What is the Colonial Style of Decorating?
The Colonial style of decorating dates back more than 300 years. The British Colonial Style is detailed and elegant. The American Colonial Style is inspired from the British look but is generally more casual in design. Duncan Phyfe is probably the most recognized name in early colonial decorating. His designs inspired many American furniture makers. Duncan Phyfe was a Scottish cabinetmaker that created furniture in the late 1700s and 1800s in New York. His American Colonial sofas featured straight-lined, compact shapes and scrolled ends. Wood often trimmed upholstered sofas in early colonial decorating. Phyfe-inspired tables often had thick tops and bases. Many Colonial homes had low ceilings. Early Colonial homes featured exposed beams and later, plaster covered ceilings were common. Whitewashed or plastered walls were popular and those in the wealthier classes had patterned wallpaper and/or stencils. Colonial decorating colors include yellows, greens, blues and earth tones such as re
