Thursday, April 9, 2015

Arts And Crafts Style Decorating Elements

By Joanna Walsh


The Victorian era was known for its overblown style and fussy decor, using furnishing produced in factories. As a reaction against this, arts and crafts style decorating took off in England in the late nineteenth century. This movement spread to the United States, where it was taken up by American designers and interpreted in their own way. Designers wanted to create environments governed by fine workmanship to counteract the negative impact of mechanization.

Inspiration was taken from the natural world, with use of earthy organic colors and natural materials like wood and stone. Specific design elements are used by homeowners today that create this look, with wood probably being one of the most important ones. Wood has a natural, organic beauty and people wanting this type of decor would never ever paint it. The idea would be to showcase the natural grain of the wood as much as possible. Stains may be used which amplify rather than hide the natural grain.

The furniture created at this time is still sought after today. It has clean, square lines and is solid and comfortable. Oak was usually used and leather upholstery was the norm. Other kinds of wood are used to create furniture today and the most important consideration is usually how much attention to detail can be seen. Pieces do not have curves or ornamentation but the interest comes in the quality of wood used and the careful construction of each piece.

With inspiration being drawn from nature, many lighter colors and neutrals are used. These work well together with the rich tones of wooden furniture. Accent colors also echo the colors of nature such as a cushion in a moss or forest greens, a distressed copper bowl or a beautiful terracotta pot.

Lighting plays an important part in creating the atmosphere in any home. The lamps used are those with geometric, clean lines combined with warm metal tones. Tiffany lamps are iconic elements of this type of decor but any lamp combining stained glass and metal is likely to be suitable. Leaded or stained glass windows with geometric or linear patterns are common features of homes built in this style.

Flooring follows the natural aesthetic. Hardwood planks, stone and slate are all popular choices. The more one-of-a-kind patterns and variations in color, the better. Once again, the focus is on showcasing natural, organic beauty.

One will not see any steel or chrome in a house decorated in this manner. Instead, distressed or hammered metals like brass, copper and bronze will be used in accessories to add warmth and compliment the tones of the wood. Pottery, glazed tiles and handmade rugs with strong motifs are also used.

Those who love the warm look of wood, simple lines and handcrafted details still embrace decor that celebrates these elements. They want to bring to mind a slower era when people worked with their hands and lived a simple life. Furniture, lighting, textiles and accessories are all used to capture an artisan aesthetic. These elements make homes warm, comfortable, functional and yet beautiful too.




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