Take decorating style cues from your holiday abroad

From warm Mediterranean influences to cool Scandi style, take inspiration from some of our favourite summer destinations when decorating your own space

Whether you’re a global traveller or an armchair tourist, taking inspiration from international design styles can help you add oomph when renovating your interiors. From Scandinavia and northern Europe down to the Mediterranean and north Africa, you’ll find exciting colour combinations, traditional prints and signature textiles, art and furniture that have an interesting story to tell. Be inspired by cultures that value pieces with history and artisan craftsmanship, and find your own way to combine antique, vintage and new fittings and materials to create a beautiful and functional space, which has the bonus of bringing that holiday feeling into your home.

Italy

From the mountain villages of the sparkling Amalfi coast to the olive groves of Tuscany, the relaxed, sunny Mediterranean lifestyle is integral to Italian design. The Italians have the same attitude to their home decor as they do their cuisine, with an emphasis on quality, simplicity and organic ingredients – but with a trademark touch of glamour. Italy is renowned for high-end design and has produced some of the finest 20th-century furniture designers, with names such as Gio Ponti leading the pack in mid-century design, while Castiglioni and Giacomo’s 1960s Arco lamp is an icon.

You’ll find lavish features such as cool marble floors, vintage Murano glass chandeliers and glamorous gold accents paired with elegant contemporary furniture and extravagantly sized artwork in a Milanese townhouse, for example, while the traditional country farmhouse with its mix of well-used antiques has a timeless, homely look. Sleek mid-century designs work for a contemporary style  – browse the restored mid-century pieces from @italianvintagesofa and find quirky, stylish accessories @arredovintagemilano and @theitaliancollector_official. Or for the Tuscan farmhouse look incorporate substantial antique pieces such as a large rustic table and dresser in walnut, olive or pine, opt for a colour scheme grounded in earthy, neutral and organic shades, accessorised with pieces in rattan, marble or terracotta, and add simple accessories such as natural linens and hand-painted tableware.

Perhaps the simplest way to evoke the Italian style is in your garden or a sunny courtyard. Mediterranean planting – such as cypress, bay and olive trees, and an abundance of herbs such as rosemary and lavender – alongside antique statuary, water features, terracotta planters, natural stone and rattan furniture will recreate that villa feeling every time you step outside.

France

The key to achieving timeless Gallic elegance is to not try too hard. The style may be ornate, but never gaudy; simple, but still luxurious; elegant, but a little worn around the edges. In the quintessential French style, imperfections of age are celebrated (they invented shabby chic), organic shades and natural materials are favoured, and nothing should look too curated. You’re aiming for the interior equivalent of a classic white shirt paired with a vintage Chanel bag and Veja trainers (yes, they’re French).

Mix and match classic furniture and textiles with vintage finds but add something fun and contemporary to keep it fresh. French antique furniture can be sturdy and rustic or more refined, but often has a touch of flamboyance in the design – perhaps an elaborate cornice or intricate detailing. A statement antique piece such as an ornate bed frame or armoire can be toned down with neutrals for a French country look, or go full-on Parisian with luxe velvets and silks. French Lifestyle Antiques has a large collection of interesting furniture and accessories at their Dorset barn, or try The French House for decorative brocante.

Look for classic French textiles, from toile de Jouy to chintz florals and ticking stripes, and consider mixing them up; these patterns work equally well as bed linen, upholstery or wallpaper. Go for a touch of glamour with finishing flourishes: an ornate gilt mirror, a sparkling brass and glass chandelier, and a sinuous rococo-style side table or occasional chair.

Spain

From stucco walls to terracotta tiles and wrought-ironwork features, traditional interior design in Spain is as vibrant and decorative as Spanish culture itself. Colours and patterns are beautifully layered like the flavours of a tapas spread, from the geometrics of chequerboard floor tiles to the curves of ornate rattan furniture and the artistry of hand-painted fruit and florals on ceramics or fabrics. Traversing through mountains to coast, from buzzing cities to rural countryside, Spanish style is hugely diverse – from the Moorish architecture and decoration of the Alhambra palace of Granada to the simple, rustic-style finca of rural Spain. But it’s simple to evoke a Spanish look with a few key focal points.

A colour-blocked background using desert or ocean shades of blue, paprika, terracotta or plaster pink on walls with terracotta tile or flagstone flooring provides the backdrop for rustic wood furniture and Mediterranean-inspired accessories (Late Afternoon stocks lovely artisan Spanish tableware and decorative pieces). Or add the wow factor to an otherwise neutral colour scheme with statement prints, such as an Arabic-influenced geometric-print tile in a bathroom, or an Andalusian-style woven rug (Weaver Green makes a range of practical indoor and outdoor Andalusian-style rugs from recycled plastic bottles).

For bedrooms, look for wallpaper or fabrics with a Spanish folk-style print and focus on natural materials such as wood, earthenware, linen and woven baskets.

Traditional Spanish furniture tends to be on the dark and heavy side, with tables and chests of drawers often made in wood such as walnut. So if you don’t live in a rambling Catalonian farmhouse it may be best to pick just one focal piece, such as a large refectory table for your kitchen-diner or an elegant bedroom chair.

Scandinavia

Practical, unfussy, muted, organic. These are just some of the words you could use to describe the Scandi style, which has become a codeword for describing a look that is all those things and more. Scandi style could be interpreted as a mid-century scheme, with the airy curves of Danish teak furniture, pops of vibrant colour and sculptural or space-age lighting; or it could be a cool neutral cabin-influenced space with chalk-white walls offsetting rustic reclaimed wood, oversized monstera and cosy hygge touches such as faux-fur throws or deep-pile rugs.

Perhaps rather than describing one specific look, we should embrace Scandi style as a philosophy inspired by the Nordic way of life, which prioritises beautiful functionality, natural light, streamlined simplicity and tactile texture over garish colour and chaotic clutter. Whether you’re aiming for modern mid-century or traditional cabin style, soft minimalism is key to this look – each piece should be carefully considered and chosen with beauty, comfort and purpose in mind.

For elegant modern Scandi furniture and accessories, try Danish brand Bolia and Ferm Living. Follow @MeliMeli and @annacate for Scandi-style ideas.

Morocco

A confluence of Mediterranean, African, Berber, Persian and Jewish ethnic influences and traditions, the eclectic elegance of the Moroccan look continues to inspire interior design trends. Traditionally focused on bolder elements – including rich jewel and earth tones, decorative fretwork and carved pieces, patterned textiles and zellij mosaic tiles – a new contemporary take on the look has emerged, giving it a fresher simplicity, paring the elements back to evoke a memory of Marrakesh rather than full souk-style.

Tiles and textiles with typically Arabic prints and patterns in muted or monochrome colourways will pair beautifully with simple white walls for a contemporary feel (check out The Moroccan Encaustic Company for tiles handmade in Morocco to traditional and contemporary designs). For a splash of North African vibrancy, orange has been a big colour trend recently and the warmth of terracotta is a lovely way to bring a touch of ‘Riad-core’ into your home, together with rich blues and neutral sand and stone shades for balance.

Simple storage or decorative baskets and macramé wall hangings bring a touch of organic, boho style, while plain jute mats or Berber- or Ben Ourain-style rugs create a simpler aesthetic than richly patterned fabrics. Finish the look with a couple of focal pieces, such as handcrafted or antique hardwood furniture, rattan, decorative floor cushions or pouffes (Boho Sahara has a lovely selection), an ornate arched mirror, or hanging stained-glass and brass lanterns for an exotic touch.

WORDS: LINDSEY HARRAD