Italian decor is easy to recognise: warm colours, natural materials and a love of gathering around the table. Think limewashed walls, terracotta, hand-painted ceramics, linen, lemons and a big table where nobody is in a hurry to leave. To bring it home, choose a sunny palette, a few pieces of Italian craftsmanship and pictures of places that feel like summer. 🍋
Here are the key features of Italian interior design, its colour palette and 10 simple ideas to bring the dolce vita into your home, from the kitchen to the living room, with or without renovation work.
What is Italian decor?
There is not one Italian style but several: the Tuscan farmhouse, the villa on the northern lakes, the colourful house of the Venetian lagoon, the terrace on the Amalfi Coast. Yet they share the same spirit: a home made for welcoming people, for living outdoors as much as indoors, and for taking your time.
- Raw, weathered materials: lime plaster, terracotta, solid wood, marble, linen.
- Colours taken from the landscape: ochre, terracotta, lemon yellow, sea blue, olive green.
- Craftsmanship: hand-painted ceramics, blown glass, lace, wrought iron.
- The table at the heart of everything: the kitchen and dining room are the most important rooms in the house.
- A certain ease: nothing too matching, objects that have a past and tell a story.
What colours suit Italian decor?
The Italian palette comes straight from the landscape. Pick one or two strong colours and leave the rest to warm neutrals.
| Colour | Where it comes from | How to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Terracotta and ochre | The facades of Tuscany and Rome | A limewashed wall, floor tiles, plant pots |
| Lemon yellow | The lemon groves of the Amalfi Coast and Lake Garda | Tableware, table linen, a poster |
| Azure blue | The Mediterranean and Vietri ceramics | Tiles, bowls, cushions |
| Olive and sage green | Olive groves and gardens | Shutters, a repainted sideboard, plants |
| Pink, mauve and turquoise | The houses of Burano | A touch on a door or an entrance wall |
| Cream and off-white | Lime and linen | The base of the whole room |
10 ideas for Italian decor at home
Warm limewashed walls
Nothing creates an Italian mood faster than a wall finished in lime plaster or limewash paint. Its cloudy, never uniform texture catches the light like an old village facade. Sand, light ochre or terracotta tones warm up a kitchen or dining room, even under a grey sky.
Terracotta or terrazzo underfoot
Terracotta floor tiles recall Tuscan farmhouses. Terrazzo, a floor made of marble chips set in a binder and then polished, is a Venetian invention: it is still called pavimento alla veneziana. No renovation planned? A rug with a geometric pattern or a terrazzo coffee table does the job very well.
Hand-painted ceramics and colourful tiles
On the Amalfi Coast, Vietri sul Mare is famous for its hand-painted ceramics in bright blues and yellows. A tiled splashback, a collection of plates on the wall or simply mismatched bowls on an open shelf are enough to create the effect.
Lemons, the signature motif of the dolce vita
The lemon is the symbol of the Italian summer. On the shores of Lake Garda, the village of Limone sul Garda grows citrus fruit in large greenhouses, and when we visited, you could have a lemonade freshly squeezed in the street for €5 (we tell the story of our stay at Lake Garda on Rolling Trippers). At home, a bowl of real lemons on the table, a citrus-print tablecloth and a bright poster are enough to set the tone.
Posters of Italian villages and lakes
A poster of a place brings what objects cannot: a light, a landscape, a memory. The houses of Burano are perfect for it. According to a legend told on the island, fishermen’s wives painted their houses in bright colours so they could be seen from the sea, even in grey weather. A trio of Burano posters in a hallway or an entrance, and a whole rainbow moves into your home.
The colourful houses of Burano
A piece of Murano glass
Murano has been blowing glass since the 13th century. A vase, a bowl or a lamp in coloured glass placed near a window is enough to make the light dance. A tip from our visit to Murano and Burano on Rolling Trippers: a “Murano glass” bracelet for €3 is definitely suspicious. Away from the tourist centre, you will find artisans who blow glass in their own shops and sell beautiful pieces for between €30 and €50.
Linen and lace on the table
A crumpled linen tablecloth, mismatched napkins, a lace table runner: Italian table linen is not afraid of creases. Burano lace, which reached its golden age in the 16th and 17th centuries, is the most famous. Same rule as for glass: a Burano lace tablecloth for €20 was not made by a lace maker from the island.
A big table for having people over
In Italy, the table is the heart of the home. A solid wood table, even a little marked, mismatched chairs, a low pendant light above: this is where everything happens. In the morning, Bialetti’s Moka Express, born in 1933, serves the coffee. On the wall, a mouth-watering poster reminds everyone that a meal is a celebration. 🍝
An aperitivo corner
The aperitivo, that early evening moment when you share a drink and a few olives, is an institution, especially in northern Italy. Recreate it with a bar cart or a console table, a few stemmed glasses, a tray, a bottle of Italian aperitif and a poster of a Venetian terrace. Find more ideas in our aperitif poster collection.
Mediterranean plants
A lemon or olive tree in a terracotta pot near a large window, basil and rosemary on the kitchen windowsill: plants link the house to the garden. A lemon tree needs plenty of light and must be brought in away from frost in winter.
Riviera style, between stripes and rattan
Riviera style takes its cue from Italian lakeside and seaside villas and hotels, from Lake Como to the Ligurian coast: parasol stripes, rattan and wicker, navy blue and white, touches of yellow. It is the most summery version of Italian decor, ideal for a conservatory, a terrace or a guest bedroom.
Which poster should you choose for Italian decor?
Start with a place that matters to you: the city of a trip, the lake of your holidays, a village you dream of. Then match the poster to the room.
| Room | Suggested poster | Suggested size |
|---|---|---|
| Kitchen | Lemons, flavours of Italy | A4 (€19) or A3 (€24) |
| Bar corner or dining room | Spritz on the terrace, dolce vita | A3 (€24) |
| Entrance or hallway | Trio of Burano houses | 3 x A4 or 3 x A5 |
| Living room | Lake Como, Lake Maggiore, Venice | A3 on its own or as a pair |
| Bedroom | A village in soft colours | A4 or A3 |
Our shop offers three sizes: A5 (14.8 x 21 cm, €15), A4 (21 x 29.7 cm, €19) and A3 (29.5 x 41.9 cm, €24). For a large wall, create a pair or a trio of A3 posters rather than a single one. And to hang them, follow our guide on how to hang a picture frame at the right height.
More posters for Italian decor
What mistakes should you avoid with Italian decor?
- Falling into clichés: a red checked tablecloth, a flag and a straw-covered chianti bottle look more like a pizzeria than an Italian home.
- Matching everything: Italian decor loves mismatched, weathered objects, not sets bought all at once.
- Using too many bright colours: one or two strong colours on a cream base are enough.
- Forgetting about light: linen sheer curtains, warm lamps and mirrors stand in for the sun when it is missing.
Frequently asked questions
What are the colours of Italian decor?
The colours of Italian decor come from the landscape: the terracotta and ochre of the facades, lemon yellow, the azure blue of the Mediterranean, olive and sage green, on a base of cream and off-white. The houses of Burano add touches of pink, mauve and turquoise.
How do you give a kitchen an Italian style?
Paint one wall with limewash in a warm tone, add hand-painted ceramics (bowls, splashback tiles), open shelves with jars of pasta and olive oil, a bowl of lemons, linen tea towels and a food poster or an Italian landscape on the wall.
What is riviera style?
Riviera style is inspired by Italian seaside and lakeside villas: parasol stripes, rattan, navy blue, white and touches of yellow. It is a summery, elegant version of Italian decor, ideal for a conservatory, a terrace or a bedroom.
What furniture suits Italian decor?
Go for slightly weathered solid wood (a big table, a sideboard, open shelves), rattan and wicker for seating, with wrought iron and marble as accents. Mismatched chairs and second-hand furniture give the lived-in look typical of Italian homes.
Which plants suit Italian decor?
Lemon and olive trees in terracotta pots are the most iconic, placed near a bright window and protected from frost. Basil, rosemary and bay complete the mood in the kitchen or on a balcony.
The dolce vita, every day
Italian decor is not about expensive furniture: it is a way of life, slower and more generous. Start with a warm wall, a welcoming table and a poster that reminds you of a place you love. To give someone a little piece of Italy, our dolce vita gift box is part of our Christmas gift ideas for her. And browse all our Italy posters and our Dolce Vita collection to find yours.
