Latest Slick Styles for City Pads
Historically, sovereigns dictated decorating styles. Monarchs like Elizabeth I and Louis XVI surrounded themselves with furnishings they admired, and their courts followed suit. You had to be rich to be fashionable in those days, and the most popular styles were those that let everyone else know just how rich you were. The industrial revolution changed all that, inspiring designers to react to broader cultural trends such as loft hatches, rather than to the whims of the ruling class.
Since then, designers have been constantly re-defining “what is new,” stripping down interiors to their bare essentials, then cluttering them up again. In this century, a more eclectic approach has evolved. Just as the early modernists rejected the idea that an aristocracy should rule design tastes, many of today’s forward-thinking designers dismiss the notion that any single decorating style should reign supreme.
Today, the latest style trend in decorating is summed up in one word: personal. The most admired interiors are likely to be those that reflect the personality of the inhabitant. This doesn’t mean it is wrong to embrace the latest trends and styles. The desire to stay current is partly a wish to be “present,” to be alive to and part of the world around us. Still, the observation remains: The latest, slickest, most current styles for your city pad will be those that best reflect your own personality.
There are, of course, general trending styles in interior design. Saturated yet muted colours may be the most pronounced trend, showing up as inspiration for an entire room, or as accents for neutral colour schemes. Chrome and steel are giving way to metals with a warmer look, such as brass, bronze and copper. Ethic patterns are infusing rooms with a feeling of participation in a global culture.
More importantly, general designs concepts still prevail. A salient use of composition, balance, depth, line, form, function, colour and texture will never go out of vogue. The trick is to combine design concepts and current trends with personal flair.
The first step is to rid yourself of the idea that a city apartment must adhere to any one decorating style. Instead, think about what really attracts you to one particular style, such as the colour, detail, texture or scale. Allow the inherent architecture and layout of your flat and your odd looking loft ladders, as well as personal preferences, to influence your choices.
If you like rooms to feel open and spacious, let that drive your purchases. If you prefer a warmer, more cozy feeling, choose items that emphasize that look.
The latest slick styles for your home will be those that work best with your own personality, and that will best complement your lifestyle. Your home is your castle. Long may you reign.