6 New Transitional Interior Design Tips for 2020

interior by stephanie coutas - transitional interior design - mixing traditional and modern decor

The transitional design style is on-trend! Composed of a mixture of modern and traditional styles of interior design, transitional design mixes up elements of the two styles resulting in a cohesive design. If you can’t decide if you prefer modern or traditional better than transitional design is the style for you. Read on for tips on how to incorporate the look in your home.

But first, what is transitional design?

Transitional design is a mixture of past and present design styles. It is the beautiful blending of modern and classic elements into one room. And it is a hot trend right now, especially among Millennials.

A well-executed transitional design is not an eclectic mess. But rather, a space lightly decorated with accessories, a clean room with an added touch of traditionally inspired detailing, and generally a neutral color palette. You might feel this look is difficult to achieve. However, with the help of these tips, you can perfectly pull off the transitional interior design look in your home.

Interior design by Stephanie Coutas
Interior design by Stephanie Coutas

Transitional design is the art of mixing

A perfect transitional interior design look can only be achieved by carefully combining modern and traditional features. For a well-combined look, be sure to pay attention to the following things:

  • Include a mixture of textures: Think wood, glass, lacquer, rattan, fabric, steel, and metal. Glass material will easily add a modern flair, and metal and wood will do the job of bringing in more classic vibes.
  • Don’t over-accessorize: When blending past and present styles, take care that you do not add too many accessories. It will make the space look congested and feel heavy.

6 Tips to Create the Perfect Transitional Interior Design


1) Install Art

Lisbon Interior Design Showroom of Casa do Passadiço in transitional design style
Lisbon Interior Design Showroom of Casa do Passadiço

Art is a great place to start when designing a transitional room. Hang a beautiful contemporary canvas for a bold statement. Another idea is to create a collage of pictures of your family and loved ones.

canvaspop collage maker family collage

The collage maker by CanvasPop is a great tool for turning your favorite pictures, photos, or designs onto canvases. Mix the more contemporary feel of an unframed canvas with framed pieces and you will be well on your way to creating a beautiful transitional design.


Tips for Displaying Your Artwork


2. Go for a Neutral Color Scheme

When it comes to color schemes in transitional interior design the best choice is to follow the color scheme of traditional homes – neutral. Look for grey, sand, and white. A neutral color scheme can go both classic or modern thus setting the perfect backdrop for a transitional space.

Interior design by Stephanie Coutas
Interior design by Stephanie Coutas

Although in more masculine transitional styles, dark colors like midnight blue, charcoal, and black are often used, we suggest opting for lighter neutrals to give an overall simple and elegant look to your space. Light colors also make the home feel more spacious and airy. So go for a neutral color scheme for a perfect transitional style interior design.


5 Striking Neutral Room Ideas


3. Add Colorful Accessories

While neutral colors are great for creating a transitional design, you are mixing two styles, so you can definitely have fun by adding other colors and textures to your interiors.

West Village Townhouse Renovation by Shawn Henderson - Photo by Steve Freihon
West Village Townhouse Renovation by Shawn Henderson
(Photo by Steve Freihon)

With neutral color paints, add bright full curtains, colorful accent pillows, and décor items. You can also add a piece or two of bright colored furniture. The addition of color will give a warm and welcoming feel to your place.

4. Select Transitional Style Furniture

In order to create a truly transitional design, in addition to mixing traditional and modern style furniture pieces, it is also great to have some of your furniture be in the transitional style as well. Transitional style furniture consists of a mixture of both new and old styles and techniques.

Interior design by London Projects - transitional design dining room
Interior design by London Projects

Take a traditional style piece of furniture and give it a modern flair by painting or upholstering it in a bright color or modern pattern. Or switch out classic hardware for a more contemporary look. Alternatively, take a more modern piece of furniture and add a traditional patterned fabric or hardware. The main difference between transitional and traditional styles is that transitional furniture also has a modern and fresh look.



5. Pay Attention to Your Lighting

If your goal is a full-on transitional style space your lighting must also fit the look. You can light your rooms using both classic and modern styles at the same time or find pieces that are in the transitional style. Lighting has a great impact on the overall feel of a room so be sure to choose carefully.

Interior design by Stephanie Coutas
Interior design by Stephanie Coutas

For an excellent transitional look add an inspirational contemporary chandelier or molecular light. It will make your space shine with class and elegance. Nowadays, there are endless lighting styles to choose from and they offer a wonderful atmosphere and layer of decor to a space.

6. Add Carpets and Rugs for Texture

Rugs and carpets are a crucial part of transitional interior design. They not only offer luxury underfoot but also add an overall feel of luxury to your space. Rugs also add texture and color and serve as an anchor for your furniture.

Interior design by KOKET - paris dining table and nymph chandelier - transitional design
Interior design by KOKET

While some prefer to choose mainly neutral-colored rugs so they blend with the furniture and walls of the room. You can also opt for colorful ones if you are more of a color-loving person. For carpets, try traditional woven or knotted carpets to give a classic appearance.

To Wrap It Up

Hopefully, these tips will help you design your dream transitional space! And remember decorating is not a science, you are, of course, always free to add other features of your choice to create your own personalized style.