The word "modern" is translated as "modern", but more than a hundred years have passed since the appearance of this trend in interior design. So he has nothing to do with a truly modern style.
Art Nouveau in its most expressive incarnation lasted a little more than 30 years: from the 1880s to 1914. It replaced the Victorian style, which was distinguished by luxury, excesses in decoration and a tendency to elaborate lines, bulky draperies.
Despite the short period of its popularity, this style gave us a lot of interesting ideas and design solutions. And today, the Art Nouveau living room will talk about the refined taste of its owner.
Characteristics
Art Nouveau is a very controversial style. On the one hand, it implies grace with a hint of luxury, on the other - laconicism, functionality and simplicity. But if you are seriously thinking about the design of the living room in the Art Nouveau style, then the following characteristic features should be traced in it:
- The main interior material is wood. Not only furniture is made from it, but also decor, wall cladding, floors, etc. The wood must be hardwood, of medium color intensity or dark.
- Lack of symmetry. Ornate lines and fancy bends on the walls, patterns on textiles and wallpaper, niches, arched openings are welcome.
- Attraction to natural motives. The Art Nouveau living room will feature an abundance of floral and floral ornaments.
- The presence of stained glass. This is an almost mandatory attribute of this style.
- Forged items. An optional but frequently used technique. Art forging may be present if it meets the taste of the owner of the premises. Most often you can see it on the stair railings, fireplace accessories, in the design of windows and balconies, in small decorative elements. Forged elements also feature curved asymmetric lines and floral motifs.
Walls
The Art Nouveau living room interior suggests that the walls here will be only a backdrop. Their task is to delimit the room, while maintaining the feeling of maximum open space. Therefore, often the walls are simply painted in light colors - beige, milky white, pearl gray, cream, light yellow or pale green. Sometimes, to create a special atmosphere of comfort and privacy, use more saturated, but muted colors - wine or brown, black as a contrast.
But plain walls are too boring. Therefore, the walls are decorated with floral ornaments. A characteristic feature of the style is the vertical arrangement of the picture.
One of the most common tricks is dividing walls. The lower part is decorated with wood panels, the upper - with wallpaper in bright colors.
A good option for wall decoration in the Art Nouveau style will be wallpaper, but certainly combined. You can use plain in combination with a canvas with floral ornaments. The dividing wide border stripes will also be useful.
As a decor, you can use stucco, but in small quantities.
Floors
For the floor, you can choose one of two options: wood - classic parquet or marble in light colors. According to the unspoken rule, the color of the parquet should be in harmony with the color of the furniture. Instead of real marble, ceramic tiles are often used (this is the second option): they are laid out in the form of mosaic panels or complex patterns resembling the ornament of expensive oriental carpets.
One of the characteristic features of Art Nouveau is the zoning of the room using the floor. So, the kitchen-living room in the Art Nouveau style can be delimited into functional sections using a picture on the floor or the border (junction) of two different materials. Zones often have different floor levels - modernity is characterized by the inclusion of small podiums and steps in the interior, not just straight, but curved semicircular or asymmetric.
As an exception, carpet is allowed. Only it should be light tones, with an interesting asymmetric ornament. It is better if only part of the floor is covered with a fluffy carpet. A good option would be to place several small rugs - this will additionally delimit the space, parquet or marble will be visible.
Ceiling
The ceiling in the living room in Art Nouveau style (pictured) will always have a fancy design. For this direction, multi-tiered compositions, to which art deco gravitates so much, are uncharacteristic. But everything else is welcome - ornaments, art paintings, full-fledged paintings, classical stucco molding with voluminous decorative elements.
Also, the ceiling is often decorated with beams and wood carvings. The ceiling covered with a fabric with a complex pattern will look expensive and elegant.
All decorations on the ceiling also feature curved asymmetric lines and floral motifs in the decoration characteristic of Art Nouveau.
Lighting
Lighting plays a very important role. Unlike Victorian style, Art Nouveau does not tolerate twilight and deep shadows. Therefore, for the living room in the Art Nouveau style, you need to develop a lighting scheme consisting of several sources located at different levels.
The central lamp - a large chandelier, will be responsible for providing direct, bright, non-glare light, in which you can perform various tasks, for example, read, knit or write. Background lamps, which include floor and table lamps, point sources, LED strips and sconces, should ensure the absence of deep shadows in the corners of the room.
The main goal of the lighting system is to create a soft, diffused, but sufficiently strong light that will not leave dark spots and visually expand the space.
Textiles and Decor
It is best to choose plain textiles or fabrics with floral motifs in the Art Nouveau living room. It is best if they are natural, light, translucent and flowing. Those fabrics that glare a bit and reflect light will look good.
Special attention should be paid to curtains - their shape should be asymmetric, while the color and pattern of the fabric should be chosen not too catchy. Curtains should be in harmony with the entire interior, without drawing all the attention to yourself.
The upholstery is dominated by textiles with floral or floral ornaments, with an interesting texture.
The following elements are also characteristic of the modern style:
- porcelain vases and figurines;
- watches on a shelf or on a wall;
- a mirror in a forged frame;
- translucent screens;
- exquisite frames for paintings;
- bronze lamp holders;
- china;
- pillows with embroidery.
Furniture
The living room furniture in the Art Nouveau style is distinguished by the absence of right angles: all lines are smooth, rounded, with complex carvings and decorative ornaments. In such an interior, a sofa with a rounded back, with tapestry inserts, on chiseled wooden or elegant forged legs will harmoniously look. In the company of a sofa, you definitely need to pick up a couple of chairs, not bad if in color they will contrast with it. A table can be purchased with a glossy countertop and elegant carved legs.
It is best if the furniture is modular, not tied to one point in the room. As for its quantity, it should be minimally necessary. The more open space, the better.
Conclusion
Creating an interior in the Art Nouveau style (pictured) is not easy. This is an ambitious and expensive project. To implement it, you need to have an initially suitable room - spacious, with high ceilings, since this direction does not accept crowding. You will have to work with expensive natural materials - wood and marble, and you will need to spend money on typical stylistic techniques that distinguish the Art Nouveau style, for example: forging, creating stained-glass windows and mosaics on the floor, raising the floor, decorating with wooden or stucco ceilings, etc. . d.
It is also recommended to hire a designer - this is the case when he is simply necessary. If you want to create your own project, then you can go the simple way - use some of the features characteristic of modernity in the interior, and do the rest neutral. The result is a fusion of Art Nouveau and a true modern style - simply, but with taste.