighting fixture serves as a focal point. These pieces often have a modern or contemporary look.
Tips for Bringing Transitional Style into Your Home
Try Fun Wallpaper
Enhance a space with playful or stylish wallpaper. Nowadays, peel-and-stick options come in various patterns, graphics, and textures, making it easy to experiment.
Mix and Match Colors
Slightly mismatching colors or finishes can add interest.
“Instead of going up and down a paint chip, I may go one or two chips over in the deck so they aren’t the exact same hue. Your eye will appreciate this break and see how they work together but aren’t a matched set,” says Meredith Heron.
Install Pendant Lighting
Add modern pendant lighting over a dining table, breakfast bar, or other suitable spots. If you’re on a budget or short on time, consider a plug-in lamp and hide the cord along the ceiling or wall with a paintable, adhesive cord cover.
Don’t Forget Window Treatments
Invest in chic window treatments.
“Whether it be a light sheer, luxe velvet, or simple linen, a new fresh window shade or drape will complement the transitional design aesthetic and help finish your space,” says Mimi Meacham.
Create Comfort
Ensure that you include comfortable seating in any furniture arrangement, as comfort is crucial in transitional style.
Combine Styles
Blend contrasting features to balance period styles: curves with clean lines, animal prints with geometric motifs, and industrial finishes with traditional warm woods.
Get Personal
Add personal touches, such as heirlooms, antiques, or artwork, as you see fit.
“Play with your space,” Heron says. “If you get the sense that something really works but seems out of your wheelhouse, you’re almost certainly on the right track!”
Key Takeaways
Transitional style merges traditional and modern design, creating a timeless, harmonious look. Key elements include mixing period styles, using neutral palettes with occasional bold accents, and incorporating statement lighting. To achieve this style, try playful wallpaper, mix and match colors slightly, add pendant lighting, and invest in chic window treatments.
Prioritize comfort with cozy seating and blend contrasting features like curves with clean lines. Personal touches, such as heirlooms or unique artwork, add character. By following these tips, you can create a welcoming and stylish transitional space in your home.