Spanish Colonial Style
Key Characteristics
- ✓Thick stucco or adobe walls with rounded edges
- ✓Hand-painted talavera and encaustic tiles
- ✓Arched doorways and window openings
- ✓Interior courtyards with fountains
- ✓Wrought iron railings, gates, and fixtures
- ✓Exposed wooden ceiling beams and corbels
Types & Variations
Common Materials
Works Well With These Styles
Placement & Usage Tips
Focus Spanish Colonial elements in entryways, kitchens, and outdoor living areas where the interplay of tile, iron, and stucco creates the strongest impact. Use tile as a decorative accent on stair risers, fountain surrounds, and kitchen backsplashes.
💡 Pro Tip
Authentic Spanish Colonial interiors derive their warmth from the contrast between cool, thick-walled interiors and sun-drenched courtyards. If you cannot create an actual courtyard, simulate the effect with a glass-roofed atrium, a tiled foyer with a fountain, or large windows opening onto a garden with Spanish-influenced landscaping.
Related Terms
Mexican Hacienda
A bold, warm design style inspired by traditional Mexican estate homes, combining rustic wood beams, vibrant colors, handcrafted tiles, and thick adobe walls.
Andalusian Style
A design style rooted in southern Spain's Moorish heritage, featuring ornate tilework, horseshoe arches, interior courtyards, and a blend of Islamic and Spanish Christian motifs.
Hacienda Modern
A contemporary reinterpretation of traditional hacienda design that pairs rustic elements like exposed beams and terracotta with modern furniture, clean lines, and minimalist sensibilities.