A Touch of Italian Charm

When I was a little girl, I can remember I used to sneak into my Nonna’s bedroom to gaze at all the wonderful things she had displayed on her dressing room table… Musky Italian perfume in crystal glass bottles, costume jewellery perfectly placed in tiny porcelain dishes, lavender scented bags mixed into her undergarment draws just to name a few… Although the 80’s where not the greatest times for anything related to style, these memories are my inspiration as we slowly renovate the rooms of my husband’s Italian home. Here are 8 styling tips to help you add a little Italian charm to your home.

1) Bless your room (optional of course)

A huge (and I mean huge) part of the Italian culture here in Italy is religion. Saint days are celebrated almost every month, while going to church on Sundays is as ingrained as brushing your teeth. Now I must admit, I haven’t been the most abiding church goer but I still like to admire the beauty and peace a simple ornament or picture can bring to one’s room if styled tastefully. Italians like to put crosses or pictures of the “Madonna and child” aka “Mary and baby Jesus” above their bedheads as a sign of protection as if she’s always watching over you. I really like the sentiment behind this and have chosen to replicate it in our rooms (sticking to the Italian trend). Try adding the odd vintage picture of the Madonna to a room or placing some rosary beads by the bed. It’s the small details that really tell a story when designing a room. I love to place saint cards that I’ve collected from nearby churches in styled vintage books to make it look like someone has been reading them almost paused in time… Italian Arithmetic might not be the most inspiring read though.

2) One man’s junk is another man’s treasure

We were lucky enough to stumble across an antique store closing down near to where we live and managed to find some really amazing pieces to style the bedrooms with. Beautiful wooden carved bedheads with matching side tables definitely added the touch of Italian charm, while having large family trunks at the end of the beds gives for great storage space and adds a nice balance to the room.

3) Country Blooms

Right now its springtime in Sant’Oliva where you can find an abundance of wild flowers growing everywhere you can imagine. I like to go into the paddocks with my baskets in hand to collect wild poppies, bunches of borage, chamomile and cow parsley or my favorite (which is not in season at the moment) wild carrot or Queen Anne Lace!! Collect a bunch of rustic flowers that aren’t so style and place them in an old tarnished vase or a crystal decanter to add a touch of country living to your home.

4) Display your fruit

A simple bowl of fruit can really uplift a room giving it a splash of colour and dimension to the space. Utilise fruit that is in season by displaying them on a bedside table for guests or placed in the middle of the kitchen for everyone to see. I love using oranges and lemons from the garden for decorating spaces as they reminded me of summer’s in Sorrento (only went once for half a day)… Place oranges or lemons on a silver serving plate or a blues and white china bowl with some foliage to freshen up a room that will also leave a lovely scent.

5) Every piece tells a story

I’m fortunate enough to be living on a farm so finding pieces that might tell a story is easier for me than to go scavenging through an antique market, although either option is fun no? A hand carved wooden spoon from a great Nonna, a massive green wine-making bottle or an old rusty key from a barn door, are all great pieces that you can cluster on a wall or place in a room. Utilise your local markets to bring character to your home.

6) Persian Rugs, Italian?

Ok, so not exactly Italian but from my Pinterest stalking, a beautiful Persian rug seems to just finish an Italian inspired country room off nicely. Plus I like to stick to delicate off-white walls with dark wooden furnishings so having a beautiful earthy coloured rug seems to tie everything together nicely. Just have to find one I can afford! Ouch!

7) White is classic

I absolutely love, love, love the classic, white Italian embroidered quilt bedspreads that I’ve been seeing in some people’s homes. You know the ones with the tassels? Beautiful textured light quilts that are perfectly suited for those changing months. Keep the bedding simple and let the room speak for itself through personal little details like flowers, rugs, antique furnishings ect…

8) Be a hoarder but not in an Italian way

One thing that I see to be a very common trend here in Italy is that people like to hold on to everything!!! The christening gift from 10 years ago that resembles a porcelain bunny rabbit wearing a tutu!! Eh? On the other hand, I’m probably not much better in the eyes of an Italian. I like to collect old vases, crystal decanters, china plates and glass medicine bottles. You name it I love them all!! I use them for clustering flowers, making table centerpieces and adding simple touches to the home. Next time you find yourself finishing a good Italian grappa, keep the bottle to use as a vase or wine decanter for something different for your next dinner party.

And there you have it! 8 styling tips to inspire you to add a little Italian charm to your home! Make sure you take a squiz at how we styled our first room here over on the ‘come stay’ tab, which is now available to stay at through AirBnB.

Let me know if you have any other ideas that inspire you or your thoughts on the content in the comments below… ….Happy Styling!

(All pictures taken from Pinterest)

#Styling #interiordesign #vintage