Mediterranean Decorating for Your Home

The Mediterranean style of decor is inspired bywhatever media you prefer, although they do add
that used in the countries located to the north ofa certain je ne sais quois. Fine art prints, properly
the Mediterranean sea - Spain, France, Italy andframed, look gorgeous as well. (Make sure such
Greece.prints are produced using either the lithographic or
Paintings and Printsserigraphic printing process, are printed on high
One of the ways to evoke the atmosphere ofquality archival acid free paper, and note that the
the Mediterranean is with the paintings you placethicker paper the better.)
on the walls. Any such paintings - whether originalsFlowers
or reproductions of old masters - should be placedA typical accessory in Mediterranean homes are
in frames of wood, not of metal, as you want toplain vases filled with lush flowers - colorful
evoke the past, not the present.hydrangeas, magnolias, amaranthus or roses,
With that in mind, you don't want any modern artoffset with bunches of grapes. They go well with
on the walls, featuring subjects rendered in such aany kid of decor, frankly, but are very natural in
way that you wouldn't know what they werethe Mediterranean style.
supposed to be unless the artist told you.Be careful with the vases. They should not be too
Landscapes - ideally of locations in Spain, France,fancy - they are there to present the flowers,
Italy or Greece - will make an excellent addition tonot compete from them.
any room. These could include dramatic views ofIt's not necessary to confine yourself to flowers.
mountains, hillsides, or even vineyards, or pastoralTrees - including topiary - can make an exciting
scenes of shepherds and their animals, oraddition as well.
cityscapes of the famous walled cities of theStatuary
Middle Ages, or oceanscapes (a favorite of mine.)You can really go to town with statuary,
If you don't care for landscapes thenparticularly reproductions of classic Greek statues,
representations of bowls of flowers, animals, orfrom the Venus de Milo to the Winged Victory.
hunting scenes will do, or portraits.Renaissance Italy produced hundreds of classic
While these subjects might not be available fromsculpture, from Michelangelo's David to his Pietas
your local art gallery, you can certainly find a vastto Moses.
selection on the web. It's not necessary toYou can purchase these statues in any size, from
purchase actual paintings - oil or watercolor orsix inches to six feet... with matching prices!