Decorating a Mission-Style Home
Check out our tips for achieving this popular design style.
Intrigued by Mission-style decor, but unsure how to put together a true Mission-style home? We’ve laid out the basics to help you get this look, read on for a crash-course.
What Is Mission Style?
Characterized as simple, casual, and comfortable, Mission style originated in the late 19th century as a popular manifestation of the American Arts and Crafts Movement. The movement celebrated simple, robust handiwork and natural, hardy materials, especially oak. Mission-style furniture typically lacks any kind of decoration or ornamentation that isn’t integral to the structure of the piece.
Tip!
Learn more in our guide on What Is Craftsman Style?
How to Decorate in Mission Style
Mission-style rooms are warm and inviting with an air of heritage. With clean-lined silhouettes and earthy neutrals, mission-style design is approachable and comfortable.
Mission-Style Color Palette
You’ll typically see earth tones like emerald green, russet, and tan in Mission-style homes because those colors beautifully complement dark oak furniture, which is a staple of the style. Bright greens, blues, yellows, and reds look stunning in contrast to those more muted hues, but use them sparingly to avoid distracting from the room’s handcrafted, simple style. Brightly dyed throws or pillows and painted pottery can bring more concentrated color into your Mission-style room without derailing the rest of the design. Woven fabrics with Mission-style motifs of vines and flowers can add intrigue to what might otherwise be a less-engaging color palette.
Mission-style design often relies on rich textures and durable materials. Think leather upholstery, woven textiles, iron light fixtures, and plenty of solid wood. These high-quality materials lend themselves to timeless style and long-lasting comfort that's perfect for Mission-style bedrooms and living spaces.
Mission-style furniture heavily features vertical and horizontal lines and flat panels likeslatted headboards or paneled dresser drawers. Those features, with the help of a dark finishing stain, show off the natural beauty of the wood grain (especially oak). Architecture that fits Mission style is typically found in Craftsman-style bungalows with large mantels above fireplaces. From expertly-crafted panel beds and dressers to sofas, accent chairs, coffee tables, and dining sets, there are so many ways to infuse your space with Mission style!
Unlike the intricate stained glass windows that can be found in many places of worship around the world, Mission-style stained glass panels feature simple geometric shapes – often with 90° angles. Mission-style stained glass can be found in small panels meant to be hung individually in windows or fashioned into lamp shades. The glass panel colors used are typically limited to earth tones and dark jewel tones, with many panes kept colorless.
