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Art Nouveau Interior Design is not for everyone. It’s a beautiful style which requires dedication to decorate with.
During the 19th century, interior design was very much about neoclassicism.
Historicism was the order of the day and art nouveau arose as a reaction to traditional art styles
Between 1890 and the mid-1910s, art nouveau interior decorating emerged in London and Paris and aimed to incorporate art and design into everyday living. Even functional objects were beautified and turned into works of art.
Art nouveau style was promoted at the 1910 Paris Exposition Universelle, although it was still considered to be quite avant-garde and revolutionary at the time. Those who had grown up during the Victorian age found the style too extravagant and overdone and were appalled by the over-elaborate nature of art nouveau.
Different art styles influenced art nouveau. From Celtic art to Japonism, art nouveau could be applied to many artistic aspects including architecture, decoration and fine art as well as jewelry, glassware, and illustrations. Art nouveau furniture, as well as art nouveau postures, were popular forms of interior decoration.
The movement spread worldwide, although it took on different names in different countries, is known, for example as Stile Liberty in Italy, Jugendstil in Germany, Sezessionstil in Austria and as Tiffany style in America.
The iconic style of arts included floral motifs, elongated curving lines, strong linear shapes, and feminine silhouettes. Like all art movements, nouveau has had fluctuations in popularity. Art nouveau found itself out of favor by the 1920s when the Art Deco movement took hold, although it did see a brief resurgence in the 1960s.
What Is Art Nouveau Style?
Both elongated curves and linear shapes were a major part of the nouveau art. Charles Rennie Mackintosh was especially well known for his art nouveau designs in this period and many pieces of jewelry are produced to this day that is influenced by his design style.
Much of art nouveau design inspiration was taken from nature, with stylized flowers, spider webs and feathers heavily featured on wallpapers and furnishings. Styles were extravagant and decadent with iridescent glass and semi-precious gems making an appearance.
How To Get The Art Nouveau Interior Design Look
There are many ways to emulate art nouveau style decor in your modern home. Here are some ways to copy the look and turn your house into an art nouveau paradise:
Walls in Art Noveau Decor
Art Nouveau design typically uses colors which are muted and soft. Copy this style with a palette of grays, mustard yellows, browns, olives, and lilacs. Spectacularly patterned wallpapers were popular. Today, art nouveau designs may be a little excessive to use on every wall.
Instead, choose a similarly themed paper to create a feature wall and simply paint your other walls plain white. Alternatively, opt for a tiled look using white tiles interspersed with the oddly patterned tile to create an authentic feel. Art nouveau colors should be repeated throughout the room.
Floors in Art Nouveau interior design
To authentically recreate the art nouveau period, you should go for a parquet floor or wood finish. If you choose, you could whitewash your floor or simply go for mid-toned wood.
Lights in Art Nouveau home design
The art nouveau interior can be summed up by the Tiffany lamp. Spectacularly stained glass shades on a heavy bronze base are the iconic look of the period.
Art Nouveau Decor
Art nouveau decor should be decorative and ornamental. Furnishings can feature curved or straight lines growing upwards from the ground while doors can sport stained glass and leaf and stalk shaped leading.
This colorful glass is especially effective when used on cabinets, wardrobes, and mirrors and is reminiscent of the art nouveau era.
Art Nouveau’s Influences
The art nouveau style was born during the Industrial Revolution and was boosted by the new ability to mass produce household goods at affordable prices.
It was similar in concept to the Arts and Crafts movement, except the latter, favored unique, one-off items, whereas art nouveau was all about replicated convenience.
With a hint of Rococo style, the major emphasis was on botanical influences, which were faithfully studied and reproduced in art nouveau designs. Art nouveau prints often feature these organic images.
Art Nouveau’s Legacy
Despite its similarities to the Arts and Crafts movement, art nouveau differed in that it thrived on the technological developments that made mass production of goods possible.
Whereas the Arts and Crafts movement was strongly against anything that was manufactured, art nouveau embraced it and used these products willingly.
Nevertheless, the principle of the beautiful design was the same in both movements and the stylish was strongly favored over the functional.
By the end of the First World War, however, technological advancements had begun to streamline manufacturing processes even further and led to the abandonment of art nouveau in favor of Art Deco which relied even more heavily on mass production.
Art nouveau has still left a lingering legacy in two major ways. Firstly, several 20th-century designers have been strongly influenced by the movement, including the Bauhaus design school in Germany and the De Stijl design movement in the Netherlands which are both advocates of integrated design. It has also left a legacy in the graphic art world with a lasting influence upon poster designs and the creation of art nouveau illustration.
Despite being a relatively short-lived movement, the art nouveau period has left us with a number of enduring monuments embodying its style. Because it bridged the design gap between 19th century Neoclassicism and the modernist style, some art nouveau monuments even on the UNESCO World Heritage list including the entire town center of the Latvian town Riga, where more than 750 art nouveau buildings were constructed in the art nouveau architectural style.
Art nouveau has left us with iconic imprints that can still be seen in interior decorating to this day. In its time, art nouveau style was considered to be revolutionary and therefore its popularity was boosted among those who wanted to appear to be following the latest trends.
Unfortunately, that popularity was short-lived as it developed a worldwide reputation for being too over-blown, exaggerated, lavish and above all, expensive. Art nouveau movements died down.
Nevertheless, it is still possible to incorporate the beautiful and stylish features that are represented by art nouveau design into your modern home. Modern art nouveau combines the baroque touch with more modern features gives an exciting contemporary feel.
Its sweeping and feminine shapes guarantee a sophisticated beauty that will grace your home and find admirers everywhere. For a classy and aristocratic home, there can be no better style to adopt than art nouveau interior decorating.
FAQs about the Art Nouveau interior design style
1. What are the common color schemes used in Art Nouveau interior design style?
Rich, intense hues like deep reds, blues, and greens, as well as metallic tones like gold, silver, and copper, are used in the Art Nouveau interior design style. These hues are frequently used together and with accents that contrast each other. Soft pastel hues are occasionally employed as well, particularly in wallpaper and textiles.
2. Can Art Nouveau interior design style be combined with other interior design styles?
Other interior design styles, such as minimalist, modern, or traditional, can be blended with the Art Nouveau style. However, it’s crucial to achieve a balanced design and avoid overcrowding the room with various types’ worth of decor. A distinctive and fashionable appearance can be produced by fusing Art Nouveau with a modern or minimalistic design.
3. What types of fabrics and materials are typically used in Art Nouveau interior design style?
Rich materials like velvet, silk, and brocade are frequently used in Art Nouveau interior design. These materials frequently come in vivid, dramatic hues and have elaborate patterns and decorations. Additionally, natural elements like glass, stone, and wood are frequently used.
4. How can I incorporate Art Nouveau interior design style into a modern home?
One can employ statement elements like lighting fixtures, mirrors, or wallpaper to bring the Art Nouveau interior design style into a contemporary home. To create an eclectic style, furniture with Art Nouveau influences might be combined with more contemporary furnishings. To avoid an overpowering appearance, it’s crucial to balance the usage of Art Nouveau components with modern or minimalist pieces.
5. What are some popular patterns used in Art Nouveau interior design style?
The elaborate and flowing patterns found in the Art Nouveau interior design style are influenced by natural elements like floral designs, vines, and leaves. These patterns frequently have an organic shape and are asymmetrical. In Art Nouveau design, geometric shapes like squares and circles are frequently employed.
6. What is the significance of floral motifs in Art Nouveau interior design style?
Because they symbolize the organic and natural features that the Art Nouveau interior design style was influenced by, floral themes are important in this style. One of the distinguishing characteristics of Art Nouveau design is the use of organic, flowing shapes and patterns. Floral designs frequently go together with other organic motifs like vines and leaves.
7. How can I create an Art Nouveau-inspired color scheme for my home?
Start with a foundation of rich, deep hues like burgundy, navy, or forest green if you want to design a color scheme for your home in the Art Nouveau style. Combine contrasting hues like soft pastels like peach or lilac with metallic elements like gold, silver, and copper. Look for materials like fabrics and wallpaper that have elaborate designs and patterns with natural themes.
8. What are some key features of Art Nouveau interior design style that I should keep in mind while decorating my space?
The use of organic and flowing shapes and patterns, vibrant and contrasting colors, opulent materials, and natural motifs like floral patterns, vines, and leaves are important aspects of Art Nouveau interior design. Lighting fixtures with elaborate designs and stained glass are frequently utilized in Art Nouveau design, which is another essential aspect of lighting.
9. How can I incorporate Art Nouveau-inspired stained glass into my home decor?
Consider installing a stained glass window or adding a stained glass panel to a door or partition to incorporate stained glass with Art Nouveau influences into your home décor. Art Nouveau design elements can also be incorporated into a space using stained glass lamps and lighting fixtures. Look for patterns and motifs that are inspired by nature.
10. What are some iconic furniture pieces that are associated with Art Nouveau interior design style?
Curved and flowing lines, complex embellishments, and opulent materials like velvet and brocade fabrics are characteristics of iconic furniture pieces associated with the Art Nouveau interior design style.
Curved-back chairs, chaise lounges, and sofas with asymmetrical designs and vivid colors are a few examples of furniture items having an Art Nouveau influence.
Additionally, typical examples of Art Nouveau design include cabinets with stained glass accents, tables with sinuous forms and delicate inlays, and more. These objects are made to be both useful and aesthetically beautiful and frequently include natural motifs like flowers, vines, and leaves.
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