Timeless Interior: 5 Principles of Creation

Any interior morally becomes outdated. And the main reason is changing current requirements of homeowners to their house. Therefore, when planning an interior, it's important to build into the project the possibility of transformation depending on personal needs without carrying out large-scale renovation work. This will allow your interior to be in line with fashionable trends, and you - not to lose interest in your home.
1. Define Your Expectations

It's important to define what you expect from the interior. Luxury? Originality? Functionality? What do you associate with these concepts not only in design but also in public, cultural and political life. Define the concepts that express your personal values and correspond to your comfortable lifestyle.

Design: Natalia Ananina 2. Develop Interior Intuition

To form your own vision, you need to collect a certain visual baggage. This is not only about interiors. Pay attention to architecture, art objects, models' works.

Mark what you like in particular, compile «boards of inspiration». This approach develops intuition and cultivates taste. Moreover, you will be aware of changing trends and can confidently distinguish «yours» from the general diversity.

3. Choose Long-Term Trends

Everything here is analogous to fashion: you need a well-thought-out basic wardrobe that can be adapted to current needs using trendy items and accessories. Urgent trends help refresh the interior. Long-term trends lay down the proper foundation for an interior.

Design: Elvira Stankievich

For example, variations of gray color and natural materials have been relevant for several seasons in a row: wood, metal, stone. But each season adds new touches to this trend. The color of 2016 was a soft ochre tone. This year in the trend are blue and wine shades, especially marsala, green and metallic elements.

If your soul calls for updates and a desire to follow new trends, it's enough to add a trendy color to the base: in accessories and furniture, for more decisive ones - paint an accent wall with it, complement the decor with a metallic table lamp or chandelier, arrange fresh flowers, and the room will acquire a new and at the same time fashionable look.

Design: Alena Yudina and Nadezhda Kireeva4. Follow Updates from Trend Bureaus

Every year, relying on trends and global moods, trend bureaus select the color of the year and several seasonal shades. The most influential among them are the Pantone Color Institute, Akzo Nobel Global Aesthetic Centre (Dulux), as well as several major paint manufacturers and 4-5 solid style agencies.

Style agencies develop trend albums based on studying the consumer lifestyle of society. These collections always include color palettes, current items in decoration, fabric samples, sketches and descriptions with key words for each trend.

5. Event-Driven «Upgrade» of the Interior

This can be seasonal or holiday-themed updates: add lightness in spring, coolness in summer, warmth in autumn, and festivities in winter. It's enough to change textiles or add festive décor. Don't forget about lighting: different lighting scenarios give a room different moods.

Design: Enjoy Home

You can also dedicate one wall to a periodically updated photo gallery. Designate a place for a collection of souvenirs brought from travels with consideration of its replenishment or change according to mood. This short-term update will not only revitalize the home but also add dynamics and emotions to the established family routine.

Design: Natalia PatrushkovaExpert Opinions

Following trends or betting on classicism - we learned from successful designers how to create a timeless interior.

Anna Muravina: «Following trends is a path to nowhere»

Anna Muravina EXPERT
Decorator and designer, executive director of the Association of Interior Designers and Decorators (ADDI), author of the book «Recipes for a Happy Interior». Runs her own Instagram blog - @anutamur.

To create a timeless interior, it is necessary to very clearly understand what exactly makes you (or your client) happy. An interior reflects a person's personality. The better you can hear yourself (or understand the deep values/needs of your client), the more chances you have not to make a mistake and create an interior that will remain relevant for many years.

Following trends is a path to nowhere. What's your business if Pantone declared marsala the «color of the year» when your soul requires mint-blue and only in this color you feel joy and fullness? Or does it not matter what style is called that will be created when you're comfortable living in an environment of items brought from memorable trips and your own art collection? These items should not blend into the style. They should become defining elements for the future atmosphere. The more personal the interior you create, the longer it will remain relevant.

Design: Anna MuravinaIvan Mirolyubov: «It's better to leave the cornices and ornate rosettes in history»

IVAN MIROLYOBOV Expert Art Director of the «Design Point» Studio. Delivers lectures on interior design and writes articles for leading interior magazines and portals.

To create an interior that won't age is not so easy. The problem of «an interior for centuries» is that it can get boring to the owner. Moods and tastes of people change during life just like trends. To avoid additional renovation work for finishing, it's better to use calm colors and brighten them up with vivid accents in furniture that can always be changed and thus transform the interior. This can also be quickly done with textiles.

Frequently an interior without time is considered classicism, but it also varies: for example, baroque and rococo are no longer relevant. Classic elements, such as cornices, ornate rosettes, pilasters and friezes, can tire the eye, so when decorating an interior it's important to remember about their moderate use.

Design: «Design Point»

Cover design: Enjoy Home project

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