Creating European-Style Home Interiors

Love the idea of European interior design – but not sure how to create it in your American home? We get it. After all, the Olympic games in Paris have us all dreaming of afternoon strolls by the Seine and romantic meetups at quaint cafes that linger well past midnight. Le sigh.

But Europe is a whole continent that encompasses many countries with long histories and distinct styles. Taken as a whole, European home design touches on everything from Italian architecture to Danish modern furniture to Spanish tiles to Old World fabric patterns Romania and beyond.

That’s a lot to process! Luckily, the stone-cold pros at Casa di Sassi majored in Roaming the Continent while studying at the School of Hard Rocks, so we’re up on the major design elements that give a European-style home’s interior that certain je-ne-sais-quoi. And, quelle surprise, our handcrafted stone veneer profiles fit beautifully into this worldly aesthetic!

We break down the colors, materials and decor choices that exemplify European interior design concepts. Then we walk you through our favorite ideas for welcoming modern European interior design trends into your home for a luxuriously cosmopolitan feel.

Key Design Elements of European Style

From a continent that includes so many cultures, it’s difficult to pinpoint one overall design style. But perhaps the best way to define “European style” is timeless functionality with touches of eclectic personality – like the home of a well-traveled college professor.

One of the great things about embracing European home design right now is the way that current European interior design trends dovetail with the latest home trends on this side of the Atlantic, like mixed materials, touches of nature and classic style.

Here are the three key design elements to consider for your take on European-style home interiors:

Colors

Because European design tends to be quite eclectic, the basic color palette to start from is neutral. A base of creamy whites, soft earth tones and light-colored woods sets a calming tone upon which you can layer lots of character. Rich jewel tones like royal blue, ruby red, sunshine yellow and chartreuse green add pleasing contrast in pops of color. Consider the contrasts between light and dark as you select manufactured stone veneer for texture, color and inspiration in your European interior design!

Materials

To give your home that welcoming, lived-in feel of European interior design, embrace natural materials like marble, limestone, terracotta, wood and plaster. These types of materials bring classic appeal to your home on floors, countertops, walls and ceilings. And if yours is a newly constructed home, stone veneer materials help add the character and texture you’d find in an older European-style home’s interior.

Decor

Here’s where you can really express your personality! The theme of European decor is luxurious yet approachable – like a camel hair overcoat or other wardrobe investment pieces. Choose furniture upholstered in velvet, tweed or leather. Toss a mohair throw over a cozy overstuffed chair. Line up throw pillows in jewel-toned silk on an understated and neutral sofa. Create a gallery wall with reproductions of artwork by the Dutch Masters salvaged from a second-hand shop. Decor items that seem to have been gathered over a lifetime of world traveling bring modern European interior design to vibrant life.

European Interior Design Trends

Now that you’ve got those key design elements in mind, let’s look at some specific ideas for incorporating them into your European-style home interiors. Take these as a starting point, then make it your own with touches of personality from your own history!

Marble Details

Whether it’s a countertop in the guest bath, a tasteful statue on a side table or sleek bookends in the home office, marble always speaks to elegance and timeless beauty.

Stone Veneer

Natural stone is a close second to marble for evoking European interior design. Get that rustic yet timeless feel without blowing your budget by embracing these unique and creative stone veneer ideas for your home’s European glow-up:

Volterra

Instantly transform a plain living room into a classic Old World parlor with an accent wall covered floor-to-ceiling in creamy Niveo Volterra stone veneer. The sumptuous texture and warm neutral hue make the perfect backdrop for all the charming elements of European interior design.

Country Rubble

Give your lower level a touch of authenticity by cladding the stairwell in our Murano Country Rubble profile. Your guests will feel like they’re descending into a castle’s catacombs as they pass handpicked irregular-shaped stones in warm, earthy tones. It creates the perfect setting for sampling your collection of European wines.

Fieldstone

Have a wood-burning fireplace in need of a makeover? Thinking of installing an electric wall-mount fireplace but not sure how to integrate it into a European home design? Use the handsome, rugged texture of our Fieldstone veneer profile to bring rustic charm to your hearth. Paired with neutral walls and eclectic decor, this contemporary stone fireplace idea fits right into the most current European interior design trends.

Yorkshire

Tired of the subway tile trend? Us, too. For kitchen backsplash ideas that lean more toward a European home design, consider Casa di Sassi stone veneer instead. Our Yorkshire profile delivers the cool neutral color palette of subway tiles but with more of an individual twist that evokes European style. Pair it with marble or marble-look countertops and lots of natural materials for a cosmopolitan cook’s ideal space.

Wood Decor

From simple wooden bowls to intricately carved wood picture frames, the rich hues and pleasing wood grain patterns of wood decor elevate any European-style home’s interior. These pieces complement nearly any color palette and bring a natural feel to your space. Bonus points for scoring wooden figurines at a second-hand shop that might actually be from Europe!

Intricate Molding

Crown molding, baseboards and other millwork details bring instant character and authenticity to a space. If you’re in an older home that has original moldings, play them up with contrasting wall colors. You can add decorative wainscotting or picture-frame wall molding to plain dry-walled walls for a luxuriously high-end look. Or use scraps of intricately carved molding to upcycle a boring wood cupboard into a gorgeous Old World armoire.

Vintage-Inspired Artwork

Second-hand shops and yard sales are a treasure trove of vintage-inspired artwork! Anything that looks like a reproduction of work by Picasso, Rembrandt, Monet, Vermeer or other classic artists will bring a European interior design to life! Focus on landscapes and seascapes for the most impactful selections. 

Gold Accents

Level up the luxurious feel of your European home design with gold accents. Go big with a gold and crystal chandelier in the foyer, or take a subtler approach with gold hardware on kitchen cabinet door knobs and drawer pulls. Gold fixtures can add an opulent feel to the guest and master bath, as well.

Achieve Your European Aesthetic With Casa di Sassi

Now that you’re equipped with the basics of European interior design trends, it’s time to try your hand at bringing a timeless cosmopolitan feel to your American home! Remember that it’s all about a neutral color palette, pops of jewel tones, natural materials and eclectic decor. Whether you opt for veneer stone walls to add rustic character to your newer home or a fresh coat of paint to brighten your older home’s authentic details, be sure to put your own stamp on it!

Contact the experts at Casa di Sassi for help choosing the perfect stone veneer profile to complement your unique take on European interior design!