
Behind the Collection
A Guide to Transitional Decor
Meredith Cantwell - 2023-01-09
Youβve seen the relaxed yet refined, timeless and tailored style of transitional design fill your Instagram and Pinterest feeds. Its elevated, approachable feel has taken over homes across the globe. So why is this blend of traditional and modern sensibilities so popular? And how can you incorporate this trend-busting design in your own home decor? Youβve come to the right place to find out.
Keep It Clean
Transitional design relies on a simple, clean, and high-contrast palette to provide a sense of balance. Most transitional spaces feature welcoming textures like boucle, linen, natural wood, and velvet in varying neutral tones, with accents of brass, iron, and dark metals for visual depth. This variety of tones ensures a space feels serene, polished, and comforting all year long. A more neutral palette serves as a versatile base for personalized decor, pairing equally well with pops of bold color or softer washes of muted pastels. Whether you push your transitional space out of the box with bold wall art or prefer more subtle accents like a rattan accent table, a sense of βcleanβ is always the priority. Pair our Rowan Stone & Soft Clay Rug with ceramic vessels and natural branches for a transitional balance of organic textures and modern lines. Keep large surfaces like counters and tables clear with the common transitional use of storage baskets, trunks, and cabinetry. Not only do they help disguise clutter, but they allow breathing room in the space for a sense of calm.

Natural Beauty
One of the most common design elements youβll find in transitional spaces is the use of natural textures and materials. Exposed wood, hand thrown pottery, live plants, and landscape artwork all provide a sense of the organic. These imperfect textures, with natural variations, ensure that transitional spaces feel welcoming, not overly precious, mature, or stuffy. Pairing these rustic design elements with modern finishes and clean lines balances a space, providing peace and reassurance. Transitional rugs that feature color palettes and motifs inspired by nature, like our Zahra Ink & Vintage Citron Rug, tie the room together.
Heritage, Made for Today
Transitional design didnβt originate from differentiation, but instead emerged through the marriage of traditional and contemporary styling. For centuries, ornate embellishment, detailed decoration, and intricate motifs infused heritage designs with character and style. In sharp contrast, contemporary design blended the simple, minimalist sensibilities from modernism and postmodernism design for pared back practicality. Transitional design bridges the gap, re-imagining the delicate details of traditional style with the utilitarian minimalism of modern design, for a goldilocks mix of form and function. This balancing act can be styled in every room of the home, bringing personality to high-traffic mudrooms and entryways, simplicity to cozy bedrooms and living rooms, or warmth to stark kitchens. Adding a vintage-style rug like our Vesper Golden Sapphire Runner, can even add transitional tranquility to a bathroom.

Comfort and Connection
The ultimate goal of transitional design is to foster genuine connections and relationships through encouraged gathering and atmospheric balance. Transitional architecture features inviting doorways, open windows, flowing floor plans, and high ceilings, accented with heavy metal finishes, natural hardwood floors, and stone mantles for a touch of cozy. Such spaces aid guests in replacing hurry with conversation, stress with support, and anxiety with comfort. Transitional design seeks to make everyone feel at home. To boost this sense of belonging in your own home, prioritize wooden furniture, neutral textiles like curtains and pillows, ample cozy throw blankets, and modern light fixtures. For maximum comfort, opt for a soft area rug, like our Tufted Frances Golden Red Rug.
The beauty of transitional design lies in its lack of rigidity. There is no visual equation to use when designing a room in transitional style. The mix of traditional and contemporary elements is up to you! Curate a space that feels balanced to you and those you gather with. This timeless trend is bound to grow and evolve with you and your taste, so enjoy the journey. And if you need a place to begin, look no further than our Founderβs Collection. These transitional rugs add character and comfort to any space.