Art Nouveau style in the interior: elegance and sophistication with comfort

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Despite the fact that modernism means “modern” in translation, the style originated at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. In Europe it is called art nouveau or art nouveau. There is no consensus among designers on how to organize the Art Nouveau style in the interior, because everyone interprets this concept in their own way. In general, when creating a modern interior, natural materials are used, among which wood predominates. Rounded lines, calm colors, and plant motifs are welcome.

The Art Nouveau style is dominated by natural materials, restrained shades and smooth lines.

What is Art Nouveau style: features of creating an interior

The main condition when creating a modern interior is the use of plant motifs and natural materials. The desire to fill the space with natural beauty prevails. It will be much easier to recreate the design on a large area, because modernism gravitates towards large windows and open space. A staircase with wrought-iron handrails resembling tree branches or a stem with petals can become a real decoration of a house or a two-story apartment. The main features of the Art Nouveau style interior include:

Panoramic windows are perfect for Art Nouveau interiors

The use of wooden elements with preserved structure. Floors, ceilings, windows and door panels are made from this material. When choosing furniture, preference is also given to wooden products, and the interior will be complemented by lighting items framed with wooden edges.
Lack of symmetry, presence of soft and smooth lines. When decorating an Art Nouveau style interior, straight contours and sharp corners should be avoided. The lines should smoothly transition into each other and combine with each other.
The presence of floral motifs and ornaments depicting animals. Beautiful forged chandeliers and flower-shaped wall lamps will perfectly complement the interior.
Use of glass elements. The interior decoration of a house in the Art Nouveau style will be large panoramic windows, mosaic partitions, cabinets, the facades of which are decorated with plant patterns.
Limited amount of textiles. Curtains should not be too voluminous; they should freely allow street light into the room. Furniture upholstery and color of pillows should match the overall style of the room.
Large windows are a must. Arched window shapes are encouraged, the size of which should be as large as possible to fill the space with light and lightness.
Stairs with wide steps, decorated with openwork patterns.

In the Art Nouveau style, stained glass windows are often used for room decoration

It is important! We can say that the main motto of the style is “Be closer to nature!”

In apartments in the Art Nouveau style, it is not recommended to cover the walls with paper wallpaper; it is better to give preference to cork or liquid products; bamboo wallpaper will also look good. The style features are emphasized by large two-section doors, on the sides of which you can make small antique windows. When decorating rooms, you need to give preference to calm shades; pastel colors are suitable: cream, peach, sand. The advantage of using light colors is also the fact that a light room visually seems more voluminous and spacious.

You should not get carried away with excessive arrangement of furniture; the interior of an apartment in the Art Nouveau style should have enough free space. It is better to abandon main walls in favor of partitions or use the technique of zoning rooms using different textures. Furniture does not have to be traditional: you can show your imagination and experiment with shapes. A chandelier in the Art Nouveau style, characterized by smooth lines, the shades of which resemble flower buds, will be an excellent addition to the interior and will fill the room with enough light.

Furniture selection

The smooth contour of the furniture set in the style in question seems to invite guests to relax. The absence of sharp corners, natural materials for manufacturing, the presence of asymmetry, muted color finishes - all this contributes to a comfortable stay in the room. At the same time, cabinet furniture stretches upward, like all the plants in the images. The vertical dominant, combined with bizarre forms, maximally expresses the idea of modernity.

The amount of furniture paraphernalia depends on the functional purpose of the room. The need for free space eliminates clutter in the home. At the same time, the presence of upholstered furniture does not belong to modernity. It is covered with textile elements, fitting into the overall picture of the style. The wood base of the furniture comes first. It is advisable to avoid a large number of corners and focus on elegant armrests.

Art Nouveau style in the interior: characteristic colors, accents and floral motifs

The main emphasis of the style is on the use of everything natural, the same applies to color design. The main color directions that should be preferred:

The Art Nouveau style uses calm natural colors, and bright shades act as accents.

brown and its shades;
grey;
color of wet asphalt;
pearl;
peach;
beige;
silver.

Accents are created using red, yellow, green, blue or fuchsia tones. When choosing the color of walls, furniture and textiles, the main requirement is that all the details in the room are harmoniously combined. There can be only one main element on which attention is focused. For example, if this is furniture, then neither elaborate ceilings nor stained glass decoration should become the main thing in the interior. If the basis of the interior is beautiful panoramic windows, then all other elements are made in discreet pastel colors. If you use a bright color to concentrate attention, then you need to remember that you cannot do more than 1-2 accents.

All colors selected for one room should be close in tone

You can also use color to zone the space in a room, using this technique instead of partitions. The main thing when zoning is to harmoniously combine shades so that the zones overlap with each other and do not contradict each other. Experiments are encouraged here, but colors should be kept within the style.

Due to the fact that the basis of the style is considered unity with nature, it is not surprising to see a large number of plant and floral patterns in photos of interiors in the Art Nouveau style. Art Nouveau ornaments and patterns in the form of buds are often found, which are a symbol of new life. The most common flowers are lilies, orchids, and irises, which gained popularity at the beginning of the 20th century, and other local plants are also found.

Textile

Dense natural fabrics complement the overall modern ensemble. Massive satin curtains in the window openings, exquisite velvet pillows on the sofa. Silk curtains are sewn with asymmetry, which allows them to imitate the movement of waves when opened. Forged cornices and lambrequins decorate the window landscape. Plain fabric can be complemented with an interesting pattern without flashy colors. The purpose of the curtains is to harmonize with the upholstery and flowing style of the furniture set. A complete image is created through soft play with the tones of the material.

How to design floors and ceilings in a modern interior

When decorating ceilings, you can use various options. Protruding wooden beams, smooth light surfaces decorated with a massive chandelier, and clay stucco would be appropriate here.

As a rule, in modern rooms, parquet or laminate is laid on the floor

Recently, a popular solution has been to decorate the ceilings of Art Nouveau rooms with various imitations made of foam plastic. A beautiful coffered ceiling made using plasterboard, gypsum, polyurethane will organically complement the interior, but wood, of course, is considered the best option. For finishing you can also use stained glass technology. It is important that the ceiling attracts attention.

This is interesting! The latest trend is painted coffered ceilings. However, it should be taken into account that the cost of such a surface will be no less than 30 thousand rubles per m².

Despite the fact that interior designs in the Art Nouveau style are varied, the floors are usually made the same. Most often, to lay the floor of a house or apartment in this style, parquet boards are used, which are laid in squares or in a herringbone pattern. Very often, the floor is decorated with various patterns that depict woven plant stems or imitate a sea wave.

In the Art Nouveau style, protruding beams are used to decorate the ceilings

Recently, designs of houses in the Art Nouveau style have become widespread, in which figure cutting technology is used to decorate the floor, which makes it possible to create real designs from porcelain stoneware or stone. If the floor is finished with plain tiles, then it should be isolated from the walls using a border of a contrasting color with applied curls.

Floor coverings

The floor can be finished in a variety of ways. More often than others, parquet is used here. In addition to parquet, natural stone and laminate are gaining popularity. Regular linoleum is used much less frequently.

Thanks to the large selection of materials, a large living room can be divided into zones, the main thing is to avoid clear lines. It's better to make a smooth transition.

Self-leveling floors have also become increasingly popular lately. Materials used in floor finishing are walnut, pine, oak, maple.

How to choose accessories to complement the design of an apartment in the Art Nouveau style

At the final stage of designing a modern interior style, details are selected that do not carry a functional load, but make the room complete and beautiful. There can be any number of decorative elements. The main condition is that they fit harmoniously into the overall style of the interior, match the color and texture. Some accessories can be a successful continuation of Art Nouveau ornaments applied to the wall. Of course, all details should be made from natural materials and look presentable and rich. The most popular elements include:

Accessories should be bright and catchy, but at the same time fit into the overall style

vases and dishes made of crystal or glass;
china;
wall and table clocks, preferably made of wood; figurines;
bronze items, such as candlesticks or dishes;
massive frames where modern pictures are placed;
stained glass or partitions;
decorative pillows covered in silk and embellished with embroidered details.

Common decorative elements include insects and birds: butterflies, beetles, dragonflies, grasshoppers, peacocks, swallows and parrots. You can often find ornaments depicting female silhouettes. Accessories made of colored glass saturate the interior with bright colors. Louis Tiffany is considered the most popular among designers involved in the manufacture of exquisite products, which is why in America the style is called “Tiffany”.

An unusual chandelier can be an effective addition to your style.

Important! Modern refers to styles where accessories and decorative elements are welcome.

It is appropriate to complement the interior with various accessories that have fancy shapes. These can be vases, wall and floor lamps that look like fantastic plants and animals. You can place interesting figurines and antiques. Paintings for interiors in the Art Nouveau style should be placed in massive wooden frames. Images in the style of modern art, landscapes, and portraits are perfect.

When recreating modern modernism in the interior, you need to solve the main problems: to emphasize the richness of the room and not to overdo it with decoration. With the help of properly selected textiles, you can successfully emphasize the features of the interior and make the design bright and elegant. Curtains made in coffee or golden color will look great. Properly selected textiles will emphasize the high cost of the interior, while the main thing is that the curtains are not too massive. Basic rules and tricks that must be taken into account when selecting textiles for windows:

Accessories in the form of animals and plants - ideal for Art Nouveau style

Asymmetry. You can arrange the curtains arbitrarily, and when designing you are allowed to alternate between light and dense materials. Lambrequins, draperies and ribbons are welcome.
Multi-layering. To create this effect, hang 2 curtains on the window: one light and the other thick. The combination of thick curtains made of satin and velvet and thin curtains made of guipure or tulle looks beautiful.
Combination. You can combine dark green, gold, and brown in various shades.

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Exterior nuances

The focus on external expressiveness, characteristic of modern design, gave rise to the beauty and picturesqueness of the facades of buildings built in this style. Depending on the geographical location and mentality of the country’s inhabitants, this may be expressed in the following details:

metal frames, many glass inserts, ceramics - in France;
wave-shaped facades, “dragon” tiles, spiers and turrets - in Spain;
massive stained glass windows - in America;
asymmetry, different textures of cladding, a lot of wood - in Russia.

Accessory for furnishings in modern style

How to choose the right furniture in the Art Nouveau style: what you should pay attention to

Already at the stage of renovation in the Art Nouveau style, you should think about what furniture will be needed in the room, and what you can safely discard. Those who seek to recreate interior features in a limited space should be especially careful when choosing. Initially, designers preferred interesting and elegant jewelry. It is better for pieces of furniture to be as functional as possible.

Furniture with smooth lines made from natural materials is the best option for rooms in the Art Nouveau style.

If you pay attention to photos of furniture in the Art Nouveau style, you will immediately notice the carved backs and legs of chairs and tables. A table whose legs resemble the root system of a tree with a trunk will look very beautiful, and beautiful floral motifs will complement the interior. Although initially some of the founders of the movement considered clear geometric lines and proportions a priority, now asymmetry is preferred.

Chairs, armchairs and sofas in the Art Nouveau style are characterized by fluidity and smooth lines. Here one element can smoothly flow into another. When it comes to materials, preference is given to solid solid wood. Forged backs and legs will look original. You can complement the furniture with inserts made of genuine leather, parchment and silk. Metal is not a mandatory material, but if it is necessary to create a complete image, then you should not neglect it. When creating an interior, you need to be an individualist; you can create fundamentally new forms and make pieces of furniture yourself.

What decorative elements will suit this style?

The final touch in the design of a room is the arrangement of decorative accessories that have no practical functions. They are designed to fill the atmosphere with comfort:

Crystal, bronze or porcelain products;
Fine watches;
Candlesticks, sculptures;
Wooden pictures and frames;
Silk decorative pillows;
Stained glass windows, etc.

The main principle in the case of Art Nouveau is the color harmony of products made from natural materials. The theme remains the same: flora and fauna. Sometimes the advantages of Japanese painting are used, whose love for calligraphy and flowering gardens fits perfectly into the style. In Europe, the works of Klimt and Mucha are considered recognized masterpieces of Art Nouveau. In America - Birbank.

The use of a fireplace in Art Nouveau stands out. Its classic lines and forged elements will decorate any interior.

How to decorate rooms correctly: bedroom in modern style

When decorating a bedroom interior in Art Nouveau style, you should stick to a monotonous color scheme. It is important to organize the design in the bedroom so that the furnishings are practical and functional. All elements must be selected in a single key; they must be combined correctly with each other. Modern traditional building materials such as wood, stone and wallpaper are used to decorate the bedroom.

This is interesting! To ensure that the furniture is ideally suited to the owners and emphasizes the features of the interior, it is better to order its individual production.

It is important to choose the right lighting, which should not be overly bright: the lack of light will create the necessary romantic twilight. Furniture in the bedroom should not only be functional, but also correctly complement the design of the room. When purchasing furniture, you have various options to choose from. Both a low wooden bunk and a huge bed decorated with a canopy will look good. The round bed located in the center of the bedroom also looks beautiful and unusual. The backs are usually decorated with forged elements using bronze or brass. Sometimes the headboard is made using leather or natural fabrics.

The interior of a bedroom in Art Nouveau style should be practical and relaxing

The wall opposite the bed is often complemented by niches and shelves on which books and decorative elements are placed. For convenience, you can place bedside tables on beautiful curved legs or dressing tables near the bed. It is advisable to place a wardrobe or chest of drawers in a niche so that they do not take up much space. Doors are made mirror-like using sandblasting technology to apply a pattern.

If space allows, you can also install a chair. All furniture elements are decorated with original fittings. Inserts made of ivory, shiny metal and mother-of-pearl look beautiful. You can expand the space with the help of a mirror.

When decorating a bedroom, a free layout is used, providing smooth transitions and smooth surfaces. The ceiling is decorated with stucco, and the walls are usually finished by combining materials. In modern modern bedrooms you can see walls made of wooden panels, the base of which is decorated with ceramics or decorative plaster, and the upper part is decorated with wallpaper.

The bedroom floor is decorated with parquet or high-quality laminate, where floral ornaments and patterns can also be used. By using different coating colors, you can zone the space. The ceilings are usually multi-level, stretched, with cleverly built-in lighting. Recently, it has become popular to make ceilings from beams and caissons.

Basic rules for decorating a living room in Art Nouveau style

The living room is primarily a space where the whole family gathers, so the room should be as spacious as possible. The main elements are panoramic windows. A neutral color scheme with a few bright accents is used. If we are talking about decorating a living room in a country house, then in the corner you can organize a children’s play area and make a real fireplace out of stone, but in an apartment you can limit yourself to an electric fireplace.

A living room in Art Nouveau style should be as spacious as possible and also combine different zones

Important! For ease of cleaning and to protect the furniture, you can use covers that are convenient to wash.

When choosing furniture for the living room, people often give preference to corner or linear three-seater sofas, which can be folded out if additional sleeping space is needed. Most often, there are no chairs or only one is installed, which rather serves as a decorative element, although, if necessary, it can be used for its functional purpose. It is recommended to hang the TV in the living room on the wall and carefully hide the cables in wooden boxes, and it can also be installed on a wooden cabinet equipped with several shelves.

In some cases, a module is placed along the wall, which contains a lot of space for storing small items and niches for books. Recommendations for interior design in Art Nouveau style:

The living room walls can be decorated with beautiful paintings or family photos.

The lighting of the room can be completely organized on the ceiling by placing lanterns around the perimeter and installing a massive chandelier in the center. If necessary, hang additional lighting elements on the wall and install a floor lamp near the sofa.
Textile elements. Curtains are often monotonous and wide, decorated with a lambrequin; Carpets can be either high or short pile. The main thing is that they are easy to vacuum clean.
Decor. You can decorate the room by hanging family photographs and various paintings in the Art Nouveau style. It is advisable to arrange figurines and vases of traditional shapes or choose unusual glass options.
Floor. For covering use laminate, parquet, ceramic tiles or porcelain tiles in gray, pale brown shades, as well as those imitating wood. If the floor is tiled, an additional system should be installed to insulate it.
Walls. Usually they are simply painted using similar tones, but one wall should be an accent wall, which is painted turquoise, crimson or olive, which depends on the preferences of the owners.
Ceiling. The simplest option is a suspended or suspended ceiling, into which lighting is immediately installed.
Window. If this is a private house, the windows must be large, panoramic, which can be decorated with stained glass.

In the living room you should not make more than two bright accents, for example, these could be red or green pillows. In addition to bright shades, you can also use pale tones such as lavender, yellow, pale pink. Niches and shelves located opposite the sofa are considered an excellent design idea. In addition, the living room will be decorated with a large Art Nouveau table, which will accommodate all the guests.

Hallway

In a cramped corridor, designers focus on the doorway. The canvas with soft curves of fittings and stained glass inserts attracts attention. Walls and ceilings rarely stand out from the general background, since expressive lines and patterns can disrupt the calm atmosphere of the style. That's why pastel paint is used instead of wallpaper. Together with lighting, it can combine the walls with the ceiling. The flooring is a continuation of the room floor, which means it is made of wooden parquet.

Furnishing the hallway involves the use of built-in cabinet furniture in the form of sliding wardrobes. Mandatory attributes include a dressing table with curved asymmetrical shapes. Bright colors of natural wood are allowed. For comfort, several wall lamps are installed at once at a small height from the floor.

The main accessories in the corridor are decorative mirrors and thematic paintings. But textile elements should be avoided.

Lighting

Lighting fixtures are selected based on the principles established in the classic design.

A crystal chandelier should be hung in the center of the room, attracting attention with its brilliance and size. Instead of crystal, you can use multi-colored glass inserts.
Floor and table lighting fixtures such as floor lamps with glass or fabric shades will help highlight functional areas.
Wall sconces look harmonious in the chosen design if there are decorative “curls” that echo the floral theme of the decor.

Ceiling lighting in the interior of the dining room.

Elegant chandelier in kitchen design.

Forged chandelier over the work surface in the kitchen.

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Photo gallery

To realize the brightest and most interesting ideas, you cannot do without photos of finished projects that will allow you to rethink all the combinations. Below are images of the best projects.