How to decorate an interior in modern style?

Features of modernity

Before considering the differences in Art Nouveau design, we note: at the peak of its popularity (the beginning of the 20th century), this trend spread throughout the world and formed new forms in different countries. For example, tiffany in the USA, Artnouveau in France, Jugendstil in Germany. Today they are separate from the Art Nouveau style, but in general they can be considered an integral part of it.

Apartments made in modern style are distinguished by:

• Smoothness of lines. There are no corners and clear stripes, the Art Nouveau finish repeats the floral curves.
• Natural materials. Particular attention is paid to wood - usually valuable expensive oak or beech furniture and decor are used.
• Asymmetry. After the absolute symmetry of Gothic and Baroque, the violation of the canons of mirroring became a breath of fresh air.
• Flora and fauna. The theme of nature in the creation of interior decoration for Art Nouveau is not uncommon, usually animal prints or symbolic images of plants are used.
• Arches. The vaults of windows and doors are often made precisely arched, while the window openings themselves are large and high, the doors are wide, usually swinging into 2 sashes.
• Ladders. If they are in the house, special attention should be paid to the design: wide comfortable steps, wrought iron railings.

The main thing that you need to know before starting the renovation: to recreate modern is not only expensive, but also difficult, especially without the appropriate skills. Therefore, if you doubt the success of the operation, but want an interior in this style, seek help from a professional designer, preferably with a portfolio of works in the modernist direction.

The color scheme of the style

Interior design in Art Nouveau tends to the natural theme, the color of the Art Nouveau style should be natural, as natural as possible.

Basic colors:

• White. Use shades of pearls, ivory, cream.
• Beige. From standard light cream to all shades of brown.
• Grey. Both light silver shine and dark wet asphalt or graphite will do.

Accent colors are also selected from the natural palette: green, yellow, orange, peach, fuchsia.

According to the description, it is clear that the Art Nouveau style in the interior should look like a single whole. Therefore, the shades are selected with special care: they should look like a continuation of each other, create a perfect combination.

The photo shows a combination of light walls with dark wood

The background (walls, ceiling) is usually made light - both in small and large rooms. Dark doors, mahogany furniture, bright stained-glass windows on the windows or facades look harmoniously on such a "canvas".

The monochromatic color of the Art Nouveau style is necessarily complemented by floral designs. They are usually used on:

• wallpaper;
• upholstery and textiles, carpets;
• ceiling and floor;
• decorative details of furniture and interior (wood, metal).

Finishes and materials

The Art Nouveau style in the interior offers a very limited list of finishing materials:

1. Wood.We have already mentioned that it is desirable - valuable and dark woods. At the same time, wooden parts are not painted, but only emphasize their texture and are protected with oil, wax or transparent varnish.
2. Glass. Not the usual transparent, but colored or painted. Stained-glass windows decorate not only windows, but also furniture facades, interior doors, they replace lamps on the ceiling.
3. Metal. The Art Nouveau style does not end with wrought iron railings, metal is skillfully combined with other materials, used as useful decorations (umbrella stand, magazine rack).

Based on this rating of the most popular building materials, it is easy to guess about the design of various surfaces in the Art Nouveau style.

The first thing to come to terms with is the price. There are no cheap solutions in Art Nouveau design (for this reason, it began to decline in the 1920s).

In the photo, a forged staircase of unusual shape

The Art Nouveau floor excludes linoleum, laminate, PVC tiles. For dry rooms (corridor, hall, bedroom), parquet or flooring is used. For wet people (bathroom, kitchen) - floor covering in the form of stone, expensive tiles. The latter, by the way, can be handmade with floral ornaments.

Wall decoration although it assumes minimalism and the complete absence of decorative elements, the budget will have to be spent on high-quality paint or wallpaper. The paint is light, matte, wear-resistant. Choose wallpaper with silk-screen printing, fabric, in extreme cases - premium non-woven or vinyl. The colors of the canvases are monochromatic, light relief or texture is allowed.

Ceiling both neutral and attention-grabbing. That is, a light (preferably warm white) color is diluted with a rich decor with a floral pattern, stained glass windows, bulky lamps, and stucco. Modern Art Nouveau in the interior gravitates towards multi-level stretch or suspended structures of a smooth shape, you can also use a fabric stretch ceiling with an ornament.

Furniture and accessories

The apartment in the Art Nouveau style differs not only in decoration, but also in furniture. With its love for smooth lines, the direction gave rise to the production of interior items of bizarre irregular shapes. There appeared a lot of shelving, dressing table, curbstones made of natural wood with signs of asymmetry. Built-in furniture is also an invention of the Art Nouveau style.

In some elements, natural patterns are clearly traced: shelves in the form of branches, carved flower legs, floral carved decorations on the facades, painted stained glass windows.

In the photo, the arch, wall and ceiling are decorated with wood

Upholstered furniture, such as armchairs, sofas, couches, are distinguished by light inconspicuous upholstery, but at the same time they look very catchy due to curved outlines, crooked legs, carved decor with plant or animal motifs.

No matter how the interior items and decor elements look in the Art Nouveau style, they are united by one important quality: convenience. The designers sought to create ergonomic chairs, sofas, and provided compartments in the work tables for storing all the necessary little things.

The photo shows wooden furniture and walls in the dining room

Textiles and curtains

The Art Nouveau style in the interior cannot be called minimalistic, the terms "bright", "chic" will be more appropriate. Therefore, there is a lot of textiles in it and all of it meets the stylistic requirements:

• smooth lines, soft drapery;
• natural colors;
• expensive exclusive fabrics;
• images of plants, flowers.

If you are afraid of busting in decorative elements, hang ordinary straight curtains on the floor, attaching them to suspensions on opposite sides of the window. The resulting curves will ideally emphasize your sense of proportion and fit the modern style.

A curtain on one side will become a bright accent: this is appropriate not only in the kitchen, but also in the living room and even in the bedroom. The asymmetrical composition does not exclude the decoration of the second side - a short curtain, a lambrequin or a hanging tie, a chill mold, a frill will cope with this task.

The rest of the textiles (cushions, throws, bedspreads) are made of flowing fabrics - satin, silk, or dense ones with an embossed pattern - for example, tapestry.

In the photo there are dark velvet curtains on the floor

Lighting

Each style, including modern in the interior, has its own requirements for light. Lamps in the Art Nouveau style are divided by location:

• Ceiling chandelier. Necessarily luxurious, dimensional. The most suitable model is made of forged elements with crystal pendants. Stained glass variations in the American style are also popular. Ceiling-mounted light panels decorated with stained glass are suitable for a modern look.

In the photo, the use of stained glass in the interior

• Tabletop. They are used on the desktop, bedside tables, side tables. The base is mainly made of natural wood, glass, metal. The lampshade is also either stained glass or beautiful light fabric.
• Outdoor. Replace tabletop ones - for example, near a sofa or bed.
• Wall mounted. Style requirements are the same - aesthetics, complex curved shapes, floral decor is possible.

Photos in the interior of the rooms

Living room in the Art Nouveau style, it necessarily includes a soft area with a comfortable sofa (preferably on a wooden frame), a pair of armchairs or poufs and a low coffee table, if possible, the room is equipped with a fireplace. The table base is wrought iron or carved wood, the table top is usually glass. Upholstered furniture is selected in one color, best of all from one collection. Used as decorations:

• candles in expensive candlesticks;
• crystal vases, porcelain;
• figurines and statues of various shapes, sizes;
• wall, table, floor clock mechanisms;
• paintings in wide elegant baguettes;
• cushions made of satin, silk, velvet.

Separately, it should be said about technology: modern TV models, for example, are visually poorly combined with the Art Nouveau style in the interior. Therefore, when placing them, you should take care of the decor: for example, make a niche and decorate it with floral decor, or choose a bright accent stand under the TV. These tricks will distract from the TV itself and help keep the style consistent.

In the photo, unusual curved arches

The Art Nouveau kitchen also gravitates towards natural materials, so the set, or at least its facades, is made of wood. The ideal shape of the headset is radial, semicircular doors, softened corners create a feeling of coziness, best suited to the style direction. The rest of the furniture should also be smooth: an island in the shape of a semicircle, a round or oval table.

Advice! The table can be square or rectangular - the main thing is that the corners are rounded.

A striking contrast will create a massive sideboard or cupboard, separate from the headset: preferably a restored antique model.

The Art Nouveau style in the interior of the bedroom looks most appropriate: muted tones, smooth shapes, neutral decorations contribute to relaxation for body and soul. The headboard of the bed is usually chosen as an expressive detail: forged with decorative elements, carved wooden, soft fancy shape in jacquard or velor upholstery. Sideboards, dressers and other additional items should repeat the style of the bed, ideally, buy furniture with a set in order to achieve complete harmony in the design.

Pictured is a four-poster bed

The Art Nouveau bathroom combines luxury and functionality. The bathroom bowl itself is preferably made freestanding, choosing the oval-shaped option on beautiful curved legs (in the modern variation, you can do without legs at all). If you prefer a shower - keep in mind that the shower cabin should also be smooth in shape - in specialized stores you can find partially or completely round and even oval samples.

The combined bathroom has zoning. Try a visual way of dividing the space: using an irregularly shaped podium, a bent floor joint, a radial structure on the ceiling.

In the photo there is a stained glass window in the dining room

Photo gallery

The style that we talked about today is more than 100 years old and it has managed to retain grace and luxury to this day. When creating a design in this style, do not forget about three postulates: natural materials, soft lines, functionality.