What's YOUR Design
Style?
Retro? Rustic? Maybe modern industrial? There is a range of styles out
there, and it's worth getting to know some of them before you begin planning
the interior design of your new home. Read on to find out more and decide which
one is right for you.
There are a few styles that stand out on the Israeli scene today, but
most homes just end up with an eclectic look that combines elements from a
range of styles and materials. There's an element of eco-friendliness to this
mix of styles, since it often utilizes used furniture alongside new pieces, avoiding
the need to buy more. Here are a few of the current leading design styles:
Modernist
This style developed in the 50s and is distinguished by geometric
patterns with straight, clean lines and precise composition. Smooth blocks of
color are never interrupted by patterns, prints, or added decoration. To avoid
looking flat and cold, this style wisely incorporates furniture from a variety
of materials, such as wood, metal, and glass. The style can be expressed using
all sorts of elements: hanging furnishings, recessed lighting, muted colors on
a background of bright tones, and nickel or stainless steel in kitchens to
provide an industrial look.
Rustic
This design style uses all-wood furniture with curving lines in warm or
neutral colors, alongside elements from rough-textured natural materials like
stone, iron, and fabric. The emphasis is
on daily use and comfort, in order to create a homey, warm, and inviting
atmosphere. Due to the use of natural materials, this style is best for
brightly-lit homes that are well integrated with their natural surroundings. The
rustic look can also be expressed in wall coverings made of natural materials,
spacious seating areas filled with throw cushions, and – in the kitchen – the
use of cooking utensils as design elements hanging on the walls rather than
stored in cabinets.
Classic
Always in fashion, this style has a rich, prestigious look, with precise
design. Classic furniture has an antique effect, combining rounded lines with
plenty of carvings and decorative elements. The primary color pallet is based
on light cream tones, with delicate touches of complementary colors like gold.
The style often takes the form of upholstered furniture with prominent carvings,
wallpaper with stripes or gold decorations, eye-catching crystal chandeliers,
and many ornaments, such as vases, candlesticks, and wood-framed pictures.
Retro
Retro is all about revisiting the past. In home design terms, it usually
means borrowing styles from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. This cheerful, colorful look
is perfectly suited to nostalgic people. Unlike vintage furnishings, retro
furnishings aren't actually antiques – they are recently manufactured with old-fashioned
designs. Vintage style, however, uses old furnishings that have been minimally
repaired or restored. Plastic, vinyl, and PVC are the dominant materials used
for the retro look, and they're used for a range of design elements: colorful
household items from another era (like an old touchtone phone), geometric or
floral prints on furniture, bold wallpaper, and more. To apply this style
consistently, avoid using cold, impersonal materials, like stainless steel,
iron, glass, and so on.