There is something otherworldly beautiful about Greece. You almost can't go wrong with a Greek holiday – the weather, the food, and the scenery hit all the right notes – but the interior design is what I found most enchanting.
From the picture-perfect shores of Santorini and the vibrant scenes in Mykonos to the ancient streets of Athens and the stunning natural landscape of Corfu, discover how Greek decor ideas beautifully blends tradition with modernity, creating spaces that exude Hellenistic charm, warm minimlilism and unrivaled sophistication.
1. Blue and white
From coastal cool to enduring elegance, the classic color combination of blue and white can create a myriad of looks for interiors, and it is perhaps one of the most definable palettes for the country, especially in the popular destination of Santorini.
Loved by homeowners and interior designers alike, decorating with blue and white is wonderfully versatile. Far from being two-dimensional, the palette can be used to achieve all sorts of looks, from smart and sophisticated to subtle and serene, depending on the shades you use and the proportions in which they are incorporated.
Synonymous with the sea and sky, blues are often linked to coastal style and are a go-to for breathing freshness and calm into the home. ‘Blue and white create a tranquil atmosphere,’ says Debbie Leigh, design manager of fabric brand Iliv. ‘Blue is often associated with feelings of serenity and relaxation, while white helps make a room feel airy and spacious. Used together, these colors create a peaceful and inviting atmosphere.’
There are lots of ways to incorporate this enduring combination into your home. When selecting paint shades, consider the orientation, of the room, suggests Simon Temprell, interior design manager at Neptune. ‘Blue and white has been a classic color combination forever as it is clean, crisp, and uplifting, especially in south-facing rooms. In a north-facing room, you might need to use a warmer white to offset the chill,’ he explains.
2. Textural decor
Despite its pared-back, minimal aesthetic, the true Grecian home is brimming with textural accents. Set the mood with textured finishes, sculptural shapes, and raw materials – comfort has never looked so cozy.
Using texture in interior design is vital, and is, quite literally, woven into the fabric of a designer's vocabulary and practice. Creating texture is not simply just about how decor and soft furnishings feel, but it's also about 'visual texture' – using different materials to add interest and breathe life into a room.
Interior designers use texture in the form of tactile objects like fabrics, wood, and stone to add physical comfort and visual interest to a space. Mixing materials and layering is key to making textural elements work.
You won't find a home that doesn't beautifully combine stone and timber with softer, delicate materials such as jute, linen, and bamboo. This is something that Greek interior design always seems to get just right.
3. Curvaceous design
The decor and furniture trend for curvaceous design really took hold in the US in 2019, however, it has long been considered a staple in Greece and its surrounding islands.
With the emphasis today on the home as an inviting family space, used for socializing and relaxing, regimented rows, straight lines, and clinical design can look a little stark and cold.
Full-on voluptuous or gently rounded, curves and arches will lift the layout and soften the overall look of your room, adding a bold design focus or a subtle touch of shaping to your décor.
'For 2024 furniture trends, we are seeing more sectional sofas and coffee tables become curved instead of square,' says Joshua Smith principal and founder of Joshua Smith Inc. For 2024, curved furniture is leaning more into biophilic and biomorphic influences, as we crave that grounding, indoor-outdoor connection in our homes, with these organic shapes promoting an energy of softness and calmness.'
4. Olive trees
Gracing many a Greek courtyard and sun-drenched hillsides, olive trees are loved not just for their precious fruit but also their characterful appearance. They are capable of living for centuries and it can take generations to produce a good crop of olives.
The silver-green foliage of the olive tree is evergreen, providing year-long interest. Whilst it is a drought-tolerant tree, ideally suited to hot and dry climates, some varieties can be more tolerant of a cooler climate.
Olive trees are not fully hardy, so they will need a warm, sheltered site to succeed in the Americas; a sunny terrace protected from wind would be ideal. These popular trees are often spotted in growing in California, as well as Texas, Georgia, Florida, Arizona, and Hawaii (on the island of Maui).
If you simply cannot grow an olive tree in your US hardiness zone, a faux olive tree is a good alternative, and will create a similar impact indoors.
5. A blend of Japandi and Aegean decor
If you thought Japandi was a good look, you’ll love Aegeandi, the mix of pared-back Greek architecture with equally blissful Japanese materials is certainly a talking point.
A merging of two micro trends is nothing new, but none has been done so well as this one. Combining the best of both; Aegeandi is the perfect example of warm minimalism. Inspired by colors and materials from the natural world, warm minimalism adds a gentle and soothing touch to interiors that can be layered with textures and tones to ebb and flow with the seasons.
'There’s a definite move towards warm minimalism, with deeper hues and rich, neutral tones – I’m seeing lots of beige, honey, ochre, taupe, and gold used to create cozy, inviting spaces that are still elegant and serene in their simplicity. It’s about building a sense of cohesion, so no piece of furniture or color is over-dominating the space,' says Becca Casey, designer and founder of Becca Interiors.
If you want to recreate the aesthetic at home, combine colors inspired by the 'golden hour' – the period when the color of the sky turns from red to orange. Think luminous sunset shades and earthy terracottas and ochres that are perfect partners and versatile, too, as they can be sophisticated and seductive or fabulously fresh.
