How to Bring the Palm Beach Aesthetic Home
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It's nearly impossible to summarize the preppy interior design style in one sentence because it embodies an entire lifestyle. This design movement is rich in juxtapositions: new and old, timeless yet current, masculine and feminine, and formal yet relaxed. Originally referred to as Ivy League style and dating back to the 1910s, it celebrates prep school culture and old-fashioned leisure sports like polo, swimming, fishing, and tennis, which you'll see mirrored in a home's book collection, textiles, and art. Pastels often dominate the color palette, and preppy rooms tend to go heavy on the pattern.
Although preppy design has New England roots, its heart now lies in locales like Palm Beach and Southampton. It has also evolved to take on a regional life of its own. You'll now notice a Southern and even laid-back California coastal influence in many preppy homes. Furthermore, designers often mold the preppy look to fit the personal tastes of their clients, whether that's pure Americana or perhaps a little French.
You can take the preppy interior style in a minimalist or maximalist direction. Infusing your home with it can be as simple as adding a few monogrammed accessories or as elaborate as wallpapering your entire bedroom. To inspire you, we've gathered designer-created rooms that illustrate the timeless and sophisticated style that never takes itself too seriously. Below you'll find spaces that don a plethora of patterns, including florals, nautical stripes, plaid, and houndstooth. This collection of preppy room ideas also proves you can take this design style in countless directions and add your own personalized touch through your favorite colors and collections.
Lean Coastal
The line between the coastal and preppy design styles is a blurry one, and this primary bedroom by Ashley Gilbreath Interior Design nails the fusion of the two. Nautical stripes, pink and green floral patterns, and rattan combine to create a laid-back oceanfront sanctuary.
Invest in Border Frame Bedding
Border frame bedding is a timeless preppy staple. In this bunk room by Michelle Morgan Harrison, the sophisticated bed linens ground the whimsical wallpaper. The end result is a multipurpose guest room that's suitable for children and adults alike.
Throw in Some Gingham
Gingham is a quintessential preppy pattern. It pairs well with its close cousin, plaid, so have fun combining the two. Amity Worrel & Co. chose gingham for this room's drapes and upholstery and went with similar prints for the throw blankets and pillowcases.
Add an Equestrian Touch
Horseback riding is a key component of the preppy lifestyle. Adding just one horse motif—like a painting—is a subtle way to give off an equestrian flair without going full-on horsegirl, which is exactly what Tom Scheerer did in this bedroom.
Mix Old and New
This dining room by Fran Keenan is overflowing with eye-catching antiques. Antiques aren't necessarily enough to pull off a preppy look on their own. But when you combine historic pieces with more playful touches like floral wallpaper, bubblegum pink trim, and light green drapes with a scallop valance, they take on that quirky, collected, old-money look. Keenan describes this space as "definitely a favorite room."
Try Allover Pattern
When it came to wallpapering this kitchen, Molly Singer Design really went for it. The space now illustrates more is more. The stunning vaulted ceiling certainly deserves all the attention, and the contrasting fixtures in Nantucket red (a standby in any preppy wardrobe) add a whimsical contrast.
Mix Preppy and Cottagecore
The preppy interior design movement mixes so well with other styles, especially ones with a vintage edge like cottagecore. Both these aesthetics embrace patterns and items from days gone by. For this kitchen, Meta Coleman sourced tile with a perfectly imperfect handmade look and paired it with preppy blue and green accents.
Take a Minimalist Approach
One of the best things about preppy interior design is that it fuses well with nearly any personal interior style. If patterns and bright colors aren't your thing, stick to a white and pastel scheme. Connecticut-based designer Chauncey Boothby gave this kitchen a fresh look with two islands that perfectly match the pendant lights. The aqua blue paired with pieces like a framed duck print and wicker baskets are a nod to the beautiful New England seaside.
Display Pottery
In preppy interiors, you'll notice antique collections that look like they've been passed down through the generations. Blue-and-white ceramics are popular family heirlooms, and you can decorate an entire space around these pieces. The Fox Group chose to repeat the colors from the pottery in the textiles in this kitchen.
Embrace Academia
In this 1930s home just outside Washington, D.C., Melissa Colgan designed a living room that doubles as a library. The bookshelves display antique books and collections, and there's even a spot to safely stow away rare and first-edition books under glass. Academia is a common theme in preppy design (just think of prep schools in general). So go ahead and show off your bookshelf wealth. To keep the design from looking stuffy, Colgan chose a light, soothing lavender for the walls and built-ins.
Indulge in Excess
Maximalists tend to love the preppy aesthetic because it doesn't hold back on color or texture. Shazalynn Cavin Winfrey let her daughter's impressive book collection take center stage and even repeated the book covers' bright colors in details like the rug and lampshade.
Offset Bold Colors With White
Winfrey's living room is another haven for a maximalist prep. The white walls and flood of natural light allow the bright colors and patterns to stand out. She refers to this room's style as "an eccentric mix."
Monogram Your Pillows
Just like in preppy fashion, monograms are iconic in the world of preppy interior design. Investing in some custom embroidered pillowcases will give your bed the polished look it deserves. In this Dallas home, Dunbar Road Design went for a monogrammed pillowcase set that shows off a matching border.
Dress Your Walls in Chinoiserie
One easy way to channel the maximalist aesthetic is through pastel chinoiserie patterns. Mint blue and green illustrations dance on the walls, while a pink Murano glass chandelier catches the light in this regal dining room by Dunbar Road Design.
Make a Canopy Bed
A fabric headboard with a tester canopy exudes old money, and opting for the pairing is an elegant approach to the preppy room aesthetic. Roxy Owens of Society Social did exactly that in this spare bedroom that shows off various shades of pastel blue.
Opt for a Bit of Glam
Hollywood glam is another style that merges well with preppy. This dressing room by Colordrunk Designs looks fit for Barbie, the queen of prep.
Use Posh Patterns
A conservatory is an inherently preppy room. However, details like a houndstooth rug and hot pink velvet sofa are the finishing touches that define the style in this space by Deborah Costa and Kristine Renee of Design Alchemy. The design team completed the look with a rattan coffee table and Roman shades with a chic fringe.
Look to Preppy Fashion
If it's easier for you to picture the definition of preppy clothing than preppy interiors, you can work with that. Draw inspiration from prep fashion icons like Lilly Pulitzer when selecting the wallpaper and textiles for your home. In this cozy seating area, Isabel Ladd added wood and wicker furniture to ground the busy patterns.
Add Fringe
The four-seater tête-à-tête steals the show in this luncheon-ready entertaining area by Jenna Gross of Colordrunk Designs. Fringe-trimmed furniture is often a staple in historic East Coast estates.
Pair High-Contrast Colors
Think of the colors of your favorite preppy sports team. There's a good chance it's a high-contrast pairing, like deep green and gold. These energizing hues make this sunroom by Claire Staszak of Centered by Design feel warm, like a summer's day.
Find a Common Thread
If you're having trouble deciding how to mix patterns, consider picking a common theme. For example, Mark D. Sikes drew inspiration from traditional Japanese Imari porcelain when selecting the patterns and hues in this bedroom.
Go Grandmillennial
Preppy design has a traditional foundation, so it's no wonder that the grandmillennial style fits under this aesthetic's umbrella alongside similar design movements like coastal grandmother. This bedroom by Cate Dunning is a prime example, and it's actually located in her grandmother's home, which she transformed into her family's dream home. The pastel walls lighten the darker pieces. "It feels like living inside a robin’s egg," Dunning says.
Make It French
It's hard to name a preppier color than soft pink, but baby blue comes in a close second. You'll notice this preppy color pairing in Marie Antoinette's estate, Petit Trianon. As lovers of frills and pastels, we'd argue that she was one of the initial inspirations for the preppy design movement. Caitlin Wilson used these two sweet hues to evoke a feminine space that's fit for high tea.
Stick to Pastels
Consider the pastel versions of your favorite colors when picking out the color palette for your preppy room. In this room by Lucas Studio, dusty blue walls come alive next to pale green upholstery. It's hard to go wrong when you pair muted analogous colors.
Hang Roman Shades
For a preppy window treatment, look no further than Roman shades. Bonus points if you opt for a pattern, as Emily Janak did in this bedroom. "I wanted it to feel luxurious," Janak says.
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