So Your Style Is: Transitional

What it is: If Goldilocks were decorating a home, transitional design would check all of her”only right” boxes: not too cold, not too formal, not too fussy. It blends the comfort and warmth of conventional design with all the clean profiles and understated colours of the contemporary look. The outcome? Gracious, compact spaces that exude harmony. It is all about meeting in the middle, but it is not at all middle of the street.

Why it works: Browse house design photographs, and we would bet that at least half of the rooms that you see fall into the transitional camp. Its appeal lies in having the best of both worlds: You aren’t straying too far from the comfortable, but you have the liberty to freshen it as you see fit. And as you can update it indefinitely to reflect current trends, it ages well.

Although transitional usually refers to a balance between contemporary and traditional, that’s not always the situation. You can combine in some (we replicate, a few) bits from other styles so long as they do not detract from the casual, tailored setting.

You’ll enjoy it if… You’re a natural diplomat. You would rather have a few statement accessories to layers of necklaces and wristfuls of bracelets. You serve mac and cheese onto your own wedding china. Your dream vacation involves chilling out in an elegant spa. You can’t understand why folks think beige is dull.

Valerie DeRoy Interiors, LLC

Style Secret: Tone-on-Tone Palettes

The transitional look will not necessarily suit color junkies. Warm neutrals principle: cream, taupe, tan, khaki, grey, with the occasional hint of espresso or chocolate brown thrown in to ground the palette. Patterns, if employed in any way, should be understated; skip the punchy florals and Pucci-esque prints.

In the event that you just can’t live without a jolt of color, keep it to some strategic accents — for example, you may repeat bright turquoise or saturated coral at a piece of artwork, a pair of lamps and a throw pillow or 2.

Look closer: This living area reads as monochromatic, yet it is anything but dull. The motive: Strong furniture includes the room, and there is only enough pattern from the drapes and the grain of the wooden coffee table to split up the swath of neutrals. Plus, the spacious windows shed light on subtle shading versions in the walls, carpeting and upholstery.

Jace Interiors & CreateGirl Blog

Style Secret: Simple Silhouettes

Transitional furnishings have crisp profiles and straightforward style — not a baroque flourish in sight. Gentle curves and stiff lines off each other to make energy.

You do not have to leave older furniture fashions by the wayside, but use upgraded versions, like a modern wing seat or a pared-down bergère. Keep the scale large enough to feel comfortable and the chairs cushioned and comfy; you want guests to flop down and settle without a second thought.

Look closer: This living room is full of clean-lined bits that have a sculptural air — look how the shapely armchair accounts the nipped-and-tucked couch. The curved ottoman and demilune table replicate the circular motif of the folding screen.

Redbud Custom Homes

Design Secret: Neutral Flooring

Floors tends to be a background player in transitional rooms. It is less about the substance than about the color — you can go with natural woods, stone, tile, carpeting and more, as long as they are kept into a subtle, restrained colour. And this style also provides you a great deal of leeway to combine multiple floor surfaces throughout a house (although not, preferably, in precisely the same room).

Look closer: The muted stone tile inside this bathroom minds its manners, but its own variegated patterns include a little spice. Carrying it partway up the walls gives it more existence and prevents the white tones from feeling clinical.

Spinnaker Development

Style Secret: Textural Touches

You can’t rely on color to punch up a transitional space, but feel rises to the challenge admirably. Coarsely woven fabrics, natural fibers and a mix of matte and shiny finishes lend a feeling of layering and help the room pop.

Think leather, sisal, burlap, chenille, rattan and more — any substance with visual allure will fit right in. Don’t go overboard, though, or you’ll lose the sleek elegance that’s so vital to this style.

Look closer: The textures pile up subtly but steadily in this bedroom, from the matelassé coverlet into the wood-framed TV into the rattan desk seat and window blinds. Beaded board on the ceiling riffs on the honed floor planks under. The mélange adds only enough interest without overriding the restrained feel of the space.

Michael Abrams Limited

Style Secret: Minimal Accents

Cull your accessories wisely and you won’t require a ton of these to make an impact. That’s particularly important in a style that eschews frills and flotsam — like furnishings, transitional accents discuss a lack of ornamentation and have a certain purity of form. Art should be just framed; lighting should have powerful, clean lines.

Be prepared: The less-is-more approach requires company and judicious editing. If you just can’t keep to stow your prized majolica or dismantle your gallery wall, then request a style-savvy buddy to handle it while you hide in a different area.

Look closer: A couple of bits are all it takes to make this room . Understated frames and wide mats showcase the pair of black and white sketches, and the dramatic chandelier highlights the sculptural bowl. Don’t overlook the focus to scale — all of the accents are large enough not to have lost within this silent space.

Exquisite Kitchen Design

Design Secret: Clean-Lined Kitchens

Like most of such spaces, vertical kitchens have a foot in numerous decks. They may blend traditional surfaces like stone and wood with sleek stainless steel, or pair paneled cabinetry with minimalist hardware. They may even borrow the idea of open shelving or apron-front sinks out of cottage-style interiors. Everything you won’t notice: ornate millwork, fancifully painted tiles along with other elements that look jarring against contemporary touches.

Look closer: inside this kitchen, paneled white cabinetry, variegated hardwood floors and a stainless-steel hood keep a timeless look that falls just short of conventional. The mosaic cooktop backsplash sets a mod spin on the veining that looks in the stone cabinetry and island.

Talianko Design Group, LLC

Design Secret: Crisp Window Treatments

Bring in balloon valances, billowing draperies or elaborate finials, along with a smoky room instantly feels overdressed. However if you leave windows bare, then you risk casting a chill within the space. Treat windows but only: fundamental panels, bamboo blinds, neutral Roman colors.

Look closer: Layering understated curtain panels over conventional blinds or colors, as in this bedroom, is a nearly foolproof way to add texture and depth. The draperies add only enough visual weight without being obtrusive, and the colors keep them from feeling too airy.

Tim Barber Ltd Architecture

Design Secret: Serenity

Above all, a transitional space should feel helpless. You’re opting to get an air of calmness and simplicity — convinced of itself without being brash, serene without being overly silent. If you feel a discordant note, take a critical look to see what requires pruning or smoothing. Each piece should fit right into a unified whole.

Look closer: This darkened bathroom strikes all the right notes: crisp lines, nuanced textures, and only enough pattern on the ground and the light fixture to ignite the mix. The easy Roman shade allows natural light to flood in, but dim cabinetry and trim ground the space so it doesn’t feel like it may float away.

What’s your interpretation of transitional style? Share your ideas in the Comments!

More:
Transitional Design: A Bit of Modern and Traditional
Transitional Design: Light, Art and Accessories
Seven Tips for Creating Non-Boring Neutral Rooms
Taupe: A Sophisticated Backdrop for Today

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