Craftsman-Style Décor Ideas and Tips for Every Room

The Craftsman-style home, which emerged from the Arts and Crafts Movement, is an American architecture favorite. It celebrates simplicity in design—a far cry from the Victorian-era homes the Craftsman style follows. Notable elements include wood beams and built-ins, stained glass, metalwork, and tilework. Bring the warmth and richness of this simple, hand-hewn style into your home with these Craftsman décor ideas.

Does Craftsman Interior Design Work without Craftsman Architecture?

Yes! You don't need a true Craftsman home to incorporate recognizable design elements into your interiors. From exposed beams, tiled floors, and stained glass windows to furnishings and smaller decorative accents throughout, you can bring Craftsman style into any home.

Traditional to Modern Craftsman-style Interior Décor Ideas

Rich wood, earthy tones, bold, straight lines, and low-maintenance details define the Craftsman style. Rustic, cottage-inspired elements also hint at the pared-down nature of the Craftsman movement. Work these throughout your home—whether it has the architecture to match—using these tips for every room.

Craftsman lighting often combines metal or wood elements with textured or opaque glass, and favors clean lines and simple construction

Use rustic to modern lighting to mimic the Craftsman style

Craftsman lighting often combines metal or wood elements with textured or opaque glass, and favors clean lines and simple construction. Tiffany-inspired art glass table lamps bring color to the room, while bronze and mica pendants cast a warm glow in the foyer or above your dining room table. Wood table lamps with square or rectangular bases combined with antique white drum shades achieve the look in the living room or bedroom.

Choose your Craftsman-inspired color palette

Brown, tan, and green against a linen white is the classic Craftsman color palette. Stick with traditional earth tones or shades of beige and oyster, or put your own spin on the hues with modern sage, basil, slate blue, or brick red.

Brown, tan, and green against a linen white is the classic Craftsman color palette.

Bring charming elements to the office, den, and living spaces

Create space with wood built-ins. Take advantage of open wall space and add shelves to hold books and collectibles, or cabinets for extra out-of-sight storage. If you can't manage a built-in, replicate the look with wood bookshelves or etageres with squared lines and a dark wood finish.

Focus on trim. Mirrors and wall art with unadorned, straight-edge wood frames bring Craftsman style to a room.

Accent your floors. Wood floors are the go-to option for Craftsman homes—and area rugs break up and soften the space for a comfortable, livable feel. Mirror this style in your living areas: Rich, medium wood tones and khaki, beige, or faded rust-hued area rugs with bold lines and thick borders create an inviting space.

Play up the fireplace and mantle. The fireplace is a staple in Craftsman design. Traditional designs featured stone or tile construction edged by a blocky wood mantle or built-in bookshelves. If revamping your fireplace is on the to-do list, look for earthy brick, glazed tiles, or textured stone for a rough-hewn look. You can add some Arts and Crafts style—even without the stonework—using fireplace screens, accessories, and tool sets.

Brighten spaces with bold lighting choices. Table lamps and reading lights that feature Tiffany or leaded glass are lighting options that reflect the era, but also suit a range of décor styles—traditional to contemporary. Mission-style table lamps blend deep-hued bronze with defined lines.

Add natural elements to work spaces. Fill your office with furniture and decorative items that mimic the simple, earthy Craftsman feel. Wood cabinets add storage space and ready surfaces to show off collections. Choose a solid wood executive desk with prominent wood grain and a rosy-hued stain, or opt for a drafting desk for a versatile metal-and-wood style that hints at vintage design. Accent the desk with wood accessories for a natural minimalist design.

Choose furniture made of wood or leather. Put a solid wood and leather chair behind the desk or create a sitting area with accent or reading chairs made of leather and studded with metal rivets. Embrace the Craftsman theme of "everything for a reason" when you choose an ottoman or bench that includes storage space to tuck away blankets and throws.

Craftsman touches for kitchen and dining areas

Simple cabinets leave room in the kitchen for other bold décor choices. Let decorative, yet uncomplicated handles and knobs dress up cabinets and drawers, add wood accents throughout the space, and let the other parts of the kitchen and dining room do the heavy lifting.

Go bold with the sink. An apron-front sink in hammered copper or fireclay adds a warm hue to the kitchen. Choose brass or oiled bronze faucets and fixtures to complement the metallic sink.

Incorporate glass. Go big with stained or leaded glass accents above the cabinets, cut-out glass accents to add interest to cabinet doors. You can also keep the cabinets simple, but hang a standout stained glass piece in a large kitchen or dining window to add brightness and mimic Craftsman glasswork.

Add a gathering space with an island. A kitchen island with bar stools provides a space for people to gather, talk, prep, and eat. For extra space, consider a sturdy rolling kitchen cart or open wood storage shelves. Fill them with rustic accents like pitchers, serving platters, cookbooks, or decorative wooden trays for a homey touch.

Turn the bathroom into a relaxing oasis

Add traditional details throughout the bathroom. Bring the luster of wood to the bathroom with a rich oak vanity and mission-style mirror, or a wooden linen cabinet with glass doors. Brighten the space with a clean, white chair rail or raised-panel wainscoting—they coordinate beautifully with a range of wall colors, from bold to subdued.

Rely on tile to boost color and texture. Create a lot of color and contrast with a two-tone, full-wall color block design. For a subtle design, use a single tile color or coordinate mosaic tiles below and a neutral wall color above. Geometric floor tile designs feel vintage, while textured subway tile provides an irregular, artisan-crafted detail that's perfect for a Craftsman-inspired bath.

Brighten the bathroom with metal fixtures. From oiled bronze to chrome, metallic faucets and fixtures add a bit of polish to the bathroom. A bathroom is a fantastic place to mix metals: Choose two or three metals with complementing undertones (dark, rustic, warm tones or light, bright, cool tones) for handles, drawer pulls, vanity hardware, and mirror frames.

Go bold with tubs and sinks. A white clawfoot tub and matching pedestal sink are expected elements in a Craftsman-style home, but they're not the only options. Make use of every inch of space with a freestanding or alcove tub tucked within a nook for a relaxing place to soak. Choose a metal, marble, or glass vessel sink for a modern-meets-artisan element.

Design bedrooms fit for a Craftsman original

Bring the same simple elements into the bedroom—wood, metallics, fine glasswork, straight lines, and no-nonsense design. Choose a substantial wood bed frame and furniture to match, or mix rustic and modern elements for a spin on straightforward bungalow style.

Create a focal point in the room. Mimic a headboard with wall-mounted panels in wood and metal. Shelves provide added storage space and add interest, making this a double-duty solution.

Add storage space with the perfect wardrobe. Look for a rustic hardwood wardrobe with clean lines and rich color. Use the wardrobe to store linens or clothing, or hide away your collection of electronics.

Include seating options. There are plenty of places to sit to when you include benches and ottomans in your bedroom layout. Add seating with a leather and wood bench spanning the foot of the bed, a neutral-hued, textured ottoman by a favorite armchair, or a simple wood bench.

Don't disregard outdoor living spaces

Bring the relaxing feel of a Craftsman-style home to your outdoor living spaces as well with these elements:

• Light the porch with mission-style pendant lights in metal and frosted glass.
• Add seating space with a wooden porch swing: Bigger is better.
• Choose a wood panel-style door with seeded or stained glass windows in the uppermost panel.
• Decorate the porch or patio with wood or wood-look planters that mirror the standout lines of a Craftsman exterior, or look for hammered brass or copper planters for an aged-metallic appearance.

Take our style quiz to see if Craftsman décor matches your aesthetic. If it does, build some of these tips into your home interior design and you'll craft a simple, yet sophisticated ambiance in each room.