Interior design styles

The glamour style, created in opposition to minimalist trends at the beginning of the 20th century, draws in handfuls from Baroque traditions. It is characterized by a high level of decorativeness. Splendour, ornament, modern elegance - these terms come to mind in the context of glamour interiors.

You will find there stylized furniture on bent legs, combined with simple, glass forms, quilted sofas and chaise logs. Light will be reflected in large areas of mirrors and crystal or chrome-plated details in lamps, furniture knobs and decorative elements such as candlesticks or picture frames.

The basic colours in glamour interiors are white and black, which provide a background for stronger accents in shades of purple, emerald green, pink or turquoise. Fabrics - smooth or decorated with floral or geometric motifs - in a soft, noble look. Sofas or headrests covered with velvet or plush, curtains and pillows in satin or silk. It is worth starting from the assumption: a simple base - richer accessories, choosing smooth fabrics on larger surfaces of furniture, while the ornament should be treated as jewelry for the interior and used in accessories.

Industrial style appears for the first time in the United States. The post-war times of crisis force us to produce fast, large and cheaply. Materials such as steel, glass, plywood and plastics that have not previously been used on a large scale (or not at all) in architecture and interiors are best suited. Raw, spacious spaces, exposed structural elements such as brick and concrete, simple, modern furniture - this is the essence of the industrial climate. The leading colours are white, black and shades of grey.

Red brick or natural wood are basically the only colorful accents that we will meet in lofty arrangements. Although we will not use rich window decorations (their place is occupied by blinds), we can use here and there a heavy, velvet curtain in deep shades of navy blue, bottle green or red, which are obligatorily devoid of ornament. The raw character can be enriched with additional textures - woollen, felt or even fur cushions and blankets in more neutral colours of grey and beige will work well.

Symmetry and moderation, harmony and balance - these terms define the classic style. It has a timeless character, does not go out of fashion, while allowing for a quick change in the climate of the interior, using colorful trinkets or textiles. Neutral colours of walls and floors are the basis for stylized furniture and accessories, drawing on the ornamentation of antiquity - columns, pilasters, shapes referring to ancient Greek vases, appearing in furniture details, wall stuccos, lamp bases, vases. Ornamentation - usually regular, repetitive floral motifs - is scrolled on richly draped curtains, curtains, pillows and wallpapers.

For fans of more geometric patterns, belts are perfect. Timeless character is combined with good quality fabrics. Silk, wool, jacquard fabrics in shades of broken, warm white, beige, gold and brown. In addition, quilted sofas, chairs and headrests made of high quality microfiber imitating natural nubuck. For a gentle breakthrough of subdued colors, we can add powder-pink, lavender or blue accessories to the interior. If you want a more pronounced effect, reach for claret or cobalt.

Originating from the nineteenth century, the colonial style is a combination of European classics with oriental designs of Africa, Asia and South America. It was created by British officers and growers who settled in colonized lands, commissioning local craftsmen to make furniture and furnish their homes. So they played back Victorian design, but from materials available in the area. Hence heavy, ornamented, classic furniture made of rosewood, mahogany, acacia or ebony. Sofas and armchairs are usually upholstered with leather.

An important role is played by accessories - openwork, light, made of light materials, to break through massive, dark elements. We also often find rattan and bamboo. Although the fabrics traditionally used in this style are light, ornamentless linen or pure cotton, we can also reach for colorful cashmeres, tulle, organza or silk. The dominant colours in colonial interiors are warm white, orange, gold, brown and red.

In a more contemporary version, it is also worth reaching for olive and dark green tones. If you want to introduce more patterned fabrics on bedspreads or pillows, choose animal or floral motifs (floral or tropical) or paisley from the Middle East.

"Less is more." - is the definition of minimalism. It dates back to the tradition of the German Bauhaus at the beginning of the 20th century. Ornamentation and decoration were completely eliminated from it. Each object must be simple in form and fulfil a specific function. It is important to have an open space that is not disturbed by unnecessary objects. Furniture takes on basic, geometric shapes, finishing materials are raw. Just like in the industrial style, we will find here concrete, steel, glass, discreetly broken wood texture.

Characteristic colors are white, grey, graphite, black. Single elements may contain subdued shades such as khaki, steel blue, Prussian blue or bottled green. The fabric in the accessories is rather small, the curtains replace the blinds. You can tempt yourself with velour furniture upholstery or decorative pillows, necessarily in dark shades, definitely without pattern. In addition, fabrics such as linen, knitwear, wool or felt will also pass the test.

Modern style is based on the same assumptions as minimalist, but is slightly less rigorous and ascetic. It is dominated by geometric shapes, simple dividing lines and solid materials - glass, metal, concrete, stone. Simple furniture details are characterized by precision of workmanship. We won't find soft cushions or decorative wallpapers here. An ornament can be a natural drawing of a stone or a veneer grain, sometimes used in a very thoughtful way to create a repeatable, but at the same time discreet pattern. This subtle background works well in combination with designer accessories, of course, in moderate quantities. It can be an extravagant chair, an unusual plastic chest of drawers or interesting graphics in intense colours. However, all this should be kept in geometric and stylistic order. The amount of fabrics in a modern interior will be very limited, and their texture will be smooth. No quilting, decorations, embroidery. Leather, knitwear, wool (but with an invisible weave) or felt will appear.

The only acceptable pattern is geometric motifs. Base, monochromatic colours such as white, grey, graphite and black can be varied with stronger, brighter accents. Modern style is sometimes close to the aesthetics of pop-art, so we reach for intense primary colors: blue, red, yellow. It's important to remember: "less is more."

The Provençal style from the south of France is characterized by an unusual combination of chic and rural countryside. The interiors inspired by Provencal houses are very warm, cosy and elegant. They are to serve primarily the comfort of their residents, creating a timeless and extremely friendly space. This is achieved by using natural materials in subdued, warm colours, which are associated with the characteristic, southern light. The materials scrolling through the Provencal interior are natural stone, solid wood - often whitewashed, necessarily with a visible drawing; structural plasters or rough wallpaper. The furniture is quite decorative, with numerous grooves, turned legs and milling cutters, but does not overwhelm the interior thanks to its small size.

Provencal interiors are bathed in warm whites, shades of ecru and vanilla, delicate yellows and browns, broken with obligatory lavender, pale pink or blue. Fabric and ornament play a very important role here. Patternless, smooth creton curtains interweave with pillows, tablecloths or blankets that cover delicate floral motifs. All this is made of natural, solid materials such as cotton, linen, wool - densely woven, with a clear weave.

The rustic style is something for lovers of folk aesthetics of rural cottages and manor houses from the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Close to nature, it is dominated by materials with a rough, uneven texture. It uses raw wood with visible rings, sometimes painted white; stone, whitewashed brick, metals such as iron or copper, and natural fabrics. Furniture in rustic interiors is simple and quite massive. We can break them with delicate lace or napkins made on crochet. The palette of base colors is limited - it is primarily the colors of the earth: white, beige and brown. Folklore accents in intense shades of red, green or blue add to the character. Coral, maroon, ultramarine, cornflower, sapphire, emerald - the choice is huge.

Fabrics such as cotton, linen and wool are covered with floral motifs, belts and bars. Furniture upholstery can be embossed, windows dressed in openwork curtains and delicate curtains. As in everything, moderation is important. Colour and pattern are to enliven and diversify, not to dominate in the interior.

Launched by Danish and Finnish designers in the 1930s, the Scandinavian style gained a huge number of supporters around the world, continuously maintaining its popularity for years. It is based on an ecological approach, simplicity and functionality. Scandinavian interiors are bright, can be cosy or more inclined towards minimalism. The most important assumption is the use of natural materials - especially wood. We combine them with stone, wicker, wool, leather, linen and cotton. Furniture is devoid of decorations, the number of additions and decorations is limited in order not to interfere with the sense of space.

White leads the way, which is the background for natural textures of finishing materials. Plus accents in black, grey and beige. The windows are devoid of decoration to allow as much light as possible into the interior. We can tempt ourselves with delicate, crumpled, linen curtains. The Scandinavian style does not have to be monochromatic. The Scandinavians are masters of eclecticism. Here and there, let's use colour - red chair, yellow lamp, emerald pillow. White is a perfect base for any coloured detail. If you don't want to introduce too loud colours, use pastel, dirty roses, blues and greens. Patterns on fabrics, depending on the direction we choose, may be stronger or very subtle. Both floral and animal motifs as well as geometric motifs will work.

"Vintage" means excellent quality wine made from fruit harvested in one season. Vintage as a style comes from the nineteenth-century fashion of dressing in things stylized for another era, which emphasized their timeless beauty. Nowadays, in interior design, we will attach the "vintage" patch to everything that comes from the last 25 years. The vintage style is not governed by any set of rules. It is based on eclectic combinations, is not afraid of contrasts and unobvious combinations of forms, textures and colours. If we arrange the interior in a historic tenement house, with preserved architectural decorations, we will "dress" it in simpler, modernist furniture, in a sparing palette of colors. In the case of modern architecture, we will choose more decorative, colourful and stylistic elements. The basis will often be wood - veneered chests of drawers, polished tables. Sometimes, perversely, you will see an old piece of furniture painted in a strong, opaque colour or a few chairs in different materials and shapes. Fabrics can be chosen freely - plush, silk, velvet, velvet, velvet, jacquard. The same goes for the patterns.

If we are closer to the style of the sixties, we will choose geometric patterns, pepitas and bars. If, on the other hand, we want to achieve a more buoyant atmosphere in the interior, let us choose rich plant ornaments. The choice of colours is also free. It is only worth avoiding the combination of white and pink, which may introduce too sweet a climate. Vintage is a style with a claw.