Tuscany is considered by many to be the most beautiful region in Italy, famous for its hills (most of the region is hilly, some of it mountainous, and only a very little flat plain), its vineyards, marble, textiles, and art galleries.

A little background

The people of Tuscany have a proud heritage, for the region was civilized by the Estrucans in the 7th century BC, giving way to the Romans in the first century. The caesars of Rome ruled until the fall of that Empire in the fifth century AD. Tuscany survived the Dark Ages, and indeed is considered the birthplace of the Italian Renaissance, towards the end of the 14th century.

That's a lot of history, which informs all areas of Tuscan life. The heritage and the geography of the land have influenced the style of decorating that the people use to beautify their homes, and this style is so simple and beautiful that it has progressed around the world.

Earth tones. That's what Tuscan decoration is about. The yellows of the sun, the greens and browns of the hills and vineyards, the simpleness of the land. The driving force behind the Tuscan style is to appreciate nature, not to hide it. To appreciate and embrace the past. That means earth tones for the walls and for the furniture and the accessories. Your home will indeed feel like it was designed to embrace a family. It will feel like that environment has been there forever, and will forever remain.

Even a single room can benefit

It's not necessary to design your entire home in the Tuscan style, even a single room can benefit from the look to become a 'retreat' away from the stresses of the everyday world. A room with no plastics, no gleaming metal, nothing hard-edged and jarring and out of place.

Take your kitchen, for example. A kitchen done in Tuscan style is a sight to behold - and it makes a good place to cook, too. Wrought iron candles and decorative wall decor are a must. Large ceramic or stoneware canisters in golds or yellows keep foods fresh but are also decorative.

On the web, you can find these accessories at such sites as Accent of Salado. The Tuscan Kitchen site offers Italian majolica - glazed earthenware pottery, intricate flatware designs to accent your table, gourmet cookware, and fine Italian foodstuffs such as olive oils, vinegars, and herbs.

Move the wrought iron wall decor out into the rest of your home, to accent walls painted in rustic yellows and oranges. Contemplate an eye-striking mural, or walls glazed to appear translucent. Materials such as leather, marble and iron are the distinguishing characteristics of Tuscan furniture. Drexel Heritage is a site that offers furniture - much of it reproductions of antiques, such as Arezzo style armoires or dressers.

Andrew Caxton is the author of many articles on different web publications, with subjects like home ideas and furniture published at http://www.home-decorating-reviews.com Find more publications about tuscan decorating at his website.

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