What Is Mediterranean-Style Interior Design? (2024)

Mediterranean-style interior design is a riff on the decor found in countries that border the Mediterranean Sea. Whether you’re channeling a warm, carefree summer in Santorini, Capri, or Ibiza, the best Mediterranean-style interior design focuses on indoor-outdoor living, natural materials, and finishes, and an effortless, minimalist-chic approach to decorating that is rooted in centuries of life along the beautiful Mediterranean coast.

Read on to learn more about the Mediterranean aesthetic, how it is used, the critical elements of the design, styling tips, and its history.

What Is Mediterranean-Style Interior Design?

Mediterranean-style design is a variation of coastal design, a broader term based on the generic codes of seaside living. Mediterranean style has timeless appeal and can be interpreted in classic and contemporary ways, with natural stone walls, exposed wood beams, or tile floors. Contemporary Mediterranean architecture boasts bigger rooms, larger energy-efficient windows, and modern luxuries like swimming pools, using old-school materials and architectural details.

When interior designers talk about the Mediterranean style, they generally refer to the aesthetics of southern European countries bordering the Mediterranean Sea, notably Greece, Italy, and Spain. However, 21 countries border the Mediterranean, meaning that true Mediterranean style is just as likely to come from Israel, Morocco, and beyond.

Many Mediterranean cultures borrow elements of one another’s style and share a collective sensibility related to their proximity to the Mediterranean Sea. They each possess centuries of distinct culture and design traditions.

Key Elements of Mediterranean-Style Design

Several elements remain consistent when incorporating the Mediterranean style, such as emphasizing nature, its materials and colors, and celebrating the outdoors and the sea.

• Bring outside indoors: Emphasize indoor-outdoor living with airy, breezy interior spacesthat maximize natural light and views of the outdoors.
• Incorporate arches: Add or highlight arched windows and doors and interior arched casings.
• Use natural materials: Include exposed beams, natural stone walls, and tile or hardwood floors; natural materials in finishes and decor such as wood, rattan, tile, ceramics, terra-cotta, wrought iron, linen, and cotton.
• Gather color inspiration from nature: Use a neutral palette with white plaster walls and natural finishes; color palettes that reflect the natural environment, from the blue-greens of the ocean to the yellows and golden tones of the sun.
  
• Less-is-more styling: Plan the space for hospitality and family, with plenty of focus on common areas to include multiple seating options and a large dining table

Mediterranean-Style Interior Design Tips

Consider the following tips as a roadmap to designing interiors with a nod to Mediterranean style:

Walls

• Opt for shades of white or cream on the walls.
• Consider white-washing walls or floors to add texture and patina.
• Allow natural imperfections on walls to show through to add texture.
• Highlight existing architecture or add details such as faux exposed beams, stonework, or tilework to add character to a newer build.

Flooring

• Opt for wide plank wood flooring or tile, depending on preference and climate.
• Use the same flooring throughout to create a cohesive look.
• Leave flooring bare or use flat-weave rugs in natural materials and muted colors.
• Experiment with mosaic tiles to add interest and pattern to minimalist rooms.

Decor

• Focus on the essentials to keep clutter at bay.
• Choose rustic, sculptural objects, whether vintage or handcrafted, such as ceramics, bowls, baskets, and vases.
• For finishes, consider raw materials such as natural stone, unfinished wood, bamboo, or concrete.
• Incorporate natural materials for furniture and decorative objects, such as rattan, wicker, straw, rope, jute, linen, and cotton.
• Use multiple textures to create warmth and interest.
• Incorporate arched window-like mirrors or bookshelves.
• Choose Mediterranean greenery like potted olive or lemon trees if your climate permits. Otherwise, try placing branches or simple dried flowers in a rustic vase.
• Use open shelving in the kitchen to show off dishware, glassware, and accessories.
  

Windows and Doors

• Make the most of natural light with bare windows, solar shades, or pale gauzy curtains.
• Create opportunities for indoor-outdoor living with French or sliding doors.
• Add arches or mimic arches with shading or paint.

Outdoor Spaces

• Furnish outdoor spaces like a patio, balcony, or terrace with the same care you would use to decorate the interior spaces, with a cohesive aesthetic between indoors and out.
  

History of Mediterranean-Style Interior Design

The Mediterranean style emerged due to cultures living along the Mediterranean Sea colliding over time. From the curves and details of the Italian Renaissance of the 14th century to the stucco and red clay tiles from the Spanish Revival of the 16th century and all the time in between and up to now.

Countries significantly contributing to the style include Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Greek, and Moroccan architecture.And many countries along the Mediterranean have their variations in style.

For example, in southern France bordering the Mediterranean, the French Riviera style is a glamorous take on the Mediterranean Revivalist style that originated in the 1930s. This style is experiencing a resurgence in fashion, hotels, restaurants, and interiors. For example, vintage and widely reproduced sunburst-style mirrors resulted from this style.

In the United States, Mediterranean-style architecture works best in warm, sunny climates. This style is often replicated in warmer places like California, Florida, Texas, and southwestern states. The building materials fare better in warmer temperatures—adobe, for example, will crack in icy or damp conditions.