5 Ways to Transform your Tuscan Style Interiors Without a Major Renovation

Tuscan-style interiors were the trend of the ‘90s, with dark cabinetry, granite countertops, and travertine from wall to wall. But now, it’s 20+ years later, and your Tuscan-style home no longer feels like the reigning king of style. You’re ready to trade those dark tones and dated materials for light, bright, and fresh. 

However, one of the biggest challenges of updating a Tuscan-style home is that the features that so many homeowners are looking to replace are built right into the home itself. Removing them often means renovating, along with a significant investment and extended timeline. If you’re committed to a renovation, great! You will see transformative results and we can’t recommend it enough. 

However, if you’re wishing there was an easier way, you can absolutely make several cosmetic updates that will give you the refresh you crave without requiring major construction. Today, I’m sharing 5 ways to do so…

1. Change the Color of Your Cabinetry

Tuscan-style homes are known for dark wood cabinets, usually in cherry or oak. These visually heavy woods sit in stark contrast to the more modern-day aesthetic of open, bright spaces. New cabinetry, especially custom cabinetry, is a considerable investment and will require a larger-scale project. 

The good news is that you can change the color of your cabinetry by refinishing them. This process involves priming the surface and painting them, which we highly suggest that you hire a professional to do. However, it is a quick fix that will transform the entire look of the space.

What color should you choose? We recommend painting cabinets a light linen shade or soft neutral color that will feel spacious and reflect light. I share my favorite paint colors for updating Tuscan spaces here.

Pro Tip: Tuscan-style hardware (your cabinets’ knobs and pulls) tends to be very dark and overly traditional. You can also modernize your space by changing out this hardware. There is a wide variety of options that will work, from antique brass and brushed nickel to oil-rubbed bronze. Try to select a shape that feels clean-lined, not ornate. (Read How To Choose Beautiful Hardware For Your Home.)

Here’s a great Before & After showing the difference white cabinets can make.

2. Neutralize Your Wall Colors

How do you spot a Tuscan-style house? The rooms are painted in deep-toned colors (like golden yellow), and each room has its own unique shade smoothed over the walls and ceilings. Add faux finishes, and you’ve got yourself a Tuscan-style home. 

If dark walls are your current living situation, you will not believe the transformation you can achieve with new paint. Like those cabinets, it will breathe fresh new life into the space. The trick is finding the right shade to work with your travertine floors. Again, a neutral color is best, and the paint color combinations I share here will work well to neutralize and freshen up those golds and browns.

Just remember that the color will look different in each room, because natural light has a different “cast” to it depending on the direction the room faces (north, east, south, west). However, when you use one color throughout the house, the consistency of the color will calm the eye. Heck, I feel more relaxed just thinking about a lighter, cleaner look! And I’m confident you will, too.

You can’t see the walls in this space, but the ceiling gives us a great look at how a softer beige paint color can feel bright and welcoming without venturing into gold. It works with the travertine floors while still feeling open and fresh.

3. Create New Focal Points

As you know, our old friend Travertine dominated ‘90s home decor. You could find it on the floor, walls, the bath, even the fireplace surround. While removing it is, in my opinion, the best way to start fresh, painting cabinets and walls is one way to lessen its impact. The other is to distract the eye.

Soften the visual “voice” of travertine in the room by giving the eye something else to focus on. A great way to do this is with more up-to-date textiles, furnishings, and wall features. You can also frame your windows with beautiful drapery and hang a few pieces of well-placed art (don't be afraid to use a large size piece), you will draw attention away from the stone.  

Our best tip for integrating these into the space is to go for low contrast. A high contrast wall color will make the travertine stand out, while colors and textures that feel neutral will help blend with the stone and soften the look. Here’s a great example:

I bet you didn’t even notice that this bathtub and new “accent” wall are travertine! Instead, the eyes focus on the shiplap and black metal accents, helping the travertine naturally recede into the distance.

4. Use Blues & Greens to Complement Travertine 

Okay, you’ve heard me talk about neutrals for days, but what if you want to get some color in there? Great question. In my experience, blues and greens are the best color options. Navy is currently a desirable neutral that complements Tuscan elements, coordinating well with stained wood and stone-clad bathrooms or kitchens. If navy isn’t your shade, select a nice shade of green. Here are some flat lays for inspiration:

5. Updates with Grays are Possible

What if you love gray? If light gray is on your wishlist, it won’t be easy. Tuscan-style homes boast warm colors like yellows, golds, and greens, which aren’t easy to pair with gray. However, it can be done!

Like our other neutrals, you’ll want to choose a warm gray or a charcoal tone. If you are searching for fabrics, this family of warm grays is frequently paired with tans, linen colors, and soft gold, making these the best for Tuscan-style homes. That said, because it’s so difficult to get right, I highly recommend consulting a design professional before you add it to your home. 

Here are two examples of homes with gray or charcoal. On the left, we used a warm-toned gray to offset the travertine and coordinate with its darker veining. On the right, a charcoal-toned island draws the eye away from the travertine floors and feels much more modern and sophisticated.

Well, that’s it for now! If you like the hunt, transforming your Tuscan-style interiors without renovating can be challenging yet rewarding when you find the right look! If you need our help, our Designer by Your Side is the perfect solution for helping you make the right selections (for color, materials, fabric, etc.).

If you’re eager to go big and renovate, we can help you there too, with full-scale design and construction management. Book a 15-minute consultation with us and we’d be happy to chat about your project and explore the options.

Warmly,
Sarah