Authentic Tuscan architecture normally features tall, narrow wood-framed windows along with the use of window shutters. Many Tuscan style homes also have an enclosed courtyard. Most of the Tuscan style homes have a stucco exterior, and a large number also include some stone.

There are some similarities between Mediterranean home design and Tuscan home design. However, authentic Tuscan architecture tends to be a little less busy or intricate in appearance. And that basic "Italian villa" approach has worked well for many, many years.

Typical color palette includes:
Tuscan decorating colors are warm, yellow-based colors. Consider colors that are nature inspired. When decorating Tuscan, think ripe, golden pears, a clear turquoise lake, orange-red hibiscus, luscious green olives, the rich burgundy of aged wine and you have some possibilities for Tuscan color.

Create visual depth with heavily textured walls and rich Mediterranean color. Yellow and orange are important colors to consider when creating a Tuscan interior design. Yellow is subdued and found in shades of gold as seen in golden olive oil and creamy stucco walls in ancient buildings. Shades of gold are Mediterranean neutrals found on floors and walls as well as in cabinetry and furniture. The orange in Mediterranean design is burnt terra cotta orange or even darker. Rusty burnt orange is used on walls and floors. Darkest shades are found in scrolled ironwork, dark cabinetry and furniture.

Distinctive Features:

• Walls – The wall treatments of the Italian home act as support for the rest of the interior. Plaster walls, stucco-lustro and marmorino walls all evoke the classic Italian feeling. Hand painted wall treatments and decorative patterns enhanced common spaces.
• Ceilings – Rich, textured ceiling medallions juxtaposed with simply plaster moldings create elegance and a sense of comfort. Old wood beams would evoke a rustic look, while stenciled borders and vaulted or paneled ceilings create an architectural framework uniquely expressive of this style.
• Floors – Terre-cotta tiles, glazed ceramic and marble inlay in intricate patterns are a few examples of the Italian sensitivity to design that carry through from ceiling and walls to the floors. Raw Sienne, umbers, rose pink, yellows and the pure white marbles from Carrara, above Pisa, all become the tools of the skilled craftsmen and artists. Terrazzo floors, made from marble chips ground with crushed stone and stucco, polished to a smooth surface create new and diverse patterns to experiment with. Mosaic work, often of glass, stone or tile adds flare and energy.