01/13/2021 Read in 5 minutes.
Neoclassicism in interior design is elegance, lightness, sophistication and pastel colors. This is an opportunity to bring the atmosphere of Paris or Monaco into your apartment or country house. A living room in neoclassical style is a way to get the most European comfortable interior for the whole family. If you have dreams of such an interior, be sure to check out our article on this topic.
Brief description of style
For this style, the ideal option would be a spacious room with high ceilings and large windows, decorated in light colors. The presence of arches, columns and an abundance of stucco in the interior will be mandatory.
One cannot discount the moments characteristic of the classical style - decorative vases, large mirrors on the walls, as well as bronze and copper decorative elements.
The decoration is characterized by the use of expensive materials or their imitation, and modern household appliances fit organically into all this splendor.
Color schemes 2022: the most trendy options
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In the photo: Beige interior with light upholstered furniture and gold accents
Looking for the perfect shades for your interior? Take a look at the trendy schemes selected by our interior designers.
Beige + white: with dark accents
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In the photo: Cozy traditional interior with a white sofa and a blue armchair
An excellent choice for a discreet and cozy interior.
Gray + white: with gold accents
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In the photo: Gray-beige fashionable interior with designer furniture
The best solution for a modern neoclassical interior.
Brown + beige: with white accents
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In the photo: Beige living room in neoclassical style with a brown sofa
A chic classic option for traditional comfort.
Walnut/honey + beige: with brown and white details
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Photo: Open plan kitchen-living room with parquet floors and a dining room in the middle
This color palette is suitable for those who want to decorate their apartment in warm colors.
Gray + pale chestnut: with blue accents
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In the photo: Gray furniture in English style with a Chesterfield sofa
Neoclassicism in the living room interior can be either pale pastel or super modern.
White + pearl grey: with silver details
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In the photo: Corner sofa with a low back and no armrests
Another current option without bright accents.
Style colors
A great advantage of neoclassicism is the absence of strict requirements for the color scheme of the room: when decorating, you can use both warm and cold shades.
- But most often, in the living room, to create a cozy and warm atmosphere, muted shades of beige or milky colors are used, and a green or brown palette is chosen as accents.
- It is possible to use white color: it helps to visually increase the space of a small room.
Decoration Materials
For finishing, both natural materials (wood, stone) and their synthetic analogues (decorative plaster, paint, etc.) are used. The darkest part of the room is the floor, the lightest part is the ceiling. The walls are decorated in pastel colors.
Finishing principles:
- Walls. They are often covered with plain wallpaper, but abstract small patterns and wide stripes are allowed. Decorative plaster with a weakly expressed texture, paint, panels made of noble wood or its imitation are suitable.
- Floor. Valuable wood or marble are ideal for flooring. But it is acceptable to use budget options: laminate, parquet, linoleum, marble-style tiles. The baseboards are wide. You can place a small rug in the center of the room. Its color scheme should fit well into the overall palette.
- Ceiling. It is preferable to make it plain and light. Any type of structure is suitable, but preference is given to suspended and tensioned ones. If the room is high, you can arrange a multi-level ceiling. It is advisable to install the ceiling plinth around the perimeter.
Regardless of the materials used, the furnishings should look expensive and elegant.
Choice of finishes
Interior design in a similar style requires the presence of expensive, mainly natural, finishing materials, but does not exclude modern high-quality analogues. In order not to get out of style, you should adhere to certain rules.
Closer to practicality
In the “new classic”, convenience and practicality take precedence over the luxury of external decoration. While maintaining sophistication, nobility, and an expensive appearance, neoclassicism moved away from the non-functionality of objects and from dark colors in design. It is more appropriate to replace the epithet “luxurious” with the definition “moderate” in the description of this style.
The design is simplified, it gets rid of frills. Classic details are used carefully, and stylization replaces the original decor. Instead of a powerful “natural environment”, you can use its imitation from lightweight modern materials.
The style is characterized by symmetry and severity of lines, proportionality.
It is so versatile that it suits both modern mid-sized apartments and mansions, as well as rooms in ancient buildings, with bay windows and stained glass windows.
For floor
Natural materials in neoclassical interior decoration are a common occurrence - here the main stumbling block can be the price.
Therefore, in living rooms, parquet is replaced with wood-like laminate, and natural granite or marble is replaced with large tiles that imitate these materials.
For the ceiling
It is worth paying special attention to the finishing of this surface. According to the requirements of the style, it must be absolutely flat and monochromatic; ceiling plinths are quite acceptable.
To achieve this effect, a practical option would be to use suspended ceilings or plasterboard structures, and this also provides additional opportunities when installing lighting fixtures.
Situation
When choosing furniture for the interior of the living room, it is worth remembering two points: it should be both elegant and at the same time quite functional. The shape of the products can be either smooth and curved or straight, and for upholstery preference is given to velvet or velor (replacement with high-quality imitation is possible).
But the products themselves should be wooden, with figured legs and high carved backs. If the living room is combined with a dining room, both high chairs and half-chairs would be appropriate, but the furniture should be made exclusively of wood.
- If the interior includes household appliances, then it is worth selecting furnishing elements that provide space for placing the equipment - it should not be a separate spot in the interior. The presence of any objects or details of golden or bronze shades in the decoration is welcome.
- Walls or shelving in the interior are chosen with glass doors, or with lathing. Ottomans and ottomans would look good as additional decorative elements.
The arrangement of furniture requires symmetry: for this, the main object is selected, and the entire composition is built around it.
Furniture
All items in the living room, along with pomp and luxury, should be characterized by simplicity and elegance. That is why preference should be given to furniture made of expensive wood, for example, oak, mahogany or ebony. We must not forget about decorating expensive furniture.
Typical for neoclassicism are:
- gold and silver details;
- grooved legs;
- Greco-Roman elements.
Upholstered furniture is a must. The upholstery should be made of expensive materials, the shade should be deep enough. And here the decorations need to find a place. Buttons that seem to be buried in the upholstery look original.
You also need to think about the arrangement of furniture in the room. It should be classic.
Furniture should be classic
It is recommended to place a carpet in the center, around which the furniture set will be located, which includes:
- two armchairs;
- a soft sofa, instead of which you can choose an elegant couch;
- high chairs, which should be quite elegant;
- several types of tables: tea tables, coffee tables;
- paired bedside tables.
A special table can be placed on the carpet, which will become the main decoration of the living room. A fireplace can take over a similar function. In the living room, which is decorated in a modern classic style, a fireplace is a must-have detail. In a city apartment it is unlikely that you will be allowed to build a real fireplace, but you can always make an imitation of it.
Placement of light sources
When decorating a living room, lighting plays a special role: if installed correctly, it should visually enlarge the space, so there should be a lot of light.
Neoclassicism initially involves the use of a significant amount of sunlight, so the room must have large windows.
- Multi-tiered chandeliers or volumetric ceiling lamps are used as sources of artificial light.
- Additionally, sconces are placed symmetrically on the walls; the presence of floor lamps and table lamps is not prohibited.
- Lighting simply must emphasize the luxury and richness of the furnishings in every corner of the living room.
Textiles and decorative elements
Neoclassicism is characterized by decorating windows with curtains made of expensive natural fabrics. In this case, it is preferable to choose curtains rather than Roman or roller blinds.
However, the presence of lambrequins and similar decorative elements is unacceptable.
Paintings in carved gilded frames, a carpet on the floor, sculptures, antique clocks and vases with fresh flowers will help complete the picture.
- Interiors decorated in neoclassicism have a more democratic character than classicism as such.
- In such a design, the main thing is to create harmony in the union of luxury and modernity: expensive wallpaper that matches the overall color scheme, additional accessories in the form of antique clocks, vases and figurines should exist in the room in peace and harmony with the TV or split system.
- And if it is possible to equip a fireplace, then it will simply become an irreplaceable part of the entire interior and a favorite pastime for the whole family.
Despite the fact that neoclassicism is considered the style of country houses or apartments with large rooms, any room, even a small one, can be furnished in a similar style.
To achieve this goal, use light colors in interior design, mirrors that visually enlarge the space, an electric fireplace or its imitation. With just a few simple techniques and attention to detail, you can surprise your guests with your new furnishings. The most important thing is to try not to overload the interior with an abundance of decor.
Recommendations
To arrange the living rooms of small apartments in the neoclassical direction, you need to adhere to a number of recommendations:
- use exclusively light colors in the design;
- use a minimum of decor;
- install an imitation fireplace or its electric version;
- give preference to glossy and mirror surfaces.
The neoclassical style is suitable for both the living room of a country house and the spacious hall of a city apartment. The main thing is to choose the right colors and accessories.
