Tips for Authentic Philadelphia Interior Design

Explore tips for achieving authentic Philadelphia interior design, blending historical charm with modern elegance for a distinctive home style.

A sense of place is so important for interior design: it’s what makes your home a special blend of the area where you live and the person that you are.  As such, considering the unique decor trends of your local area can create a truly spectacular design that feels truly at home with its environment. 

Philadelphia, the former capital of the United States, is one of the oldest cities in the union. Founded in 1682 by William Penn, the City of Brotherly Love has been a center of commerce, politics, and culture for centuries, giving designers a rich history to draw upon. Today, we will consider some tips that will make your Philadelphia home shine all the brighter.

Develop a Philadelphia Mood board

One of the major elements of building an interior design is to create a list of materials and palettes, as these allow for a sense of harmony. When you’re beginning your design, you may feel paralyzed by your options and not sure how to truly capture the vibe of your city. 

This is where creating mood boards can be so helpful. Mood boards are meant to evoke a feeling, usually with colors and materials that work well together; they allow you to see the big picture of your vision through a collection of smaller pictures.

Pinterest is a great place to start gathering the materials for your mood board. Create a board for your Philadelphia vision and hunt down pictures of the city that inspire you, whether that is the interior design of other Philadelphians or simply photos of famous interiors, like Liberty Hall. 

While creating your mood board, you might find some themes coming through, like bronze fixtures, brick, navy blue fabrics, or bright white walls. 

Get Specific With Your Neighborhood

In addition to its many other nicknames, Philadelphia is known as the City of Neighborhoods. While many other cities have just as many – if not more – neighborhoods, Philadelphia’s are special in that all of them have their own unique feeling and history; they represent movements in the city’s history, specific demographics that lived there, and cultural moments. As such, your home feeling at place in the city depends not just on the overall history of Philadelphia but the generation and development of your own neighborhood.

To better understand this, you’ll want to research the origins of your neighborhood and drill down on your mood boards to get a better sense of what belongs. For example, Rittenhouse Square is known for lush landscapes and 19th-century architecture; ample greenery and antique fixtures would all be perfect. Fishtown, a more eclectic artist’s enclave, would do better for colorful, contemporary artwork, especially ones from local artists.

Don’t Be Afraid to Mix Styles

Philadelphia is an old city that continues to grow and change throughout its lifespan, which can be seen in all of its neighborhoods. Rittenhouse Square condos for sale are usually in sleek modern buildings, while Main Line suburban homes may date from the 1800s all the way to the 2000s. It’s not uncommon to have centuries-old buildings sitting right next to a glass and steel skyscraper in a way that feels perfectly Philadelphian. 

As such, don’t worry about having every fixture and artwork from the same generation; rather, allow for an organic cohesion of styles, both old and new. You may have a gallery wall that has everything from old sketches to new prints or blend careful needlepoint with bold modern art. 

Reflect Back on the City’s Heritage

One particularly fun option is to find local artwork that depicts the same locations but across time periods. For example, you find an old tintype of City Center, then pair it with a painting done recently of the same location. This helps to show that your neighborhood is an ever-evolving place with deep roots that deserve respect, while also thinking ahead to the future of your locale.

Balance Old and New

It’s easy to get sucked into the idea that Philadelphia is a place of the past by focusing too much on the colonial era or, if you are in a Main Line suburb, the era of the steam train. However, simple nods to the heritage can feel more impactful than filling your entire home with old paintings and embroidery – not to mention a lot less stuffy. 

There are plenty of exciting ways to incorporate this into your decor without overwhelming yourself; for example, you may choose to hang replicas of railroad lanterns along your patio for soft, simple illumination, or choose a quilted bedspread with a simple Dutch pattern along with plain, modernistic furniture. Not only does this allow you more freedom, but it also shows the evolution of the city along with your design.

Vibrant Philadelphia Is Full of Interior Decor Inspiration

Holding an integral place in America’s history, Philadelphia is certainly not an endnote in an encyclopedia: it’s a living, breathing city that continues to change. Design trends have evolved along with it, giving you an abundance of options to choose from as you curate your own unique style. By focusing on your specific neighborhood, blending old and new styles, and taking influence from the city’s colors and materials, you can create a place that doesn’t just feel like a home, but at home in the City of Brotherly Love.

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