Overview:
The style in which you choose to decorate a home defines and dictates the rest of your decorating choices, from color scheme to light fixtures. In the following article, we will cover four diverse decorating styles: Midcentury Modern, Country French, Bohemian, and Mediterranean. These are just a handful of the endless styles from which you can choose. Art Deco, Industrial, Traditional, Southwestern, Tuscan, Old World, Shabby Chic, Nautical, Zen, and Scandinavian Modern are just a few of the many popular styles used today.
When decorating an interior, use these styles as a guide, but don't be afraid to incorporate elements from other styles. An Industrial lamp for example, can look fabulous in a Zen or Minimalist space. Likewise, Bohemian fringe can add panache to a Midcentury Modern or Shabby Chic interior. Experiment with colors, patterns, and textures to create an interior that is uniquely one's own.
4.1 Midcentury Modern
Midcentury modern is an iconic design movement from the 1940s--1960s that values function, elegance, and modern simplicity as its highest virtues. It grew naturally from modernism, which Modernist Swiss architect and furniture designer Le Corbusier sums up in his maxim: A house is a machine for living. While modernism was more severe, midcentury modernism embraced elegance. The champions of midcentury modernism believed good design was powerful enough to change lives. And because mass production was growing in the mid-1900s, good design was, for the first time, available to all. Some of the movement's greatest characters believed good design could actually make the world better. American husband and wife duo, Charles and Ray Eames, for example, designed furniture that was functional and sophisticated, yet playful. Their motto was, "Getting the most of the best to the greatest number of people for the least amount of money."
Midcentury modern tends to be perfectly balanced with neat proportions. There are however, three distinct categories of midcentury modern: bio-morphic, machine, and handcrafted. When decorating a midcentury modern interior, consider which of these three categories best speaks to the homeowner's taste, as well as how each of these styles will enhance the function of the interior.
Bio-morphic midcentury modern features organic shapes, smooth surfaces, and plenty of curves. Furniture and accessories of bio-morphic midcentury modern design tend to be quite playful and dynamic. Many of the shapes are inspired by human body forms and individual parts of the body. Some of the more iconic furniture pieces are Verner Panton's Panton Chair and Eva Zeisel's Town and Country salt and peppershakers. The Panton Chair was made in 1967 out of polyurethane foam with a glossy lacquer finish. The chair follows an S-curve and is sexy and elegant in its swooping curves. Eva Zeisel's Town and Country salt and peppershakers are also curvaceous. They look like miniature human forms in conversation--their necks stretching and nodding with personality.
Machine midcentury modern is best characterized by Bauhaus design. The Bauhaus was a school founded in the German city of Weimar in 1919. The goal of the school was to reimagine the material world to reflect the unity of art and design. The curriculum was based on the fundamental principles of color theory, materials, and formal relationships. In 1923, the focus changed from unity of art and design to mass production. The school slogan became: Art Into Industry. A new building was constructed in Dessau, Germany and featured design elements that would come to characterize machine midcentury modern design. These included steel-frame construction, glass curtains walls, and an asymmetrical pinwheel plan that contained spaces for studios, classrooms, and administration. Everything was designed for maximum efficiency.
The Bauhaus included workshops for cabinetmaking, textiles, metalworking, and typography. The workshops produced everything from chairs to light fixtures, and from tableware to commercial fabrics. Many of the original Bauhaus designs are still mass-produced today. Some of the most iconic Bauhaus décor elements are Marcel Breuer's 1925 Club Chair, Josef Albers' 1930 Nesting Tables, and Walter Gropius' 1923 door and window handles.
The Club Chair (also known as the Wassily Chair) was inspired by bicycle frames and made from seamless-steel bent tubing. The seat and back of the chair are made from black leather, which completes the simple, elegant design. It is a perfect example of the unity between craft art and functional design.
Josef Albers is most famous for his Homage to the Square painting series, composed of different colored squares layered on top of one another. Albers brought his paintings into the three-dimensional world with his Nesting Tables, which, like his paintings, featured different colored squares. The original table set included four tables of different heights so that they could be separated or nested together. The tables are made from a simple construction of wooden legs and a lacquered glass top. Nesting tables of various colors and styles are ubiquitous today.
The Bauhaus has also left us with a number of fittings and accessories. Some of the most iconic are the Walter Gropius door and window handles. The design is geometric and industrial, with square features and exposed screws. The design remains influential today, and was even the inspiration for the iPhone 4S.
The Bauhaus was not the only founder of machine midcentury modern. Streamline Moderne, like the Bauhaus, was focused on mass production and functional design. It is considered a later chapter of Art Deco, beginning in the Depression era of the 1930s and lasting until 1945. Streamline Moderne is characterized by aerodynamic lines that reference airplanes, ships, and automobiles and industrial materials like stainless steel, aluminum, and chrome.
Handcrafted midcentury modern was a predominantly Danish movement and focused on the sculptural lines of wood. Furniture designed in this style is still mass-produced and espouses the same principles of minimalism and function, as does bio-morphic and machine midcentury modern design. One of the most iconic pieces of handcrafted midcentury modern design is the 45 Chair, designed by Finn Juhl. The 45 Chair is made from leather and solid wood and features a frame of smooth, dynamic curves, and a seat that sits independent from the frame.
When designing a midcentury modern interior, think about function above all else. Focus on clean, simple lines, as well as basic, neutral colors. Because midcentury modern can often feel severe, some home decorators like to add midcentury modern elements, like light fixtures or a dining set, to cozier, more traditional interiors. One way to achieve this look in a living room is to pair a clean-lined midcentury sofa with colorful patterned pillows. Remember, if you are decorating a home, you want to make sure the space is livable and enjoyable.
4.2 Country French
Country French is a casual and charming decorating style that originated in the country homes of Provence, in the south of France. Country French is a feminine style that features ruffles, distressed woodwork and an eclectic mix of patterns. The color scheme of Country French interiors is a mix of warm and cool tones. These interiors are comfortable and inviting.
Wood is an important feature of any Country French interior. County French homes are meant to be lived-in and worn, which is why distressed woodwork is so essential. Some ways to incorporate woodwork is with rustic ceiling beams, distressed wood tables, chairs, and cabinets. These pieces sell at a premium, but can also be found in flea markets. When decorating a Country French home, do not be afraid to scavenge around your local flea market for timeworn gems. Chipped paint can sometimes provide interesting textural detail.
One of the most fun elements of Country French interiors is many mixed patterns. Stripes, paisley, plaid, and floral are just some of the many patterns that can feature in Country French interiors. The key to mixing and matching fabrics is to stick with a color scheme and to mix big and small patterns. For example, a European pillow with a large-scale floral pattern in coral will look great on a white sofa against rose and white French toile wallpaper. In the same room, a decorator could top a rustic wood chest with a ceramic jar featuring delicate pink details.
Country French is characterized by a range of textures. Distressed wood, natural stone, wrinkled fabric, woven rugs, ruffled pillows, and chipped ceramics are just some of the ways a decorator incorporates texture in a Country French interior. As with patterns and colors, textures should be mixed and matched, but be careful not to go overboard and to always consider the visual weight of the room. While there should be enough variety to provide visual excitement, one does not want the interior to feel exhausting or distressing.
Another way to introduce Country French details into a home is to decorate using fresh flowers and country inspired folk art, such as small ceramic rooster figurines, paintings of sunflowers, or dishware featuring farm animals. When selecting folk pieces, choose a select few as to avoid appearing kitsch.
4.3 Bohemian
Bohemian interiors are fun and eclectic spaces with a casual and playful air. They are characterized by bold colors and a wide range of textures. These spaces are energized and spilling with romantic fervor. The best Bohemian interiors appear magically thrown together, but are in fact meticulously decorated with pieces intentionally selected to look like an organic growth of the room itself.
Bohemian color schemes typically mix vibrant earth tones, like browns and greens, with exciting metallic colors, like silver and gold. Jewel tones, like deep purple and electric blue, are often used in accessories to draw attention to various statement pieces. Bohemian color schemes are wild and unconventional. Try mixing colors one normally would not think to mix. The key to a great Bohemian interior is the element of surprise. Draping bright orange fabric over an oversized clay pot or layering a busily patterned blue rug over a fluffy textured purple rug are two examples of unexpected decoration that can work exceptionally well in a Bohemian interior. When working with different patterns, test before committing. It is important the patterns, though surprising, complement one another. The last thing one wants is to distract or disorient. There are no rules to achieving this effect. Rather, one must trust her eye and not be afraid to try daring combinations. It is also wise to ask friends if a pattern that is pleasing to one's eye is distracting to another's.
Materials, like colors, are unlimited for the Bohemian decorator. Silk, burlap, fringe, and feathers can add natural texture and variety. Play with materials in unconventional ways. Frame feathers or decoupage a chair using boldly patterned paper. These also serve as examples for re-purposing or up-cycling, a common theme in Bohemian interiors. Other examples include turning mason jars into lamps or making patchwork curtains from leftover fabrics.
The walls of Bohemian interiors are rarely blank and feature everything from antique maps to handmade murals. Hang favorites artworks and display one's own creative efforts. If a homeowner plays an instrument, think about making a wall mount for the instrument to hang when not in use. Adorn the walls with fabrics, wallpaper, carpets, and other textured materials. The only rule is that no wall should be completely white.
Ultimately, the goal of a Bohemian interior is to let personality shine.
4.4 Mediterranean
The Mediterranean region encompasses Greece, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, Turkey, and Morocco, among other countries. The Mediterranean climate is hot and dry and features olive trees and scrublands. These elements define the Mediterranean style. Decorating styles in the various Mediterranean countries are vastly different and have their own personality. However, Turkish kilims, Moroccan lanterns, and Greek white linen, coalesce under the umbrella term Mediterranean style. In the United States, Mediterranean style has been popular since the 1920s, when haciendas of the Spanish New World were first built in Florida and the Southwest.
Interiors decorated in a Mediterranean style are dignified and bold. They feature the intoxicating blues of the sea and the earthy tones of dry sand. Mediterranean interiors also make use of pretty lavenders and vibrant yellows. The mix of bold and soft colors makes Mediterranean interiors pop and recede simultaneously. They have the power to transport one to a perennial beach-y sunrise.
Mediterranean furniture has presence and serves as anchors within a room. Thick, strong table legs and broad cabinets from rich, dark woods with distressed details pull the eye downwards. These heavy materials are lightened however, with a rich variety of metals, like bronze, copper, and wrought iron. Heavy wood doors with grand ornamental carvings are great features in Mediterranean homes.
Another way to add variety while retaining elements of the earth is to use stucco walls. If a home have plaster walls, it is easy to achieve the stucco look by rubbing layers of paint or gauze into the plaster. Stucco is a popular exterior surface because it protects against the elements. It is resistant to both rain and sun, making it ideal for a Mediterranean climate. A stucco wall can make even the coldest Minnesota winters feel like a Mediterranean paradise.
Some of the most gorgeous ceramic tiles come from the Mediterranean region, which is why no Mediterranean interior is complete without tile work. One simple way to incorporate tiles in a Mediterranean interior is to simply lean a selection of hand-painted tiles along a shelf or fireplace mantle. A decorator can also use multicolored tiles as a kitchen or bathroom backsplash, to line an archway, or decorate the risers on a staircase. When decorating as part of a major renovation, consider using terracotta floors or red clay tile roofing.
When thinking about the Mediterranean, the mind typically drifts to olive oil and wine, which is why the kitchen is a key feature in any Mediterranean home. Mediterranean kitchens are warm, bright, inviting spaces. They are designed to be both functional and relaxing. The color scheme of a typical Mediterranean kitchen is beige with pops of blues, greens, yellows, or reds. High quality wood cabinetry, either left in its natural state or stained, contrasts beautifully with multicolored tile backsplashes and painted chairs. Boldly colored cookware, cutlery, and large utensils displayed on countertops or hung on storage racks provide a flash of color and add visual interest to an otherwise earthy Mediterranean kitchen.
Mediterranean style is an eclectic mix of regional features. If a homeowner is drawn to a particular Turkish kilim or Moroccan lamp, a decorator can focus on one particular region instead of drawing generally from the Mediterranean. For example, to add Turkish design elements, substitute a traditional tablecloth for a Peshtemal towel, top it with a colorful arrangement of Turkish ceramic bowls, and cover a sofa in an abundance of ornately patterned flat woven throw pillows. Moroccan style can be played up in the living room with heavy drapes loosely tied with thick cords and a coffee table featuring mother of pearl inlay.
