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Transitional Design

Transform Your Space With Transitional Interior Design

Transitional interiors blend traditional design and contemporary elements to create a harmonious and timeless look that’s representative of the past but speaks to the future, incorporating the warmth and classic detailing of the former with the clean lines and simplicity of the latter.

A home designed in a transitional style often incorporates a mix of traditional and contemporary styles that combine ornate pieces with more streamlined objects.

The ultimate goal of transitional design is simple: It aims to create a comfortable, welcoming space that feels both current and enduring, striking a balance between traditional elegance and modern simplicity.

Does that sound like just the look you’re going for?

FIND OUT EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THIS POPULAR DESIGN STYLE, INCLUDING ITS KEY DESIGN PRINCIPLES AND CHARACTERISTICS, WHICH TYPES OF FURNITURE WORK WELL IN TRANSITIONAL SPACES, APPROPRIATE COLOR PALETTES AND MORE.

Transitional Design Principles and Key Characteristics

Balance, comfort and subtlety are a few of transitional design’s core principles. Following these rules while curating and arranging transitional decor and furniture in your space ensures you can deliver on your vision, abiding by the tenets of what makes this mixed modern style so unique.

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Balance

Transitional design achieves balance by blending traditional style and contemporary elements in equal measure. To achieve balance, it’s important to:

  • Mix styles thoughtfully: Incorporate furniture, décor and architectural elements from both traditional and contemporary styles. For example, a transitional living room might include a classic-style sofa paired with modern accent chairs, or a dining room with traditional crown molding combined with sleek, minimalist light fixtures.
  • Maintain visual symmetry: Arrange furniture and accessories symmetrically to create a sense of balance.
  • Focus on scale and proportion: Furniture and décor items should be appropriately scaled for the size of the room.

LOTS OF NATURAL LIGHT

While transitional design tends to be understated, it also incorporates subtle accents to add personality and flair. Ornamentation is never excessive and always tasteful.

  • Purposeful selection: Choose accents and accessories with intention, focusing on a few key pieces that contribute to the overall harmony of the room.
  • Clean lines and simple forms: Decorative items typically feature streamlined shapes and minimal ornamentation, reflecting the balanced aesthetic of the overall design style.
  • Personal touches: While transitional design tends to favor simplicity and restraint, it also welcomes personal touches that reflect the homeowner’s personality and style. Thoughtfully curated accessories such as artwork, family photos or cherished mementos can add warmth and character to the space without overwhelming its overall aesthetic.

Mixture of Materials

The transitional interior design style embraces a variety of materials, including wood, metal, glass and stone, layering different textures to create dimension while still maintaining balance:

  • Consider contrast: Incorporate materials with contrasting textures or finishes to create depth and dimension in the space. For instance, juxtapose smooth surfaces with rough textures or matte finishes with glossy accents.
  • Layer different textures: Layering textures adds richness and complexity to transitional interiors. Mix soft fabrics like velvet or wool with harder materials like metal or glass to create a visually engaging experience.

Comfort

Comfort is key in transitional design. Furniture tends to be inviting and cozy, with plush upholstery and soft textures.

  • Choose comfortable furniture: Furniture should be stylish yet comfortable, with plush or even overstuffed cushions and feature rounded edges and soft curves for added comfort.
  • Create inviting seating areas: Arrange furniture in intimate groupings to create cozy seating areas that encourage conversation and relaxation. Position sofas and chairs around a central focal point such as a coffee table or fireplace to establish a sense of warmth and comfort.
  • Add soft lighting: Use layered lighting to create a warm and inviting atmosphere. Incorporate a mix of overhead lighting, task lighting and ambient lighting to provide ample illumination while minimizing harsh shadows.

NEUTRAL PALETTES

Shades of white, beige, gray and taupe serve as a backdrop for the mix of furniture and decor elements typical of transitional design, allowing them to stand out without being overwhelming. For a selection of common color palettes suitable for this design style, keep scrolling!

Transitional Furniture and Decor

When it comes to transitional decor and furniture items, maintaining balance is key.

Sofas, armchairs and ottomans upholstered in neutral fabrics like linen, cotton or leather are popular choices for this design style. Clean lines and simple silhouettes characterize transitional seating pieces, which are often made out of materials like wood, metal and glass.

While transitional design favors neutral colors, subtle patterns can add visual interest without overpowering the space — like geometric prints, stripes or tone-on-tone patterns on upholstery, rugs and throw pillows.

And, don’t forget to mix traditional furniture with more contemporary furniture for a true transitional look. For example, a transitional living room might feature a classic wingback chair paired with a sleek, modern side table with reflective legs.

As far as decor goes, always opt for simple, elegant objects that don’t compete for your attention, but rather blend seamlessly with the rest of the living space.

Transitional Design Color Palettes

Transitional colors favor neutrality, softness and freshness over bolder or darker palettes. Think of adjectives like:

  • Subtle.
  • Sophisticated.
  • Timeless.
  • Balanced.
  • Elegant.
  • Soft.
  • Gentle.

Here are a few color combinations to inspire your transitional interior transformation:

Color Palette Idea #1: Soft Neutrals With Warm Accents

Transitional spaces are meant to be warm and inviting. To create a space you and your guests feel welcome in, try:

  • Walls: Cream, beige or light gray.
  • Accents: Warm tones like caramel, taupe or soft brown.
  • Pops of color: Subtle touches of muted blues, greens or a nice dusty rose.
Color Palette Idea #2: Gray With Metallic Accents

Gray is a staple color in this design style, which pairs excellently with contemporary metallic accents. For a more modern-leaning approach to transitional design, try:

  • Walls: Light to medium gray.
  • Accents: Metallic finishes such as brushed nickel, polished chrome or brass.
  • Pops of color: Deep navy blue, emerald green or burgundy for contrast.
Color Palette Idea #3: Warm Earth Tones

Natural earth tones are right at home with a transitional style. For a warm, natural vibe, consider this color scheme:

  • Walls: Warm taupe, sandy beige or terracotta.
  • Accents: Rich wood tones like walnut or mahogany.
  • Pops of color: Burnt orange, mustard yellow or olive green for warmth.
Color Palette Idea #4: White With Subtle Pastels

A white, bright palette is common in transitional style interior design. If this is your style, consider the following crisp color scheme:

  • Walls: White or off-white.
  • Accents: Soft pastel colors like blush pink, pale blue or mint green.
  • Pops of color: Accents in deeper shades such as dusty plum or sage green.
Color Palette Idea #5: Monochromatic With Textured Accents

Finally, a monochromatic color palette marries traditional and contemporary styles together quite well. Supplement it with textured accents for added visual appeal and you’ll be well on your way:

  • Walls: Various shades of a single color, like grays or beiges.
  • Accents: Textured elements like woven fabrics, rough-hewn wood or hammered metal.
  • Pops of color: Sparse use of a contrasting color like navy blue or charcoal for depth.

Transitional Lighting

Modern lighting takes center stage in transitional interiors. Layered lighting schemes help create balance in transitional spaces — which is one of the core tenets of the style.

From chandeliers to wall sconces, these common transitional lighting styles abound in this popular interior aesthetic:

Chandeliers

Transitional chandeliers often feature simple silhouettes with subtle decorative elements, incorporating materials like brushed nickel, bronze or crystal for added sophistication.
Pendant lights

Pendant lights

in transitional spaces tend to have understated designs with clean shapes and finishes, and can be used over kitchen islands, dining tables or entryways to provide both ambient and task lighting.

Lush mounts and semi-flush mounts

Flush mounts and semi-flush mount fixtures are popular in areas with lower ceilings.

Wall sconces

Transitional wall sconces typically come in neutral colors like black, bronze, brushed nickel or chrome to blend seamlessly with their surroundings. Like other elements of this design style, minimal ornamentation and gentle curves are common for this type of lighting.

Create Your Dream Transitional Home

Conjuring the perfect balance between traditional and contemporary styles to create a quintessential transitional space can be challenging.

Professional decorators can help you achieve your ideal transitional-style home while you sit back, relax and watch your dream living space come together.

Our team of expert decorators will work with you to understand your wants, needs and design preferences to curate a transitional interior you’ll be proud to call your own.

Curious about other interior styles? Take our design quiz and find out which style suits you best.

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