As a part of the theoretical Arts & Crafts Movement of the 19th century, Craftsman style decorating snubbed its nose at the traditional Victorian era proclivity toward formality and ostentation. The industrial age brought prosperity to the people of Europe and the United States, and while the movement originated out of the fundamental ideal against mass production and machine generated textiles, it was working class families who eventually adopted the simple yet elegant Craftsman.

Often similar to a bungalow in styling, but a bit larger, the Craftsman radiates tasteful, livable space with a distinguished exterior design and distinct interior detailing. Due to current national awareness of environmental issues and the tendency for consumers to embrace “green” living, there has been a resurgence in an Arts & Crafts mode of decorating.

Despite the challenge of the limited square footage contained in a one to one-and-a-half story home, various practical design elements of the Craftsman resulted in a decidedly creative and innovative use of space. Built-in cabinets and bookshelves are a key feature of homes from this era, as they accentuate the preferred open floor plan and are the most efficient use of wall space.

An abundance of windows allow sunlight to brighten up the interior, adding to the perception of an intimate yet ample living area. Sheer, simple window coverings allow light in, and create visual interest when windows are open and a gentle breeze blows through.

Choosing the proper paint color for your Craftsman bungalow can also enhance the illusion of space. While it may seem that “colors found in nature” would limit your selection to hues of green and brown, resulting in uninspired walls and drab trim, the contrary is true.

The Arts & Craft style incorporates a palette that includes shades from a variety of natural surroundings, including a vegetable garden, foliage and streams. Although colors tend to be muted, a wide spectrum is available from various paint manufacturers, with colors ranging from Hubbard Squash and White Hyacinth to Fossil Butte and Firebrick.

These earthy tones are modern and fresh and create a warm backdrop to the wood and stone design elements that permeate a Craftsman interior. Exterior paint can be just as alluring, but should remain a cohesive extension of the homes surrounding landscape.

The furniture found in a Craftsman designed home is always minimal and sturdy, with straight lines and unornamented construction. To keep your decorating venture affordable, choose a single mission style piece such as an armoire in the bedroom or sofa in the living room to convey the appropriate Arts & Crafts feel, then add rustic accent pieces that are crafted of natural woods and metals.

A woven rug in a neutral tone below a mission style dining table, or an interesting collection of hammered metal plates on the fireplace mantel (a fireplace being a must have interior design element in any Craftsman home) will provide just the right sense of the period, while maintaining a positive cash flow in your bank account.

This article was provided by Pacific Columns Inc. . For more information on Craftsman products such as bungalow columns , visit PacificColumns.com .