Decorating Challenges in Older Florida Homes and Unusual Florida Architecture

Many visitors to Florida are under the impression that every building in the Sunshine State was built in the past 25 years. While we do have more than our share of new construction, many homes were built during the 1940s, 1950s, and even earlier.

These vintage Florida homes are some of the architectural jewels of the state, but they also present decorating challenges. The interior design professionals at Baer’s Furniture have seen numerous older homes during their time in the field and have developed tried and true solutions to some of the obstacles that older homes present. 

What Are Some of the Features of an Older Florida Home?

Air Circulation Features

Many older Florida homes were designed before central air conditioning became popular. Consequently, these homes are set up to take advantage of the cooling options available to them: fans, ceiling fans, screened windows, bare floors, and front-to-back hallways – halls that connect the front door to the back to allow a cross-breeze. 

Cooling Solutions

Because heat rises, ceilings are often higher than in northern homes. Terrazzo floors became very popular in Florida homes because they don’t retain heat in the way that carpeted floors do.

Oftentimes, you’ll also find an exposed brick wall or a white-washed brick wall in one or more rooms. This is because brick slowly absorbs heat throughout the day, and releases it at night.

Heating Solutions

Fireplaces and built-in space heaters are common in central and northern Florida.

Outdoor Spaces

Front porches and back screened-in patios are frequently found in older Florida homes to provide the denizens with a place to enjoy fresh air in the shade. 

Vintage Florida Home Challenges and Solutions

Older Florida homes can be charming, but often present obstacles for interior decorators.

Here are a few of the most common decorating challenges of older Florida homes and practical solutions for professional and DIY decorators:

Fireplace in the Living Room

Challenge: Florida does not give you many cold nights to start a fire, and many fireplaces in Florida homes are no longer functional. Additionally, fireplaces are usually situated in a place that makes them impossible to ignore.

Solutions: You can, of course, celebrate the fireplace with candles or dried flowers, or you can obscure it with a piece of furniture. Depending on the height, you can conceal the fireplace with a high-backed sofa or loveseat with a skirt or short legs.

This Huntington House Loveseat is a perfect example of an attractive piece that you can put in front of a fireplace.

This also gives you the option of using the concealed hearth for additional storage or a place to hide holiday gifts. 

Too Much Terrazzo (or Tiling)

Challenge: While newer Florida homes have light-colored tile, many older Florida homes have wall-to-wall terrazzo. Without sufficient furnishings, both types of flooring can be cold to the eye and to the touch.

Solutions: You don’t need to replace your flooring to warm up the space. Adding an area rug and a sectional to the center of a room can turn the exposed portion of a terrazzo or tile floor into an elegant framing for the room.

Look how beautifully this tile floor garnishes this stately Natuzzi reclining sectional and matching area rug.

Too Small for a Bedroom, Too Large for a Closet

Challenge: Most standard-sized bedrooms are 12’x14’, but older Florida homes frequently have non-conforming, smaller rooms that would be too cramped if you moved a bed and dresser in.

Solutions: Because of the current work-from-home trend, many Floridians are looking for unused space in their homes to create a home office, which these small rooms are perfect for.

Home offices require much less area than a bedroom or guest room. Depending on the size of the room, you can place a desk against the wall and have a quiet space to work and conduct your video conferences.

With a width of around 48 inches, this Hooker Furniture Knee Hole Desk fits perfectly in a smaller room and has plenty of drawer storage for organization. When not in use, your chair tucks neatly under the kneehole.

Unattractive Wall Features 

Challenge: Some Florida homes have unfortunate locations for electrical outlets, phone outlets, circuit breaker panels, etc., or, a previous owner made a modification, and the wall patching is inconsistent and unattractive.

Solutions: The easiest way to deal with a botched wall repair or unattractive fixture is by putting something in front of it. If it’s something you don’t need to access, you could use a tall furniture piece, like the A.R.T. Furniture Arch Salvage Gwynn Curio, to block it. If it’s an item you need more frequent access to, like a circuit breaker panel, you can use wall art to cover up the offending metal encasement.

For every decorative obstacle, there’s a workaround. Need help? Stop in at a Baer’s Furniture showroom and ask our knowledgeable design experts about your options.