Italian Furniture: Buyer’s Guide
Want to boost the aesthetic of your home with some ritzy Italian décor? You’ll first need to understand Italian furniture styles and brands.
What is Italian furniture? The term refers to a range of styles from classical to modern that were developed in Italy and that can help give your home a more sophisticated vibe. Italian styles generally use neutral colors, materials such as leather, and simple ornamentation (for modern styles).
In this guide, we’ll go over the specifics of Italian style furniture, including some frequently asked questions and the best Italian furniture brands. Keep reading to find out more!
What Exactly Is Italian Style Furniture?
Let’s start with the most important question: what exactly is Italian style furniture?
The truth is this: there is no one set Italian style.
Rather, the term calls to mind the numerous styles that have exploded in Italy and spread throughout the world since the time of the Renaissance. No matter the specifics, however, one thing unites these Italian styles: a perception of class and sophistication.
This is particularly true of classical Italian furniture.
Take a look at the full NATUZZI collection here.
Developed during the Renaissance, this furniture is crafted from high-end materials such as silk, velvet, or brocade and features ornate carvings and curved lines that give it a truly luxurious flair. Though these pieces are largely antiques now, they can work in more classically designed homes—or simply in rooms that you wish to stand out.
What Is Modern Italian Design?
The other major niche in Italian furniture is modern Italian design.
Like other types of modern design, this furniture is simple, sleek, and neutral. Indeed, in many ways, it is the opposite of traditional classical design. Modern Italian design features no elaborate carvings and instead opts for straight lines, simple colors, and pattern-less materials to craft an overall look that is sophisticated yet simple.
This style offers designers flexibility.
Rather than simply go with the neutral or earthy hues that are common to modern and contemporary design in the United States and other parts of Europe, modern Italian design also incorporates striking reds and yellows to help create contrast and really draw elements of a room together.
How Can I Make My House Look Italian?
Making your house look Italian requires an understanding of the popular Italian design styles. It also necessitates that you follow a few tips:
- Use a Neutral Color Palette
Painting your walls with a neutral color has many benefits when attempting to make your home look Italian. For starters, it means that your home is already prepared for modern design—if that’s the route you wish to take. It also means that you have tons of freedom throughout your home to paint on accents and express your creativity. For these, we recommend colors such as purple, golden yellow, blue, green, and red.
- Go with Italian Furniture
You’ll want to base your color scheme in part off the style of furniture you plan on putting in your house. Making sure you decide these two aspects of your design plan together, you’ll want to choose and arrange your furniture next. You can go with either modern Italian design, which is the most popular option today, or with more classical design, which gives off a rustic vibe and uses more elaborate pieces overall.
Take a look at the full NATUZZI collection here.
- Decorate Your Walls
Of course, you’ll also want to decorate your walls. Italian paintings are a great place to start, but there are other simple things you can do to get that Italian flair if those aren’t quite in the budget. Hanging a decorative mirror and installing wine racks can also help you create Italian style rooms, as can the use of murals in certain rooms.
How Good Is Italian Furniture?
At this point, Italian is simply a synonym for “the best” when it comes to furniture.
With a long history of quality furniture-making, Italy has emerged as one of the top furniture producers anywhere in the world. From gorgeous classical pieces that were the prize of the Renaissance to the ultimate in modern and contemporary design, the Italians remain on the cutting edge of the furniture fashion market.
What’s more, Italian leather is widely regarded as some of the best in the world.
This comes as no surprise, as Italy has been crafting leather furniture longer than almost any other country on Earth. Putting Italian furniture in your home is a symbol of both quality and status and is always recommended for those looking to design a sleek, elegant, and sophisticated home.
What Is the Best Italian Furniture Brand?
Given this, let’s take a look at one of the best (if not the best) Italian furniture brand today:
NATUZZI
NATUZZI is an Italian brand with a wide international reach. The furniture designer is known for producing some of the finest modern Italian pieces anywhere, with extensive collections that give you the ultimate freedom in how to design your Italian-style home. From sofas and beds to dining room sets, NATUZZI has it all so that you can upgrade your entire home’s design using only the best in modern Italian design.
Take a look at the full NATUZZI collection here.
Summary
Italian furniture can help transform the interior of your home.
If you’re looking for sophistication, elegance, and high-end artisan vibes, Italian furniture is for you. In this piece, we went over some of the most important information about Italian design, including specifics on particular styles and retailers.
Using the information in this guide, be sure to check out the top Italian furniture brands and design tips to get your home looking Italian and feeling classy.