There are those that fight straight tradition and eschew the trendiest of the trendy. They prefer to be free of the tethers that define country style. For these unique souls, there is one place to flee for creative sanctuary-the diverse furniture style known as Transitional. The label "transitional" can cause confusion for some. Transitional walks the line between traditional and contemporary furniture, with lines that are less ornate than traditional styles but not as severely basic as contemporary lines.

Consequently, transitional furniture is no single extreme, but a harmonic blend of styles that can be adapted to an individual's preference. Comfort and practicality are key aspects to transitional furniture, with many pieces made to meet the demands of the active household. Durable materials found in this type of furniture include contemporary media like metal and glass, but also sophisticated, lush fabrics. Within the elegant curves of this style are two sub-categories: eclectic and casual. Eclectic style furniture borrows from several furniture styles freely. A cluttered, disjointed look is avoided by unifying color or textures, while casual furniture is classically inspired with today's family in mind. It's comfy and perfect for entertaining friends and family without formal airs.

Pick out furniture that is sturdier in dimension than contemporary pieces, but lacks the sometimes oppressive proportions of traditional items. Juxtapose traditional curves with contemporary straight edges. Avoid anything that may seem "overdone" or too formal, shying away from elaborate carvings and sticking with unfussy ornamentation. If something seems too "cold" and modern, move on to something that imparts more warmth and comfort.

Transitional lighting avoids overworked metals and opulent decoration. However, it's not as stark and simple as some contemporary fixtures, which may only have a single halogen bulb behind a frosted cube, for instance. Most transitional lighting employs metals like steel and iron, and the shapes are curved and definite, but avoid crossing the line to a web of intricate knots, loops and curlicues.