Interior design is considered the art of creating interiors that inspire. And as an art, interior design has always been impacted by art movements throughout history. Even today you can witness designs inspired and centred around classical art like Picasso and Van Gough. With new thriving trends like design-art, that combine the functionality of furniture pieces with the sculptural elements of art, art continues impacting design. One such example can be seen with people converting their televisions into art pieces by wall-mounting them and adding a frame. You can get your TV wall mounted as well, to make a custom art piece by clicking here.
To understand how different art movements have impacted the interior design movements, and how you can bring them home, keep reading!
Pop Art
The end of the world war between Britain and America marked the beginning of this kind of art form. With its defining features in geometric patterns and abstract expressionism, pop art is known for being loud, bold and bright. Often using bright colours, pop art defined the coming of age of the post-war youth. Heavily influenced by pop culture, the interior design style influenced by this movement often includes bright and repetitive colours, use of plastic and mass consumption. With rebelliousness at its centre, you can employ interiors inspired by this 1950’s style by incorporating brighter colours, especially those found in the rainbow in your décor or walls, using art pieces to create a gallery wall and using repetitive features- a colour, a painting, or an ornament.
You can also use motifs in paintings, posters, carpets and throw blankets- to make a statement. Over-usage of accessories that are brightly coloured is also a defining feature that can be paired with geometric sections. Alternatively, you can get a big art piece and place it to create a focal point for the room.
Art Deco
The art deco movement was short-lived, beginning in the 1920s and ending with the commencement of the world war. However, art deco keeps living on in the interior design world well into the twentieth century. It is defined by bold, symmetrical, and flowing motifs, themes, and patterns. A strong and bold style of interiors, art deco-inspired styles feature sweeping curves, zigzag designs, triangular shapes, and stylized wildlife.
If you are looking to incorporate art deco into your interiors, go for the generous use of gold and steel. Fabrics like velvet and shark are also featured heavily in the art deco style. Using materials like mirrors and marbles for surfaces (for example, using a mirror surface for a bedside table) is also extremely popular with this style. Try to use colours like deep yellows and greens along with the basic blues and pinks. The idea is to keep the place simple- this art style is not about the details. Large furniture and décor that fills up space is more art deco than intricate and small ornaments.
Arts and Crafts
With industries post-world war starting mass production of everything- from fabrics to art, a rebellious style- arts and crafts- which focused heavily on decorative arts made by artisans. A direct opposite to the art deco movement, arts and crafts as essentially founded and promoted by the poet and designer, William Morris. He tried to bring back the charm in the handcrafted pieces by promoting them in his interior design style.
To incorporate arts and crafts in your interior design style, the use of luxe and handmade material is promoted. Think, handcrafted décor ornaments, jute rugs and paintings bought from small businesses and artists. Based on organic and crude material, this is the perfect style to incorporate your DIY skills into. Go for objects that pay a homage to life around you- use motifs and nature-based wallpapers, décor that is original and not massed produced and colours that inspire your creativity.
Cubism
The movement was founded by two of the most influential figures in art history- Pablo Picasso and Georges Baroque, cubism is defined by two-dimensional figures who sacrifice perspective for surreal fragmentation. With distorted figures and objects, Cubism was inspired by two main works-Picassos Les Demoiselles d’ Avignon and Braque’s houses at L’estaque. This movement was essentially divided into two parts- one period that extended from the 1900s to 1912, known as analytical cubism, which worked with common objects such as musical instruments, human bodies etc, and the post-1912 period known as synthetic cubism. Synthetic cubism was in stark contrast with its predecessors, working with colourful artworks which explored texture.
If you want to incorporate analytical cubism in your interiors, go for muted colours like green, brown, grey and blue. Using muted and two-dimensional artworks around the place is another method to use this style. For synthetic cubism, go for collage techniques and try to combine bright cheerful colours with muted, two-dimensional décor.