By: Jossie Sepulveda
Something About Art and Design (SAAD) owner
Interior design, as we know professionally, is just over 100 years old. What began as the art of decorating, embracing form and function, has evolved in one hundred years, by leaps and bounds into today's world.
Interior design trends are often defined by the era (timeline) in which they were popular. We’ve compiled a list of several and most popular interior design styles that will match you with the specific decade belongs to help you define your own style. Understanding your interior design style is crucial to creating an ambiance at home, that reflect what you love. It is probably that you have heard the following; art deco, modern, industrial, bohemia, eclectic and others when an interior design is mentioning, but did you know what interior design it was?
Let's start from the begging, shall we...
Luxury Interior Design (Art Deco): 1920s
You got it, Luxury is based on Sophisticated and artful design style for high-end tastes. Luxury interior design styles use expense textile such leather, suede, velvet, jewel-toned colors, and polished finishes to create a sumptuous feel. Great Gatsby film is an example well done on the luxury design. The Twenties were a time of Hollywood elegance, excess, and opulence. Interior design had just become a recognized profession for the first time, and designers were using their over the top and ambition talents to curate glamorous atmospheres for lavish cocktail parties and soirees.
Art Deco, a majorly influential and extravagance art style from Paris, made its way to the states during this time period and took the design industry by storm. Characterized by bold colors, big or small geometric shapes, metallic finishes, and decadent accents, Art Deco adds a touch of glamour to any space, from living rooms to bedrooms. In addition to sleek materials like polished bronze, gold, and chrome, along with angular patterns like chevron, zigzags, sunbursts, and animal prints, are staples of this vibrant interior design era.
Industrial Interior Design : 1930s
A decade has passed by since the interior design as a profession became to play an important role on house living. In the thirties the design in style was the Industrial. The Thirties witnessed two significant historical events that changed the fabric of our country: the stock market crash of 1929 and the beginning of World War II. In response to a shortage of materials, and manpower to manufacturing, and a collective emphasis on frugality, opposite to the decade before, the Great Depression created a demand for practical and simplistic designs. This new design was more masculine-leaning design style, where machinery-inspired design style employs metals, rustic-woods, leather and stainless steel to achieve a strong and powerful atmosphere. It emphasizes liberal use of exposed steel with distressed wooden elements, frequently complemented by exposed brick walls. An industrial interior design style is perfect for those seeking a simple, strong and modern look without compromising aesthetic. The bright, extravagance, and ornate elements of the Roaring Twenties were replaced with a more simple masculine and streamline modern design style.
Modern Interior Design (Mid- century): 1940s
The Forties saw World War II and the Great Depression interior design style of the era reflected this. As people began to embrace more freedom, the innovations of the era were used in interior design while still upholding the purposeful design aspects of the 1930s. This new interior design is known as Modernism and its motto is Less is more. It puts the focus on form and function rather than the decorative elements of a space. This style has a more technological and refined edge to it that’s rooted in square shapes and lines. You will find lots of glass, steel, concrete, neutral tones, and the occasional pop of color. Emphasis was put on the family during this time, more open-spaces that were warm and clutter-free dominated the scene during this time. Mid-century modern looks are still extremely popular today and they work in almost any space for your home.
Scandinavian Interior Design: 1950s
Scandinavian is a nordic rooted interior design style that favors simplicity. As you can see, we still with the less is more motto from the previous decade. This style employs the form and function philosophy of minimalism, but adds, whites, grays, creams, beiges and pastel colors and organic shapes to achieve a warm and inviting environment. Most important, this style focus on low-cost, durable materials are used to create an affordable and sustainable design fit for everyone. Muted textiles and light-toned woods create a relaxed vibe in this popular style. Scandinavian furniture made its way to the United States in the mid-20th century offering modern, affordable and functional design elements for Americans and emphasizes clean and tranquil simplicity while favoring minimalism and comfort.
Retro Interior Design: 1960s
This new decade brought a complete and different vibe, and it was know as Retro Modern. Retro Modern has Vintage style with nostalgic design. This style is known for vibrant patterns, bright colors, plastic-based materials, and interesting shapes to create a retro vibe. Think greens, yellows, turquoise, purple, pinks and oranges arranged on large patterns and statement walls. Primarily, retro style refers widely to the midcentury modern time frame with its many distinct styles, shapes, colors, patterns, furniture, and decor. The Sixties were a pivotal time in the United State for everything from politics to home design. The Cold War, Civil Rights Movement, Psychedelics, the anti-Vietnam War peace movement, art, fashion, and music trends combined to create a design style that was as rich and rebellious as the culture of the time. That time was also the heyday of Hollywood and brought the resurgence of luxurious and opulent design elements. In addition, the Space Race inspired designers to integrate technology, interesting materials like plastic, and futuristic elements into the designs. Think about the cartoon, the "Jetsons", and get inspire to use greens, yellows, pinks, purple and oranges, plastic or acrylic furniture pieces, and generous amounts of graphic patterns to nail the retro interior design style.
Let Us Help You with our Artwork to Achieve Your Perfect Interior Design Style. Visit us www.somethingaboutartanddesign.com for all our variety of artwork that will ensure you achive the interior design era you love.
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