If you’re creating a casual room, you probably know the descriptions you want to avoid: stiff, formal, stuffy, aloof, cold, delicate, fragile, pretentious. Casual implies a different set of descriptions: relaxed, unassuming, welcoming, warm, sturdy, comfortable.
Casual isn’t really a style. It’s a mood. It’s a feeling that nothing has to be perfect. If the pillows get scattered around the room, it’s OK. If books are open around the coffee table, the room isn’t aghast at the unsightly mess.
The real question becomes, how can we create a casual room that still looks cohesive and intentional? A room that your parents can walk into and say “Oh, this is so pretty.” And at the same time, a three year old and a dog can run around in it into it and no one gets anxious.
A mood is difficult to pin down with guidelines. You can create the same mood in lots of different ways, so guidelines are easily broken. But they’re a place to start. Here are a few ideas to keep in mind until you branch out into your own style to create different moods!
Materials
The materials you use in your room often have the biggest impact on whether it comes across as casual or formal. For casual rooms, use more matte and textured materials. In general, glossy and shiny materials like glass, satin, polished marble, silk, heavily-varnished woods, china, and polished metals make a room feel more formal. Use these sparingly to keep your room casual. On the other hand, cotton, linen, corduroy, matte limestone, earthenware, and dulled metals look less formal. (If you’d like more suggestions on casual rugs, see my article 6 Ideas for Casual Family Room Rugs.)
Color
Color palettes for casual rooms can vary widely. You shouldn’t feel like you’re limited in your color choices because you want your room to be casual. However, some choices are more practical than others for letting life happen. Here are some ideas to keep in mind:
• Avoid very light and very dark colors. Very light and white furniture will be a lint and stain magnet. If you don’t want to worry about how much abuse your furniture takes, consider using mid-range neutral colors that are forgiving about dirt and wear. Save your lighter and darker colors for floors, walls, wood pieces, and curtains. (You can find some more thoughts about curtains in this article on how to choose curtains for a casual living room.)
• Avoid a black tie look. Steer away from high contrast color schemes like black and white. If you use this color scheme with clean edges, it looks a bit like a tuxedo: very formal.
• Casual rooms can have vibrant colors like red, orange, and purple. If you’re adventurous, you can mix and match these on furniture, walls, and floors. If Americana appeals to you, try variations of red, white, and blue.
• If you have pets, consider matching your upholstery with their fur.
Patterns
Patterns are fair game in casual rooms, but choose them carefully. Keeping a casual vibe is easier with some patterns than others. Checks and plaids look casual when paired with plain colors. Stripes, medallion patterns, and florals tend to come across as more formal. If you want to add fun to your casual room, try whimsical patterns such as polka dots.
One approach to creating a casual room is to mix a lot of patterns together. Bohemian style uses this idea. Just be aware that mixing multiple patterns can make your room appear incohesive. As an antidote, balance stronger patterns across the room from each other. Also, keep your strongest pattern toward the bottom of the room near the floor and the seating pieces. If you want to be bold, mixing multiple patterns may be for you! Have backup locations in mind to move items with excess patterns (like throw pillows, blankets, etc.) if you think you’ve gone too far.
Style
I mentioned above that casual doesn’t imply a certain style. However, some styles lend themselves more to a casual mood than others. And even formal styles can feel more casual with a few adjustments.
• Historical styles often quoted in the decor world, such as Louis XIV, Empire, Rococo, Queen Anne, and even Art Nouveau, are often fussy and stuffy. Use historical style pieces sparingly as accent chairs and tables. On the other hand, Shabby Chic and Bohemian styles sometimes use reproduction historical pieces with aged or playful paint finishes and fabrics to create casual whimsy in a room.
• More modern styles, such as Art Deco, Bauhaus, and Mid-Century Modern (MCM), have cleaner lines than historical styles. They are not necessarily more casual, though. One of the hallmarks of modern styles is a striking silhouette of the furnishings. Each furniture piece is designed to be a work of art in and of itself. Mixing these pieces to create an overall casual room can be challenging. To pull off a casual vibe successfully, cover them in sturdy materials, introduce casual patterns and natural elements to soften their hard lines, and don’t buy any one piece that’s so expensive you’ll worry about how it gets treated.
• Styles that can be described as “hand made” translate well to casual use. Examples include Shaker, Adirondack, Arts and Crafts, and Mission styles. These styles celebrate plain, sturdy craftsmanship and practicality. They are built to be worry-free.
I don’t recommend a “theme” room in general. However, when applied with a light touch, some themes can work as casual decor options. If you like blue and beige color palettes, a nautical, coastal, or beach theme would be a solid choice. Do you prefer warmer earth tones? You might like decorating with a Tuscan, Western, or Southwestern theme. For a rustic, minimal style that’s also bright and cheery, try a modern farmhouse or country theme.
Furniture Construction
Since the idea of casual is to be worry-free, you should also check the construction of your furniture, whether you’re buying in a showroom or at a thrift store. See this Get Rich Slowly article for a list of things to check.
Is Your Home Casual?
I hope this article gave you some new ideas that you can try out in your casual rooms. Do you have more questions about casual decor? Leave me a comment below! Or keep reading more casual decor tips in my article 8 Ideas for Casual Dining Room Wall Decor.