The Art of Spanish Furniture: Craftsmanship and Design Insights
Spanish furniture can be stunning and impactful but if you’ve never bought any before it can seem complicated – make it easy with the design experts at Furniture Express.
Just moved into your dream Spanish property but not sure how to fill it with traditional Spanish Furniture?
The experts at Furniture Express explore the roots and fundamentals of Spanish furniture design and craftsmanship, so you can make an informed choice about what will look best in your home!
Read on to find out more.
What is Spanish furniture?
When discussing Spanish furniture, we need to consider two distinct but connected fields:
- Furniture from Spain
- Furniture crafted in a traditional Spanish style
Typical Spanish style is closely linked to the Mudéjar – an architectural style that originated in Spain in the 12th century.
It involves the fusion of Islamic, Jewish, and Christian architectural techniques and traditions to create an eclectic but impressive style that is instantly recognisable. Evidence of this style still exists across Spain, in cities such as Teruel, Toledo, Córdoba, Sevilla, and Valencia.
Mudéjar architecture
Most often found in churches and towers from the 13th and 15th centuries, key tenets of Mudéjar architecture include:
- Horseshoe arches
- Muqarna vaults – also known as stalactite or honeycomb vaulting
- Alfiz – decorative moulding around an arch
- Wooden roofing
- Ornamental stucco (plaster) work
- Stylized calligraphy
- Geometric and vegetal (plant and flower-based) forms
But what does this have to do with Spanish furniture?
Put simply, the Mudéjar architectural style went on to influence furniture styles, creating a typical Spanish furniture style that is still very much in use today – especially in more grand or traditional homes.
How to choose typically Spanish furniture
If you prefer the traditional or have seen Mudéjar architecture on your visits to Spain and are keen to incorporate it into your home, furniture from in the traditional Spanish style is the easiest way to go!
Features of Spanish furniture
- A main colour palette of cool and warm natural colours
This can include everything from warm and off-whites like bone and ivory, magnolia and beige to darker colours like greige, taupe, brown, and grey.
- The use of natural or traditional materials
Including but not limited to, wood, leather, iron, or stone, and natural textiles, like furs, weaving, cotton, wool, and open-weave fabrics.
- Heavily carved or decorated elements
When choosing furniture, textiles, and built-in installations like countertops and breakfast bars, look for examples with strong decoration, carvings, or even mosaic or tiled designs.
This is especially true if the furniture is or appears to be handmade or hand-finished – which gives an extra Spanish touch.
While these main features are not exclusive to Spanish furniture and the Mudéjar style, far from it, they are very popular and well-known across Spain. The adoption of this style can help homeowners boost the Spanish feel of their properties and can work in almost any type of property, from modern villas with pools to fincas, pazos, or carmens alike.
Modern uses of traditional Spanish furniture
If you live in a modern property, with clean white lines and lots of glass, you might be nervous about trying to mix in the Spanish Mudéjar style – even if you crave it.
Follow our top tips for seamlessly combining the old and the new:
- Choose dark or light furniture and stick with this throughout the room.
The material of the furniture can be mixed and matched and will work if it follows the same palette – even metal/glass and wood.
- Add extra texture to “warm up” your space
This can be with mixed textiles, tiled or marble floors with rugs, polished stone or tiles on tables and worktops, and textured wallpapers.
- Consider a pop of colour
A natural, neutral colour palette can be combined with a modern property by adding accent colours.
This can include a statement wall paint or wallpaper but doesn’t need to be, just add touches of colour with accessories like throws, candles, artwork, and pillows.
These tweaks can be inexpensive and easy to store or sell if you decide to mix them up in the future.
For help finding Spanish furniture, ask the experts
If you’ve just moved in or want to breathe new life into a preexisting property, adding traditional Spanish furniture can be a simple but highly effective way to do it.
But if the idea of interior design and shopping for furniture is not your cup of tea, Furniture Express can help.
We have an experienced team of design consultants who live to furnish homes for others, accessible furniture packs that make filling your whole house a doddle, and an impressive catalogue of additional items and accessories so you can personalise your space.
Just reach out today to get started – you can call us on 0034 952 886 677 or email us at info@furnitureexpressspain.com and we’ll help in any way we can.
