Interior designers should not work to the latest trends or fashions, because the results will end up going out of style too quickly. Instead, interior designers should simply have a good understanding of styles across the ages and incorporate different elements to create magnificent spaces. Culture is always changing, and nowhere is that more visible than in cosmopolitan and diverse London. Interior designers see a true mix of ideas and people in the capital – from native Londoners to Americans to Eastern Europeans. In this context, the work of the interior designer is all about offering the client the maximum in options and expressivity when creating an interior that is both personalised and elegant.
Over the centuries, various styles have evolved and all continue to impact the work of London’s top interior designers today. Let me describe just a few:
ART DECO. This style really came into its own in the 1930s, when automation and new manufacturing techniques led to the ability to create sharp, well-defined edges in household items. Factories were opened in London and across the UK to output products that would ultimately replace the Art Nouveau styles that relied so heavily on shapely waves and light-coloured tones. London Interior Designers today often invoke Art Deco styles to create stunning contemporary designs.
ART NOUVEAU. This ornamental, fluent, wavey design style is considered very nature-orientated and fresh. It arose in London during the reign of Queen Victoria and helped break down the walls between professional artists and professional interior designers. Glass items, especially lamps, were characteristic of the Art Nouveau style – together with soft pastel hues and elegant wallpapers.
BAUHAUS. Another style from the 1930s, Bauhaus interior designers focused on colours like silver and cream. To complement these schemes, London residences started to feature Bauhaus-inspired glass, metal and cement-based objects. Interior designers of this age also used vibrant colours like strawberry, but only for accents.
TUDOR. This is most commonly used today by interior designers who design for London pubs or country residences that feature the characteristic exterior white walls and black wooden cross-supports of the Tudor era. Interior designers working in the Tudor style will commonly rely on oak interiors and window treatments that feature velvets, plush fabrics and semi-precious stones.
In my next article, I will explain how interior designers use accessories.
Interior Design London – Global Interior Design Consultancy Company in London, UK for interior design services.
