Philadelphia is a city full of art and design. That means if you’re in search of home decorating ideas, you don’t have to look far to find inspiration in Philly. Whether it’s the architecture of the city’s past or garden design from the city’s present, you’ll find something that you can make work in your Philadelphia home.

1. The Flower Show

Every year, the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society puts on the biggest indoor flower show in the world. You don’t have to have a green thumb to get home decorating ideas from the show. Walk through the displays of plants and flowers to get idea of what colors work well together or to get ideas for table settings for your dining room or outdoor space. If you do have a green thumb, the flower show gives you a chance to learn about new plants to try in your garden or to bring indoors.

2. Calder Mobiles

The Calder family has left a huge mark on art and design in Philly. Alexander M. Calder created the large statue of William Penn that sits on top of City Hall. His grandson, Alexander Calder, is credited with creating the mobile. You can see examples of Calder’s mobiles throughout the city, including in the balcony area of the Great Stair Hall inside the Philadelphia Museum of Art. If you’re so inclined, you can also bring home a Calder-inspired mobile, to decorate a bedroom or to add a touch of quirkiness to your living area.

3. The Parkway

If you look at side-by-side photos of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia and the Champs-Élysées in Paris, you’ll most likely notice some similarities. That’s because the Parkway’s design was modeled on the Champs-Élysées. You can bring a bit of that cosmopolitan style into your home, too. Take a cue from the international flags that hang on both sides of the Parkway and hang up a string of flag bunting across a window or along a wall in your home.

4. Impressionism

Now that the Barnes Foundation has moved to Center City, Philly is home to its amazing collection of Impressionist paintings. In 2015, the city will also be the site of an upcoming exhibition on American Impressionism. Bring Impressionism into your home by finding a print or painting by an Impressionist artist, such as Monet or Cassatt. You can also explore the Barnes Foundation or the collection of Impressionist works at the Philadelphia Museum of Art and use the colors in a painting you like in your home.

5. Art Deco

You can find examples of Art Deco throughout Philadelphia, from the Perelman Building at the Art Museum to the facade at Suburban Station. Once a symbol of technological advance and progress, the Art Deco style is characterized by rich colors and geometric shapes. It also brings with it the suggestion of luxury. Bring Art Deco into your home decorating with mirrored furniture, gilded accessories, and patterned textiles.

Decorating inspiration is everywhere in Philadelphia. The next time you’re out wandering the city, take a close look at the buildings, gardens, and details around you. Something might catch your eye and give you the decorating idea you’ve been waiting for.

Image Source: Flickr

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