Neoclassicism in the interior: key features and design examples.

Features of the style

The main principles of ideal design in neoclassical style:

• Symmetry, straight and clear lines and correct proportions prevail in the interior.
• Expensive and noble finishing materials are used for decoration.
• Elegant and not too pretentious elements are present as decorations.
• The design implies basic shades in combination with gold or bronze details.

Finishing and materials

Neoclassicism is distinguished by certain facing materials.

Walls

Decorative plaster is used for decoration, for example Venetian or glossy and matte paint. Additional details in the design of the walls can be decor in the form of columns, arches and niches.

The photo shows a bedroom in the neoclassical style with walls covered with gray-golden wallpaper.

Wallpaper is chosen both in a single-color version, and canvases decorated with neutral patterns or wide stripes.

The photo shows the walls in the bathroom in the neoclassical style, tiled.

Floor

The style assumes high-quality floor cladding, for example, with various types of wood such as rosewood or oak. Ceramics imitating wood will look no less harmonious. Flooring in neoclassicism has a luxurious and respectable look, for which parquet or laminate is perfect.

An alternative to wood finishing is the use of porcelain stoneware or polished marble. This solution will especially complement the kitchen or hallway. A guest room, bedroom or dressing room can be decorated with carpet.

The photo shows the interior of a small living room with a floor decorated with brown parquet boards.

Ceiling

A smooth ceiling plane in white tones, matching the shade of the walls, is a good solution. For decorating the ceiling, it is appropriate to use wooden panels dividing the surface into equal rectangular parts or moldings in the form of cornices, baseboards, moldings or rosettes.

Doors

The interior doors are distinguished by their strict symmetrical design and are made of expensive wood. Basically, neoclassicism is characterized by doors in light colors with the addition of gilded details, natural wood or mother-of-pearl shades.

The photo shows swing white doors with glass inserts in the interior in the neoclassical style.

It is possible to install paneled doors decorated with various inserts, blind structures or panels supplemented with glass, stained glass or mirrors.

Color range

The color palette is presented in light natural colors, which are sometimes diluted with rich accents. Universal basic tones are white, milky, beige, gray, ocher and brown colors with the addition of gold, silver or patina.

The photo shows the interior of a neoclassical kitchen in gray tones with emerald accents.

Additional colors for decorating accessories, furniture upholstery and textiles are contrasting blue, burgundy, emerald, bronze or black tones.

Lighting

Lighting plays a very important role in neoclassical interior, it should have a soft and diffused glow. Matte lighting will allow you to optimally emphasize the exquisite design and visually unite all its details into a single composition.

The photo shows ceiling chandeliers in the interior of the kitchen-living room in the neoclassical style.

You can perfectly complement the room with a crystal chandelier that effectively refracts light. Auxiliary lighting is provided by built-in spotlights, floor lamps or sconces with multi-level arrangement.

Choice of textiles

The main design element is curtains made of thick, heavy, single-color fabric, such as semi-glossy silk. Curtains most often have a simple pattern and freely falling soft folds. Curtains are complemented by semicircular lambrequins or decorated with drapery.

The photo shows a bedroom in neoclassical style and a window decorated with Roman blinds in combination with transparent curtains.

The color of the canvases matches the walls or echoes other decorative items. For tapestry or velvet curtains, tiebacks with tassels are used. Cornices, which are made of natural wood and decorated with ornate carved details, deserve special attention. The decor can be complemented with decorative pillows or a small carpet with flowers or geometric patterns.

Furniture and appliances

The choice of furniture in neoclassical style provides a huge scope for creativity. Here, it is preferable to install light, elegant models of light shades with noble silhouettes. Natural wood and forged decor are often used in the manufacture of furniture.

The photo shows a bed with a soft high headboard in beige shades in the bedroom interior.

The interior is furnished with all sorts of sideboards with glass doors, elegant tables, cabinets or chests of drawers used as storage systems. In the upholstery of the sofa, armchairs or chairs, velvet, velour, leather, suede or short-haired fur are found.

The photo shows a living room in the neoclassical style with a light wooden wall for a TV.

Furniture items in the neoclassical style have traditional features, for example, chairs have curved legs and oval-shaped seats, armchairs are decorated with carvings, and cabinets – with glass inserts. For the kitchen, you can choose equipment that has an aged look with handles made of precious metals.

Decor and accessories

Neoclassical design amazes with a large number of accessories, for example, in the form of sculptures, busts, candlesticks, bas-reliefs or floor vases in the antique style, which echo the stucco decor or wall decoration.

The photo shows the decor in the design of a studio in neoclassical style.

The interior also features antique clocks, tapestries and paintings. The guest room will be decorated with wall paintings with landscapes, still lifes will be appropriate for the kitchen space, and watercolors will complement the bedroom or study. Large mirrors in wooden or metal golden frames will give the room a particularly noble look.

Neoclassical design examples

Staircases in the form of wide and solemn structures are often found in the interior of country houses or spacious apartments. Stone, expressive forging or graceful wooden carved elements are appropriate for cladding this structure. The key detail of the staircase is the presence of short roller shutters, stepped podiums and balusters that have a conical shape.

An important accent of the room in this style is considered to be a fireplace, not necessarily a real one. It can have a laconic finish or marble facing. The wall above the fireplace is decorated with a mirror or a painting, and furniture or other objects are installed on the side of it in a symmetrical order.

The photo shows the interior of a hall in a country cottage with a staircase decorated with wrought iron railings.

A selection of real apartments

An apartment in the neoclassical style is distinguished by natural shades in the interior design, symmetry in the arrangement of furniture and luxurious accessories and textiles.

The photo shows a real example of apartment renovation in neoclassical style.

The photo shows a design project for a 44 sq. m.

The photo shows a project of a two-room apartment in brown-beige tones.

Photos in the interior of rooms

Decor of various rooms.

Living room in neoclassical style

Decoration in the form of mirrors, bas-reliefs, figurines or vases will allow you to decorate the walls in the living room. The floor covering is done both in a single-color version and is complemented by ornaments or drawings in the center. You can emphasize the window frames with mullions or stained glass.

Living room furniture should be distinguished by elegance, lightness and sufficient compactness. In the center of the room, place a single-color carpet or a product with chic patterns. In this case, the rest of the furniture is placed perimeterwise. The main element of the hall is the sofa. Most often, roomy designs with large pillows are preferred.

Neoclassicism in the kitchen interior

The dining room in neoclassical style contains natural materials in sufficient quantities. Marble or porcelain stoneware are ideal for flooring. The work area is decorated with ceramics or washable wallpaper. For practicality, chairs with leather upholstery are chosen. In a small kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building, a light-colored set with glazed facades looks more appropriate.

The photo shows the design of a small kitchen, made in neoclassical style.

The kitchen has decorative details in the form of beautiful painted porcelain dishes, various vases or figurines that fill the atmosphere with sophistication and coziness.

Bathroom and toilet design in neoclassical style

In the bathroom, elite plumbing with gilded faucets, a monolithic countertop under the sink are installed, or the room is furnished with exclusive furniture items with antique fittings. Pastel-colored ceramic tiles are used for floor and wall cladding. In a spacious bathroom, it is welcome to install a font in the center.

Light rounded models are preferred as a bathroom. The ideal option would be a snow-white structure or a brass, cast iron or copper product. Baths with gilded or copper legs in the form of lion’s paws have an aristocratic look.

Bedroom in neoclassical style

Here they choose rather massive models of beds, equipped with a high headboard, upholstered in fabric. In a room with light walls, bright textiles are used, and a more contrasting design is diluted with translucent curtains or a white carpet.

The photo shows a neoclassical bedroom in brown and olive tones.

The design of a bedroom in neoclassical style is distinguished by maximum symmetry. The central pieces are a bed, a ceiling lamp and a carpet, with other interior elements arranged in relation to them.

Photo of a hallway and corridor in neoclassical style

Niches with spotlights will become a decorative decoration of the corridor. The furniture in the room should include a chest of drawers, a bench, soft poufs and open hangers. Large mirrors or vases with flowers will add pretentiousness to the decor.

Children’s room design

The design of the children’s room allows for bright accents in the decoration. The room can be decorated with pastel-colored wallpaper, and the wall above the bed can be decorated with an original bas-relief with soft lighting. Additional relief and expressiveness in the room will allow adding multi-level ceiling structures as a decorative element and at the same time the main source of light.

The photo shows the interior of a teenage girl’s bedroom, decorated in neoclassical style.

Study room interior

The study is characterized by a combination of classical elements with modern design trends. Furniture with strict proportions harmonizes perfectly with noble decorative items and the overall color scheme. The room is equipped with a wardrobe, a rack or a library, emphasizing the conservative mood of the atmosphere.