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The 1980s interior design can be described as complex as it consists of metallic accents, prominent angles, and curves. The good thing about it is it can easily be integrated into other design styles. From bright colors to flat designs and numerous geometric figures, the 1980’s design can boost modern interior.

The modern appearance of the 80s reflected the “less is more” approach together with the minimalist spaces that highlight the clean-lined furniture. The surfaces characterized to be reflective was achieved with the use of mirror, chrome, and glass. These were used to visually enlarge the room. Gray was usually seen on the walls wherein other colors such as white could easily be combined. White was likewise popular during the decade together with contemporary lighting fixtures.

The events in the 80s

The decade was marked by socioeconomic change due to advances in technology. It is also a period of moving away from the planned economy and gearing towards laissez-faire capitalism. Many believed that this change in the global economy is attributed to the “Reagan Boom” in which there was a drastic increase in job employment and economic expansion in the United States.

Multinational manufacturing companies relocated to various countries such as Thailand, Mexico, South Korea, China, and Japan, providing these countries with economic growth and a decrease in the unemployment rate. 

This is also the decade of the end of the Cold War between the United States and the USSR that almost escalated to the use of nuclear weapons in both countries. The collapse of Soviet communism also happened during the decade, wherein the United Kingdom and the United States started a trend in international trade that would eventually be used in the succeeding decades. 

With these developments in the developed countries, the developing countries on the other hand are having financial crises and an increase of debt from the International Bank and the World Bank is evidently observed. 

The AIDS epidemic was recognized during the decade as well as global warming which has started to become a problem. 

Designing your home the 80s way

Designs that were popular in the 80s are making their come back these days and it is not difficult to integrate them into other designs. Try to adopt these ideas and create a comfortable and nostalgic vibe in your home. 

• Chintz – a printed multicolored cotton fabric with a glazed finish, used as curtains and upholstery.
• Pastel colors – soft pastels were commonly used in the 80’s interior decoration. The application of white in generous amounts could intensity the soft colors of the pastel.
• Country style – the design refers to the aesthetic that represents rural farmhouse-like design. This has gained popularity due to the simplicity it projects. Pastel and bright colors will blend well with the country-style design. Materials used in this style include rocks, wood, and other natural elements.
• Verdigris – blue-green tarnish on certain metals after they were left outdoors for a long period of time. Metals such as bronze, copper, and brass get verdigris due to exposure to moisture and air. 
• Memphis-inspired Design – this design was made popular by Memphis Milano in which includes bright looks and bold geometric patterns. 
• Open kitchens – the purpose of the open kitchen is to avoid the isolation of the person who is using the kitchen from the actions simultaneously happening in the other rooms such as the living room and the dining area.
• Shabby chic design – white and antique in appearance coupled with sofas covered with quilted comforters and simple grommets. 
• Japanese Zen – Zen is known for its simplicity and spiritual appearance with the use of elements such as pebbles arranged neatly in certain areas. 

 

Over the years, various interior design styles have been used by homeowners and designers to make their homes look perfect. Traditional and Transitional interior design styles are two of the favorites of many homeowners and designers. Both may have many similarities, but there are elements that make them special from each other. The first thing to do is to study the two styles and choose which one best fits your taste. When you do some comparing, you will notice that there are obvious differences that make each style extraordinary. Read on to learn more about the two interesting design styles. 

Traditional style – what it really is?

The traditional interior design style is characterized by ornate interiors that are inspired by a 17th or 18th-century European countryside home. The appearance is often warm, inviting, elegant, and luxurious. The interior usually features furnishings and decors that have curves and elegant designs. The traditional interior design style is also marked by elegant furniture pieces, intricate woodworks, heavy drapery, and different patterns. This design style will surely bring the past to the modern world. 

Characteristics of Traditional design style

The traditional design style is influenced by 19th-century European decor. It is a timeless design that evokes comfort and elegance. The presence of and antiques and classic art pieces complete the appearance of your home. 

It is also important to have dark and rich colors especially with the materials used. Examples of colors that are commonly seen are red, brown, and green tones. Floral prints and plaids are likewise common. When it comes to furniture pieces, they are often large and elegant. These include china cabinets, chandeliers, decorative pillows, mirrors, vases, and candleholders.

The beauty of the Transitional design style

The transitional interior design style blends well with contemporary and traditional styles. It is a combination of both classic and modern furniture and finishes. The appearance of the interior is less uptight and more relaxed. The addition of textiles, wood tones, and other decorative textures gives depth to the rooms. If you love the combination of classic and modern looks against a neutral backdrop, then this design style is the right one for you.

Characteristics of Transitional design style

Sometimes it is confusing to know the differences between traditional and transitional interior design styles. However, knowing the principles and significance of the characteristics will give you an idea of which style works best for you. Here are some of the common characteristics o the design style that you will surely adore.

The combination of classic curves and modern lines in a neutral setting brings the best to your home. It is also common to see comfortable furnishings and soft lines. The color palette is usually kept minimum. In addition to these, the motif is usually elegant and timeless. These characteristics create a more modern appeal. 

Which works best for you?

Now that you already have some idea about traditional and transitional interior design styles, you will be able to decide which style to use in your homes. The two styles may have many similarities, yet they both have the respective traits that make them even more extraordinary. 

Poster art is one of the most common forms of art and probably the most straightforward when it comes to sending messages and information. Posters use graphical and textual elements and are designed to attract attention. It also aims to give information as brief yet accurate as possible. However, popular posters are, they are still underestimated by many people. Many do not accept it as a form of art since posters are now mass-produced. Read on to learn why posters are still considered art. Hopefully, at the end of this article, you will have a different perspective about posters and be able to fully appreciate them.

The ancient times

Modern posters or the posters that we know these days emerged between the 1840s and 1850s. However, if you are going to study it further, poster as a medium dates back to the prehistoric period. Cave paintings from the Ancient Middle East and Egypt are the earliest examples of what we call posters. 

Production of posters then was limited due to the availability of technology. It was in the 1860s when Jules Cheret developed a new lithographic process. The three-stone lithography was more affordable yet with richer and more expressive colors. This was also influenced by Ukiyo-e woodblock prints in Japan. With these developments in poster technology, he was known as “The Father of the Fine Art Poster.”

Pioneers of Posters

Jules Cheret was not the only one who developed poster printing. The golden age of the poster saw the spread of poster art beyond Paris and throughout Europe. Posters were used in circuses, sporting events, cabarets, and others. Name like Theophile Steinlen’s advertisements for the Parisian cabaret Le Chat Noir is one of the iconic poster art from the Golden Age movement. The end of the 19th century marked the growth of posters as art. This period is what they call the Belle Epoque.

Many art movements can be traced and influenced by other periods such as Art Nouveau, Art Deco, and Modern Contemporary Art Movement. Among the names that are associated with the development of modern posters are T. Privat-Livemont, Dudley hardy, Eugene Grasset, Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec, and Jules Cheret. In the United States, posters were used in advertisements such as Ringing Bros. 

Posters in the United States were more subtle and realistic. They had subdued colors and simpler compositions. It was Edward Penfield who started these kinds of posters and they were even welcomed warmly in Europe. 

Propaganda posters

Posters became popular as a medium for rallying cry and calling to arms. The most iconic poster during the propaganda era was Lord Kitchener Want You by Alfred Leete. It practically captured the true essence of the poster as a medium that speaks directly to its viewers. Post World War I, the Art Noveau was considered to be old-fashioned and obsolete. The rise of Art Deco and the modern art movements in Europe caused the resurgence in the popularity of posters. It showcased new aesthetics but still, posters never became prevalent as compared during the Golden Age. 

Posters in the present day

Today, poster art is becoming popular, They are ubiquitous in homes and many public areas. Typography posters with inspirational and personalized text are used to motivate people while graphic posters were influenced by past and contemporary art movements. Posters also had new purposes such as reproducing popular paintings and advertising. 

Pop Art or popular art started in Britain and the United States in the mid-1950s. It was actually a movement that challenged the traditions of fine art that includes images from advertising and news. The term Pop Art was first used during the discussions among artists, known as the Independent Group. The movement embraced popular culture or what is also called the “material culture”. The artists during that period responded to the need for clever advertising and building more forms of mass communication. 

The movement

The movement was established by the British art critic, Lawrence Alloway in an article, “The Arts and Mass Media”, that was published in 1958. Some textbooks also point to the collage of Richard Hamilton, “Just What Is It Makes Today’s Home So Different and So Appealing?” in 1956 signaled the arrival of Pop Art. The collage was shown in the show, This Is Tomorrow at Whitechapel Art Gallery in 1956. This marks the official beginning of the movement. 

Pop Art completed the Modernism movement in the early 1970s. I also ended the said movement with its investment in anything contemporary. 

Characteristics of Pop Art

Here are the key characteristics of Pop Art that you will find in many arts these days:

• Familiar images and many are drawn from popular media and products.
• Images have very bright colors. 
• Flat imagery is influenced by comic books and newspaper photographs.
• The presence of images of celebrities or fictional characters in comic books, advertisements, and fan magazines.
• The innovative use of media in sculptures. 

The development

Long before the establishment of the movement, there already has been an integration between fine art and popular culture. In 1855, French realist painter Gustave Courbet symbolically pandered to popular taste by including a pose taken from the print series, Imagerie d’Epinal. It featured brightly painted scenes that were invented by Jean Charles Pellerin, a French illustrator. This strategy was also employed by the Spanish artist, Pablo Picasso. 

Marcel Duchamp, the pioneer of Dada pushed Picasso’s consumerism by introducing the actual mass-produced object into the exhibition. These were the bottle rack, a snow shovel, an upside-down urinal, and these were called the Ready-Mades. 

The American Pop Art

One of the key personalities in American Pop Art was Andy Warhol. He understood shopping as well as the allure of celebrity. Along with Post-World War 2 obsessions drove the economy of the country. He has captured the authentic beauty of America and is known as one of the best-known artists associated with the movement. Some of his popular works were the images of Mick Jagger, Marilyn Monroe, and Campbell’s Soup cans. These images have been popular household images and they were reprinted on shirts, posters, and mugs. 

American Pop Art evolved to try reversing the elitist and abstract trend. This was achieved with the introduction of images as a structural device in painting. Some of the popular names in American Pop Art are Roy Lichtenstein, Andy Warhol, Robert Indiana, George Brecht, Billy al Bengston, John Wesley, Jess Collins, and Richard Pettibone. 

Having your own place is one of the most exciting things that can happen to your life. Having your own apartment is a package deal that requires your attention. It includes cleaning and disinfecting the space, buying new things such as furniture and appliances, and of course decorating it. 

After cleaning and placing the furniture pieces in their respective places, you noticed that the room still appears bland and boring due to those blank walls. Blank walls can be an eyesore, especially if you do not have the resources, such as time and money. However, it does not have to be that way. There are affordable ways to decorate them and make the room look more appealing. This can be done with wall accessories. 

Stunning wall accessories

Here are some decorative wall accessories that will make your wall look remarkable. Try them on and tell your walls who’s the boss:

Color Swatch Gallery Wall

Print any color of your choice on a piece of paper then frame them in a grid. The size of the color should be large enough to be seen from afar. This is best when placed in the kids’ room or in the craft room.

Oversized photo

Blow up your own photo, preferably in black and white to have that classic and elegant appearance. Hang it on a wall to create a meaningful yet affordable piece of art.

Bikes on the wall

Who says bikes are only for riding. Contemporary wood mounts are hip and can hold your amazing bikes when not in use. A unique style of decorating your walls with unusual accessories.

What’s the date today?

Look for an oversized calendar from shops and hang them on the wall. This is ideal in the office or family kitchen.

Green chalkboards

Chalkboards are not for teaching only. This can provide a classic vibe that cannot be provided by other decorative wall accessories. Write something on it or draw a picture, this item can be versatile as you can change what’s written every time you feel like it.

Go green with planters

This is an affordable way to spice up your walls. Use low-maintenance succulents in wall-mounted planters to enjoy the benefits of indoor plants.

Living wall

A full-scale wall-mounted garden that brings life into your home. Just remember to choose a wall where they can be recognized and appreciated immediately.

Modern tapestries

Remember the tapestries found in castles during the Medieval Age? The same principle, however, with a twist. You may use a beaded wall hanging with an attractive design to accentuate the furniture pieces and other decorative items.

Wooden ledge

A functional design of the wall. The wooden ledge can be used to display different items such as framed photos, souvenirs, keepsakes, vases, and other decorative items. This is a good choice especially if you are the person who wants to change the appearance of your house from time to time. 

Mirror mirror on the wall

Hanging mirrors never goes out of style. Depending on the size of the room, you may hang a mirror in your room to give you a stylish appearance. In addition to that, the mirror can also reflect natural light and can create an illusion of having a larger room. 

White furniture gives you endless possibilities to decorate the entire room. Blending the furniture with the wall design may be challenging for some. With a little imagination and creativity, you will be able to create a harmonious and compelling room that you will surely adore.

The color white and interior design

Many people consider white as a dull and boring color. While others may find the color interesting as it symbolizes many things. Over the years, white has been associated with cleanliness, purity, innocence, and goodness. Having white in the interior has a number of advantages. It is just how you perceive the use of color. 

White is never a boring color. Practically, you can blend almost anything with the color. You can experiment with different styles or designs that would best fit your taste. White can likewise be cozy as it can reflect natural light inside the room.

Wall decorating with white furniture

There are endless possibilities when styling the wall if you have white furniture pieces. Here are some tips on how to have that wall transformation to make it look more captivating and inspiring. 

White furniture enhances the light inside the room

With access to light, the room will look brighter than usual and appear cleaner. In order to highlight this effect, you may hang mirrors of different sizes on the wall. Aside from the effect that the mirrors could five your room, you are also adding life to the wall by creating a gallery of mirrors.

Decorating the room with black and white exclusively

If you already have the said furniture pieces, you can add an accent to your room by adding items that are colored black. For instance, black curtains, decorative items, pillow covers, and others. However, it is still stylish to keep the wall color as white so that you will have a contemporary room yet retaining the elegance of it because of the colors.

White furniture has this characteristic of being versatile

It will suit the existing design or color of the wall. It doesn’t matter what color or design of the wall you have, but white furniture will blend well with them. Furniture such as antique white bedroom furniture, white cottage bedroom furniture, white French bedroom furniture, white wicker bedroom furniture, will go well with anything. 

Dark walls will go well with a room with white furniture

The dark wall will contrast with the color of the furniture. You can also add patterns on the walls to add an accent and to make the wall more lively.

Artwork pieces

Hang a piece of artwork on the wall that would likewise show your personality and style in the interior.  The artwork that you will hang can likewise be the focal point of the room. Hang it on the wall painted with white color and it will be a head-turner.

Final thoughts

These quick tips will give you the WOW factor when you are decorating the wall when you have the furniture pieces. You may find it awesome to know how comfortable white furniture pieces are with the interiors. The reason for this is that of all colors, white can be the most refreshing among the colors in the spectrum. Along with other colors, it can enhance the sophistication and confidence of similar projects. 

Add the legendary artwork of the world-renowned Italian Renaissance painter, Leonardo da Vinci to your home. This time in a more contemporary appearance as it is depicted in a geometric fashion. The Mona Lisa is one of the greatest and mysterious accomplishments of da Vinci. This trendy poster will not only bring the classic to your interior. It will also add a contemporary touch that will make any room look trendy and stylish. 

Geometric Mona Lisa Poster

There is something unique and interesting with classic art displayed in your room. Art enthusiasts and collectors will likewise be captivated and mesmerized by the beauty these artworks emit in their gallery. The poster version of the popular art, The Mona Lisa, is beautiful as it is with the original painting. It was redesigned in such a way that it can give a modern vibe without omitting the classic touch. This art can likewise give any room a remarkable and spectacular view. 

The Mona Lisa – a brief description

The Mona Lisa or la Gioconda is a half-length portrait by the Italian Renaissance artist Leonardo da Vinci. It has been described as the best known, the most visited, the most written about, the most sung about, the most parodied work of art in the world. 

The figure of a woman dressed in the Florentine fashion of her day and seated in a visionary mountainous landscape clearly shows Leonardo’s sfumato technique of soft, heavily shaded modeling. The mysterious smile and unproven identity have made the painting a source of ongoing investigation and fascination. The sense of overall harmony achieved by Leonardo in the painting reflects Leonardo’s idea of the cosmic link between humanity and nature. 

Leonardo da Vinci

Leonardo di ser Piero da Vinci (1452-1519) was an Italian Renaissance polymath who was extremely interested in invention, painting, sculpting, architecture, science, music, mathematics, engineering, literature, anatomy, geology, astronomy, botany, writing, history and cartography. He was also considered to be one of the greatest painters of all time. 

In addition to these, Leonardo was known for his technological ingenuity. He was able to develop concepts about flying machines, concentrated solar power, double hulls, among others. However, only a few of his designs materialized or became feasible during his time since modern science was only just beginning during the Renaissance period. He also made significant discoveries in anatomy, civil engineering, geology, optics, and hydrodynamics. However, his discoveries and findings were never published and never directly influenced modern science. 

Among his greatest works that made an impact on modern art and thinking were the Mona Lisa, the Last Supper, and the Vitruvian Man. Other paintings have also challenged the minds and beliefs of many individuals, as well as religious beliefs just like subjects and themes of some of his paintings, became controversial. 

Final thoughts

Classic-themed posters are not only about bringing the past to the present. It is also about immortalizing the works of art. These artworks share a lot of stories with the world. The Mona Lisa, for instance, has something mysterious about it that stimulates the mind of the viewer. If you are having a hard time understanding the meaning of the art, it is great that you appreciate it and love the effects they give to your space. 

Having your own place is one of the most exciting things to have. Especially if you are living in the city and just got your new apartment close to where you work. Of course, having your own apartment is a package deal that requires your attention. The package includes cleaning and disinfecting the space, buying new furniture, appliances, and decorative items. After cleaning and placing the furniture pieces in their respective places, you observed that the room still appears dull and boring due to those big blank walls. 

Blank walls can be a pain in the head, especially if you do not have the resources, such as time and money. However, it does not have to be that way. There are many ways to accessorize your walls with various decorative items. There is no need to break the bank as there are also affordable means to decorate your rooms.

Color Swatch Gallery Wall

Print any color of your choice on a piece of paper then frame them in a grid. The size of the color should be large enough to be seen from afar. This is best when placed in the kids’ room or in the craft room.

Oversized photo

Blow up your own photo, preferably in black and white to have that classic and elegant appearance. Hang it on a wall to create a meaningful yet affordable piece of art.

Bikes on the wall

Who says bikes are only for riding. Contemporary wood mounts are hip and can hold your amazing bikes when not in use. A unique style of decorating your walls with unusual accessories.

Wall calendars

Look for oversized calendars from shops and hang them on the wall. This is ideal in the office or family kitchen.

Green chalkboards

Chalkboards are not for teaching only. This can provide a classic vibe that cannot be provided by other decorative wall accessories. Write something on it or draw a picture, this item can be versatile as you can change what’s written every time you feel like it.

Go green with planters

This is an affordable way to spice up your walls. Use low-maintenance succulents in wall-mounted planters to enjoy the benefits of indoor plants.

Living wall 

A full-scale wall-mounted garden that brings life into your home. Just remember to choose a wall where they can be recognized and appreciated immediately.

Modern tapestries

Remember the tapestries found in castles during the Medieval Age? The same principle, however, with a twist. You may use a beaded wall hanging with an attractive design to accentuate the furniture pieces and other decorative items.

Wooden ledge

A functional design of the wall. The wooden ledge can be used to display different items such as framed photos, souvenirs, keepsakes, vases, and other decorative items. This is a good choice especially if you are the person who wants to change the appearance of your house from time to time. 

Wall mirrors

Hanging mirrors never goes out of style. Depending on the size of the room, you may hang a mirror in your room to give you a stylish appearance. In addition to that, the mirror can also reflect natural light and can create an illusion of having a larger room.