Interior Decorating Styles - Part Five - The 20th and 21st Century

Knowledge is power. And hopefully, after reading thisapartments or lofts are typically decorated in the
fifth and final part of the series on interior decoratingModern Style. These types of spaces usually have
styles you feel empowered to shop with confidence,floor to ceiling windows and exposed material like
speak to a decorator or designer, or to attempt yourmetal pipes and are very sparsely decorated. The
own decorating project on your own. I believe thatidea is to have as much unobstructed space as
when a person knows their preferred decorating stylepossible. One drawback is that these spaces can also
it will allow them to proceed with confidence. You'llcome across as cold and uninviting.
notice I say preferred style because I also believeDuring the late 20th century and 21st century, since the
everyone is drawn to more than one decorating style.end of the 2nd World War, there have been 2
However, your preferred style should be the one thatapparent trends in interior design and decoration: one
dictates your decisions concerning big ticket items.largely Retrospective and the other basically Futuristic.
In part five we will conclude the series by taking aSo, in essence, the late 20th and early 21st century is
peek into the 20th and 21st century.both looking back to decorating styles for inspiration as
In the Early 20th century there were a number ofwell as reaching forward to improving upon what is
revivalist styles, but the 2 styles that were prevalentalready there and developing new ideas. Classicism, in
were Art Deco and Modernism. The term Art Decoall its varying interpretations, has been the most
was coined in 1925. The style was derived fromenduringly fashionable and least faddish style of the
works from the early 20th century art movements oflate 20th and early 21st century. In addition, significant
Cubism, Expressionism, Futurism, and from African andand successful reproductive reinterpretations or
native South American art. Prior to the mid 1920s, Artrecreations of just about all the styles have been
Deco was characterized by rounded and romanticmade even more doable by the response of
motifs like garlands and rosebuds, but, during the latemanufacturers and importers. And, people who live in
1920s and 30s, those rounded motifs were replacedperiod homes today are beginning to restore and
by abstract and geometric motifs. In a nutshell, Artdecorate them in the original period style.
Deco is best recognized by clean lines and smoothProbably the style talked about most these days is
planes in walls, ceilings, and with contrasting coloredContemporary. That is because Contemporary simply
walls and woodwork and textiles with geometric ormeans today or current. In actuality, any style can be
bold floral patterns. The furniture was generouslyinterpreted as Contemporary by using current day
upholstered and veneered with fine wood.materials. I often like to consider Contemporary an
The Modernist style of architecture and decorationapplication or interpretation rather than a style in and of
was wholeheartedly adopted on both sides of theitself.
Atlantic between the 1st and 2nd world wars. ModernI could not tell you every decorating detail but I did tell
design avoided using unnecessary ornaments andyou enough to give you a good working knowledge of
highlighted the industrial origins of modern buildingthe contributions offered to the decorating industry
material, furniture, and textiles. In a Modern space youover the centuries. I hope you feel enlightened and
would not see displays of bric-a-brac or knick knacksempowered as you approach your next decorating
in.project.
The Modernism style included elements such as©Rena Bullard 2010
chrome and glass furniture and pale walls and ceilings.This article may be reprinted, in its entirety, with
The curtains were abstract or geometric patternedcopyright information.
and carpets were often laid over parquet floors. Hi-rise