How to create an interior in a modern stylish design?

Features of Art Nouveau

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, Art Nouveau in France, Jugendstil in Germany. Today they are separated from Art Nouveau, but in general can be considered an integral part of it.

Apartments made in Art Nouveau style are distinguished by:

• Smooth lines. No corners or clear stripes, Art Nouveau finishing follows plant 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 creating interior design for Art Nouveau is not uncommon, animal prints or symbolic images of plants are usually used.
• Arches. The vaults of windows and doors are often made arched, while the window openings themselves are large and high, the doors are wide, usually hinged on 2 leaves.
• Stairs. If there are any in the house, special attention should be paid to the design: wide comfortable steps, forged railings.

The main thing you need to know before starting repairs: recreating Art Nouveau 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.

Color scheme of the style

Interior design in modernism gravitates towards natural themes, the color of the modernist style should be natural, as natural as possible.

The main color scheme:

• White. Shades of pearl, ivory, cream are used.
• Beige. From standard light cream to all shades of brown.
• Gray. Both light silver shine and dark wet asphalt or graphite will do.

The accent color scheme is also selected from the natural palette: green, yellow, orange, peach, fuchsia.

From 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, creating an ideal 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 or facades look harmonious on such a “canvas”.

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

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

Finishing options and materials

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

1. Wood. We have already mentioned that valuable and dark wood species are desirable. In this case, wooden parts are not painted, but only their texture is emphasized and protected with oil, wax or transparent varnish.
2. Glass. Not the usual transparent one, but colored or painted. Stained glass is used to decorate not only windows, but also furniture facades, interior doors, and they replace lamps on the ceiling.
3. Metal. Art Nouveau does not end with forged railings; metal is skillfully combined with other materials, used as useful decorations (umbrella stand, newspaper 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 you need to come to terms with is the price. There are no cheap solutions in Art Nouveau design (which is why it declined in the 1920s).

The photo shows a forged staircase of an unusual shape

Floor in the Art Nouveau style excludes linoleum, laminate, PVC tiles. For dry rooms (hallway, living room, bedroom) use parquet or floorboards. For wet rooms (bathroom, kitchen) – flooring in the form of stone, expensive tiles. The latter, by the way, can be handmade with plant ornaments.

Although the wall decoration assumes minimalism and a complete absence of decorative elements, the budget will have to be spent on high-quality paint or wallpaper. Paint – light, matte, wear-resistant. Choose wallpaper with silk-screen printing, fabric, in extreme cases – first-class non-woven or vinyl. The color of the canvases is monochromatic, light relief or texture is allowed.

The ceiling is neutral and eye-catching at the same time. That is, the light (preferably warm white) color is diluted with rich decor with a plant pattern, stained glass, bulky lamps, stucco molding. Modern Art Nouveau in the interior gravitates towards multi-level stretch or suspended structures of smooth shapes; you can also use a fabric stretch ceiling with an ornament.

Furniture and accessories

An apartment in Art Nouveau style is distinguished not only by its decoration, but also by its furniture. With its love for smooth lines, the trend gave rise to the production of interior items of bizarre irregular shapes. A multitude of shelves, dressing tables, and cabinets made of natural wood with signs of asymmetry appeared. Built-in furniture is also an invention of the Art Nouveau style.

In some elements, natural patterns are clearly visible: 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, and couches, are distinguished by their light, inconspicuous upholstery, but at the same time they look quite striking due to their curved outlines, crooked legs, and carved decor with plant or animal motifs.

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

The photo shows wooden furniture and walls in the dining room

Textiles and curtains

The Art Nouveau style in the interior cannot be called minimalist; the terms “bright” and “chic” would be more appropriate. Therefore, there is a lot of textile in it and all of it meets the stylistic requirements:

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

If you are afraid of going overboard in decor elements, hang regular straight floor-length curtains, gathering them on hangers on different sides of the window. The resulting curves will perfectly emphasize your sense of proportion and suit the Art Nouveau style.

A curtain on one side will be a bright accent: this is appropriate not only in the kitchen, but also in the living room and even in the bedroom. An asymmetrical composition does not exclude the decoration of the second side – a short curtain, a lambrequin or a hanging tie, a coquille, a jabot will cope with this task.

The rest of the textiles (sofa cushions, blankets, bedspreads) are made of flowing fabrics – satin, silk, or dense ones with a stamped pattern – for example, tapestry.

The photo shows dark velvet curtains to the floor

Lighting

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

• Ceiling chandelier. It must be luxurious and large. The most suitable model is made of forged elements with crystal pendants. Stained glass variations in the American style are also popular. In a modern presentation, light panels built into the ceiling, decorated with stained glass, are suitable.

The photo shows the use of stained glass in the interior

• Tabletop. They are used on the work desk, bedside tables, and coffee tables. The base is mainly made of natural wood, glass, or metal. The lampshade is also either stained glass or a beautiful light fabric.
• Floor. They replace tabletop lamps, for example, near a sofa or bed.
• Wall. The style requirements are the same – aesthetics, complex curved shapes, plant decor is possible.

Photos in the interior of the rooms

The living room in the Art Nouveau style necessarily includes a soft area with a comfortable sofa (preferably on a wooden frame), a couple of armchairs or poufs and a low coffee table, if possible, the room is equipped with a fireplace. The table base is forged or made of carved wood, the tabletop is usually glass. Upholstered furniture is selected in one color, preferably from one collection. The following are used as decorations:

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

Separately, it should be said about technology: modern TV models, for example, visually poorly match 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 TV stand. These techniques will distract from the TV itself and help maintain the unity of style.

The photo shows unusual curved arches

A modern style kitchen also gravitates towards natural materials, so the set or at least its facades are made of wood. The ideal shape of the set is a radius, 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 massive sideboard or china cabinet, separate from the set, will create a bright contrast: preferably a restored antique model.

The modern style in the bedroom interior looks most appropriate: muted tones, smooth shapes, neutral decorations contribute to the rest of the soul and body. The headboard of the bed is usually chosen as an expressive detail: forged with decorative elements, carved wooden, soft intricately shaped in jacquard or velour upholstery. Bedside tables, chests of drawers and other additional items should repeat the style of the bed, ideally buy furniture as a set to achieve complete harmony in the design.

In the photo is a canopy bed

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

In a combined bathroom, zoning takes place. Try a visual way to divide the space: with the help of an irregularly shaped podium, a curved joint of the floor covering, a radial structure on the ceiling.

In the photo, a stained glass window in the dining room