The Arts & Crafts movement was a direct response to the Victorian aesthetic that had dominated in the lead up to the 20th century. It was a sweeping criticism of the decline in quality and standards found in the material goods of the time, a decline which had been brought about by the Industrial Revolution.

Mass production had allowed people of modest means to decorate their homes in styles that had once been exclusively available to the fabulously wealthy. The Victorian middle-class home became an overflowing abundance of texture, pattern, color, and bric-a-brac.

However, the goods so coveted by the Victorians were sorely lacking in quality. The absence of craftsmanship and prevalence of cheap, flimsy materials left many craving a new era of quality and simplicity.

From these complaints, the Arts & Crafts style was born.

Arts & Crafts is a uniquely well-defined interior design style. This is partly due to the philosophical roots of movement, and partly the exceptional fame achieved by some of its leaders. Storied artists and architects, such as Charles Mackintosh and Frank Lloyd Wright, were sought after the world-over. Such broad exposure for their values helped sharpen the focus of this aesthetic.

If there’s a number one rule in Arts & Crafts interior design, it’s to never paint natural wood. Instead, staining wood is the norm. Stains range from pale honey colors to dark reddish browns and are usually warm tones. Oak is the classic wood of choice, but there are many stylish examples using birch, pine, and maple as well.

Accent colors in upholstery, paint, wallpaper, rugs and ceramics should also be warm toned and natural. The dominant color scheme tends to favor sage greens, mustard yellows, and terra cottas. However bright pops, like those seen in wildflowers and fruits, also work well in Arts & Crafts spaces.

When it comes to floors, natural materials like wood, stone, and slate are by far the most common. Bricks are another popular choice, often in earthy shades of red or brown.

Finally, a fireplace is frequently at the core of Arts & Crafts interiors. They embody the value of warmth exuded in the aesthetic's color palette. They also tend to feature beautiful, hand-made mantelpieces.

While hand-made was the name of the game early in the Arts & Crafts movement, later proponents understood the exorbitant cost attached to an entirely hand-made interior. The emphasis shifted over time from exclusively one-of-a-kind hand-crafted furnishings to focus instead on overall quality. As such, regardless of the manufacturing process, the key is to look for pieces that are well made.

Furniture in Arts & Crafts homes tends to be simple and stately, with minimal embellishments. Particularly in North America, designs tend to be linear and geometric. Look for pieces that emphasize clean lines and a polished, natural wood grain.

Chairs and couches are often upholstered with leather. Other popular materials include patterned brocades in earthy colors and warm-toned velvets.

Accents of metal and colored glass are often incorporated into Arts & Crafts interiors.

Tiffany-style glass-shade lamps, while more strongly associated with the related Art Nouveau movement, are a very popular choice for illuminating an Arts & Crafts interior. To keep the space feeling softer and more natural, consider using mainly wall sconces and table lamps as opposed to singular over-head light sources.

Metallic details look best in warm brass, bronze, and copper tones. Equally important to the color, however, is the finish. Look for finishes that have a hand-made, hammered, or distressed aesthetic. Overly polished or machined pieces tend to read modern and mass-manufactured, which directly contradicts the Arts & Crafts ethos.

An open floor plan is a common architectural element in homes originally designed to be Arts & Crafts. Fortunately, there are ways to achieve the same feel for your space regardless of its architecture.

To increase the sense of airiness and brightness in your home, it’s essential to minimize barriers between rooms. Sliding barn doors are one the best ways to open things up, as they eliminate the shadows and wasted space of conventional swinging doors.

You can also choose a door with glass panels to make your space feel open, even when the door needs to be shut. The Santa Monica Barn Door is the perfect choice for an Arts & Crafts home, featuring an option for beautifully textured glass and a variety of warm, natural wood stains.

If you’re looking to transform your space into an Arts & Crafts retreat, we’d love to help you by finding the perfect sliding barn door. After all, as the Arts & Crafts movement has taught us, everyone deserves a home that is well-made and beautiful.