This Fresh Take on Florida Decor Blends Old and New Styles

Can you imbue a new home with an old soul? That is an issue confronting many Florida homeowners who want a casual, more laid-back style without losing some of their favorite design elements. An important thing to remember when combining old and new styles in Florida decor is that you want the look to be fresh and comfortable, not outdated, or worse, awkward and tortured.

Tropical Florida style is the epitome of bright and breezy, with light colors and pretty patterns. It’s okay to stray from a palette that is too neutral or patterns that are too bright. Unless that’s what you want. Whichever way you decide to go, these tips can help you get the look you want.

Light and Breezy Palette

If you want to take your family room from white to wow, you can do it without going color crazy. Using the right amount of color the right way will give you the best results. Not only will you enjoy your home more, but your friends will wonder how you did it.

This living room’s inspiration is a next-gen take on a tropical print. The pillows on the three-seat sofa from Huntington House inspire the color palette; their water-color hues and geometric print is an update on the familiar yet still looks fresh. The muted blues, greens, and beiges – traditional tropical decor colors – are used on the upholstered chair, the geometric print rug, and the window treatments.

With a myriad of upholstery options, you can choose whatever pattern or color you like. Go bolder with a big, bright pattern if you prefer. Use the colors in your pattern to coordinate the palette in your room. Just keep in mind that light is an important element in Florida decor so make sure your windows are a part of your decor if at all possible. Even better, coordinate the outdoor view with your interior palette if you can. The color art on the wall ties in with the blue skies visible through the living room’s windows.

Dining Room to Living Room Flow

It’s not unusual in Florida homes to follow the open concept trend. This means that your living room and dining room will be one big space. The challenges are to keep the open feel while making the purpose of each space evident. When you walk into a home and can see from the kitchen to the living room to the outdoor space, there needs to be both cohesion and definition in the space.

In this space, the best place for the dining room was slightly off the living room. The rooms are open and connected, yet still defined as individual spaces. The Seabrooke Dining Table and Chair Set from Broyhill Furniture offer classic charm, just what you would expect in an old Florida home. The coastal color palette enhances the breezy Florida feel.

In the room beyond you can see that the light palette continues and the blues from the print brought in with accessories. Overall the mood is light, bright, and casual. This vintage look mixes well with subtle modern touches.

The Bedroom as a Sanctuary

Keep the bright and breezy vibe going in the bedroom with the Los Altos Bedroom Group by Tommy Bahama Home from Lexington Furniture. A warm palette of creams and beiges spiked with blues and grays in this instance. You can use greens, pinks, browns – basically whatever ties your rooms together. The nature-inspired, richly textured look comes from braided and woven banana leaf, a traditional technique indigenous to the Ivory Coast and often found in old Florida furniture.

The decor is simple with no heavy adornments. The colors are calming, as you would expect in a bedroom, allowing you to relax the moment you enter the space. Natural beauty and sophisticated elegance translate into the perfect blend of old and new sensibilities. A structured, natural grace permeates the space.

Create an Outdoor Room on Your Porch

Outdoor living is a big part of Florida living, so you want your outdoor space to complement your indoor ones. Rattan is furniture is old-school Florida style, but reimagined in modern shapes in the Island Estate Lanai collection from Tommy Bahama Outdoor Living. Throughout your home the look and feel is bright and breezy, and that should extend onto the porch as well. Mainly if you use it as a space for entertaining.

This color palette uses browns, creams, and tans from the interior color palette. The couch, chairs and oversized ottoman create a casual space to sit and relax. These pieces keep the area from feeling overly formal and create intimacy.

Tropical Florida design can be traditional, modern, and a little eclectic, or even all of these blended together. To keep it cohesive, create a color story with your upholstered pieces and don’t be afraid to mix some modern pieces with vintage for a comfortable, curated look.

If you are designing your Florida home, stop in at Baer’s Furniture and speak with one of our in-house design professionals.