An example of mass culture and an object of base production - this is how kitsch style is characterized. He combined a combination of incongruous, representing a simple chic, as the basis of style. It can be found where extraordinary and courageous people like to deny any traditions like to be. They feel quite comfortable in all the pretentiousness of the kitsch style in the interior, considering it quite favorable for living.
History of the origin of style
This is a relatively young style that originated at the end of the 19th century during the industrial revolution. A young bourgeoisie appeared, mastering urban life, but not having the need to master urban culture. Therefore, the homes of wealthy inhabitants were filled with imitation of antiquity and luxury. In the interior design of kitsch, stamped in a series of “artistic” objects appeared, having both low cost and low artistic qualities.
Simply put, consumer goods poured on the inexperienced consumer. Often the apartments were filled with all kinds of figurines, postcards and souvenirs, which in the rooms were allocated the best places. Naturally, without a shade of authenticity of real art, kitsch in the interior (an example photo in the article) immediately became a synonym for bad taste and primitivism. By the way, this is the literal translation of the word kitsch from German.
Varieties of style
The interior in kitsch style is divided into three areas:
- The style of lumpen (paupers) is an indicator of a low standard of living with outdated shabby furniture and cheap trinkets.
- Pseudo-luxurious kitsch - involves the imitation of both natural materials and luxury goods. The owners of these items have the desire to seem richer and more solid than they really are. Varieties of this direction include the incompatibility of objects, for example, a country-style fireplace with expensive oriental vases, velvet curtains and a modern stretch ceiling with fluorescent lamps. The result will be subconscious pseudo-luxurious kitsch.
- Design kitsch irony. Hooligan, ironic and subtly mock at the classics of design can only afford experienced designers. We can say that this is a competent parody, and the interior itself looks thought out in detail. Designers like to experiment in kitsch style in popular places: living room, youth cafe, kitchen, where you can demonstrate the charisma of the room and the contempt of the creative person, that is, the owner of this room, to generally accepted rules. In their works, they beat the two previous varieties of this style, skillfully emphasizing their zest.
Style Features
The style of kitsch in the interior has its own characteristics, features and attributes by which it can be recognized by a non-specialist, and which include:
- Imitation of everything dear: paintings, decorative elements and furniture, issued as a rarity.
- The use in the interior of products with a clear marriage, claiming to belong to antique objects.
- Bright colors and their flashy combination, for example, purple and neon-green.
- An excess of romantic attributes: bows, soft toys, hearts made of artificial materials.
- Oversaturation of space with decoration elements: rugs, paths, paintings, pictures, badges, medals, postcards. This also includes sets of various figures and figurines.
- The chaotic order of elements of different styles, opposite in importance, purpose and spirit.
Style color scheme
The most extravagant and unpredictable in the interior - kitsch style. The photos posted in the article are vivid confirmation of this. Kitsch is a challenge to the canons of harmony. He attracts attention more than others. On the design of the premises in this style, we can say that the principle “the brighter the better” confirms that there are no restrictions in the color scheme. The decor contains bright saturated and aggressive colors: red, blue, green, purple, corresponding to the terminology “tear your eyes out”.
Walls and ceilings can be painted with bright colors or glued with applications from various wallpapers. A rare exception is the uniformity of the color of the walls. By the way, instead of wallpaper, they can be pasted over with magazine or advertising sheets and posters. Careless painting of walls is welcomed, with imitation of its drips. Acceptable walls with graffiti and various caricatures.
Lighting
When selecting fixtures, there are two trends: overkill or shortage. Again, it all depends on the variety of kitsch style in the interior of the apartment. In the photo below in the article, the interior is in a pseudo-luxurious style. The room is decorated with huge chandeliers in a classical style, there are candlesticks on the fireplace, and on the sides of it there are electric sconces. There are also candlesticks on the table, and in the corner there is a floor lamp, the rack of which is decorated with gilding. Explicit search with lighting.
For example, for a lumpen style, a lamp hanging from the ceiling or a budget lighting solution is suitable - an old-fashioned floor lamp with a wooden or wire frame, even without a lampshade. That is, minimalism and a clear lack of coverage.
Design kitsch is played out in a more interesting way. At the exhibitions, many accessories are made made of disposable plastic items: spoons, forks, plates and cups. It turns out surprisingly original sconces and chandeliers that are perfectly suited to this catchy style.
Floors, windows and doors
In Lumpen kitsch, the floor may be uncoated, in the form of ordinary old boards. In a designer and pseudo-luxurious subtype of style, a material such as linoleum, carpet or laminate can serve as a coating. In the interior of kitsch, a wooden floor can be painted with cheap floor paint. To give it an aged look, unpainted floor is sanded or brushed. As a rule, brushing is also used to age windows and doors. Lumpen style welcomes the presence in the apartment of cheap windows and doors painted with graffiti.
Kitsch in a restaurant
There are artists who make kitsch their means of expression. For example, the Japanese visual artist Sebastian Masuda created his own style of kitsch in the interior of the restaurant. He filled the space surrounding visitors with catchy yellow, red, pink installations.
Restaurants and bars pay great attention to decoration. In addition to reasonable prices for dishes, you need to be able to surprise the visitor. It can be lampshades that carry a kitsch atmosphere, chairs that do not match in size, shape and upholstery, graphic wallpaper, a hanging chair and much more, providing the opportunity to relax in such an unusual restaurant.
Kitsch in the interior
Kitsch style will not leave anyone indifferent, it amazes and impresses or causes rejection. Its very concept varies depending on people, cultures and countries. What is kitsch style for some is a way of life for others. Many believe that this is a mood style, but not everyone can be in rooms decorated in this way for a long time.
In essence, kitsch is the accumulation of heterogeneous objects, perceived as trivial, old-fashioned or popular. It includes old portraits, bright colors, glitter and gilding (and how without it?), Plastic, folk motifs, mixtures of styles and patterns, artificial flowers (everything that is artificial in general), small trinkets. This list goes on and on. And, most importantly, all items should not merge with the decor. They should be catchy, standing out against the general background with their color or shape.
Looking at all these objects, concentrated in one space, there is a feeling of gathering and greed, with which the owners of the house heap all kinds of souvenirs. But, oddly enough, this is the essence of this style, which is a caricature of tradition in design. It also coexists with decor elements that distinguish each individual style. A win-win option for kitsch is the interior of the room with a large number of various pillows with ruffles, Chinese or Japanese vases, statuettes, a huge chandelier, the presence of soft toys and fake gilding.
Summarizing
Having dealt with all the intricacies of the kitsch style and determined that not everyone can get rid of it, since it accompanies people everywhere, it is necessary to reasonably perceive that this is culture, and this is style. In any case, kitsch is good when it makes sense. That is, when it’s not fake, but genuine items bought at flea markets or found by grandparents that will bring their emphasis to the interior of the room. Many homes have something kitsch. It's all about the dosage of interior items. Light, barely noticeable kitsch will never spoil the interior, on the contrary, this small introduction of “bad taste” can make the atmosphere interesting.