Federal Style: How Early America Designed Homes After the Revolution

The Federal period of American design was roughly between 1789 and 1823, right after the U.S. became an independent country. It reflected new national pride and borrowed classical ideas from ancient Greece and Rome.


Why It Started

American leaders such as George Washington and Thomas Jefferson liked Neoclassical (Greek and Roman) architecture. They believed the young republic should look orderly and balanced, so Federal style became popular for government buildings and wealthy homes.
 

Architecture and Interiors

Federal interiors and exteriors were elegant but restrained, showing the ideals of the new nation: order, clarity, and cultural confidence. They were less ornate than the Victorian style that came later, but they were more refined than the Colonial style before them. Federal architecture featured:
  • Symmetry
  • Proportion
  • Classical shapes similar to Georgian designs (but were more refined).
Interiors were airier and lighter than earlier styles. Features were:
  • High ceilings
  • Subtle plaster details
  • Decorative cornices (instead of full wood panelling)
  • Plastered walls
  • Painted, wallpapered, or fabric-covered.
  • Windows, fireplaces, doors, and mantels with delicate trims and ornamentation.


Furniture and Decor

Federal furniture was elegant, balanced, and inspired by European classical styles, especially the neoclassical Adam style. Common furniture pieces used include:
  • Hepplewhite sideboards.
  • Chests-on-chests.
  • Desks
  • Cabinets, often with contrasting veneers, inlays, and delicate shapes.
Décor objects in wealthy homes included:
  • Bevelled mirrors.
  • Tall clocks.
  • Porcelain pieces.
  • Window treatments, like swags and tails with ornate fringes.
Wood was a widely used material because America had plenty, plus there was easy access to woodlands. Craftsmen made slender columns and fine mouldings in wood, adapting classical stone details into lighter wooden forms.

Articles of interest
Mix-and-Match Styles: About Eclectic Home Interiors