American Style in Interior Design

Abundance of colonial style and art deco elements – all this characterizes modern American interior design. Its main task is to provide property owners with harmony, inner peace from living with subtlety and eclectic democracy.

History of Origin and Development

American style is also called colonial, with distinctive accents from English classicism but with a "cozy" simplicity. There is logical reasoning for this. Settlers to the new North American continent tried with all their might to recreate familiar life and lifestyle, tested for centuries by European ancestors. However, they had to adapt to new conditions that were not always gentle and difficulties in recreating life from scratch.

Modern development of American style in interior design can be roughly divided into 3 stages: in the first half of the 20th century with the development of cinema – a tendency towards art deco, in the second, with the rapid development of single-story America, – towards the country style, and the 21st century forced a closer look at modern trendy high-tech styles: with new possibilities in household appliances, decoration, renovation and outfitting of apartments and houses. However, classicism and art deco continue to leave their unique features in American-style interiors.

Art Deco originated in France in the 1920s. Soon, this eclectic style conquered all the world space. It synthesized neoclassicism and modernism, which permeated not only architecture but also painting and fashion.

Photo: Classic notes in American style

Photo: Living room decoration

Photo: Dining room layout

Design: 3L Decor Bureau

Photo: Bathroom with window

Design: Nikita Morozov

Photo: Bedroom in an urban apartment

Features of Layout

Designers immediately identify the characteristics of American style upon first glance: spacious living room interiors are built around a central functional zone, "loving" open layout. There are no partitions or walls reducing space.

Zone separation is done through furniture and designer interior design with all its components. Essentially, we could call modern American style studio-style. But with a significant caveat: Americans always separate sleeping and personal hygiene zones with walls and partitions, which should be sufficient in number according to family members and potential guests. The children's room is often left untouched even after the child has permanently left the family home.

Main characteristics of American style that influence layout:

• Brave mixing of different styles and directions, but with the presence of overall harmony and uniqueness of spaces. Due to "combining the incompatible," American style in classical design can be called universal.

• Every interior feels designer approach, which even appears chaotic in mixed furniture creates an unforgettable perception of the living space.

• Comfort and practicality are paramount here. Practical Americans would sacrifice decoration for personal living convenience, simplicity, and minimalism. Why spend money on something that doesn't bring benefit?!

• American classicism tends to island arrangement of furniture: whether it's a dining table or kitchen work zone. They are usually located in the center of the room. Other functional zones "dance" from them.

• Archways of various forms and pseudo-columns help in zoning.

• Rational use of space is in the blood of North Americans: from shelves above dressers to mezzanines, from combined entrance hall and kitchen right at the entrance door, to a basement with furniture instead of a cellar.

• To increase space, the toilet is often combined with the bathroom. An essential feature of the personal hygiene room is a window. Its absence is compensated for by a mirror system that creates a feeling of airiness and connection to the outside world.

• Room finishing is done with quality affordable materials. Often, artificial ones replacing natural wood and stone. Among decorations are elegant moldings, moldings, beams, niches...

• Success items (awards, trophies, diplomas...) are placed not in the bedroom but in a visible location so that they can be easily seen by guests. Small details in decoration highlighting the owner's individuality are acceptable.

• Furniture is chosen in simple forms, without sharp angles, easy to maintain. Living room and bedroom prefer minimalism and light tones in finishing.

• Technology is present in all rooms and in large quantities. It is installed in special niches and on shelves.

• Vintage is welcomed in the interior of a room in an apartment or house in American style. This can be an antique item purchased abroad or left by ancestors as an inheritance, but carefully restored.

Interior Color Palette

Color in design tending towards American style is chosen neutral: from white to brown. Contrast is created by combining white with red and blue, sand and dark brown, even gray and black. The style is also characterized by geometric, symmetrical monochrome patterns (squares, rectangles, stripes, rhombuses, leaves...). The texture is better chosen with a visual effect of depth and rhythmic "mood".

Originality in color palette is created by "blurred," smoky shades: purplish-golden, blue-green, gray-blue, bluish-violet, khaki shades. Art Deco style will highlight more contrasting colors – dark floors with light walls, dark walls with light doors and window frames. Traditionally, the surface of furniture and appliances is chosen monochromatic.

Renovation in American Style

Walls during renovation are made smooth and more often painted. The color is monochrome and matte. Wallpaper is used less frequently, though the pattern is chosen small and neutral. Wall panels in a light finish made of natural wood or quality imitation material with moldings and strips may be applied. Modern American style "allows" the use of materials "like brick," stone, or rough stucco in finishing walls of entrance hall and living room.

Ceiling is also made smooth for painting or whitewashing. It can be decorated with geometrically precise moldings. The color is white or beige. On the kitchen space and in the living room, beams can be used to visually send to the country style. The color is chosen in natural dark wood, which visually increases space, zones it, and creates additional contrast in room finishing. Wide gypsum or wooden trim in light tones. Dark colors require additional designer work to create a harmonious contrast.

Floor in American style adheres to wooden covering in dark tones. Select: parquet, parquet boards and more budget-friendly high-quality laminate. Some interiors "allow" the use of ceramic tiles and artificial stone in areas with frequent movement and susceptibility to moisture and dirt.

Design: Julia Kharitonova and Natalia Maslova, 3L Decor Bureau Furniture Arrangement

Furniture in American style is chosen comfortable, elegant, and at the same time quality and functional. It is usually large-scale (areas according to style definition allow this), simple configurations with built-in cupboards. Soft furniture is covered in monochromatic textiles, poufs and benches are equipped with soft cushions in tone with the overall drapery.

Furniture arrangement in American interior adheres to a few specific features:

• The functional center is located in the center of the room, for example, a sofa; chairs and a coffee table together with it form an informal circle;
  
• Cupboards, dressers, shelves, niches are arranged along the walls;
  
• Furniture within one room is selected with similar style and unified color scheme;
  
• Appeal to classical canons (origins of American style) implies proportionality and symmetry in purchasing and arranging furniture;
  
• The living room's functional center is an inevitable attribute of the style – a fireplace, around which all necessary furniture for the room is arranged;
  
• The dining room prefers island layout: in the center of the hall – a table, a countertop with sink and stove, bar counter, and the dining set is arranged along one of the walls.
  

Lighting

It can be variable, with the use of spotlights around the perimeter of the room, multiple chandeliers in the center of the hall, table lamps, wall sconces, and floor lamps. Electrical appliances are finished in forged metal, bronze, or chrome surface. The quality of artificial light should be natural and soft.

Abundance of natural light is welcomed. Spacious bathroom implies a window. Modern living rooms in big cities have panoramic window openings on the whole wall.

Textiles and Decor

Decorating in the style of modern American classicism is ascetic and moderately selected. Paintings in frames, mirrors, vases, family photos, embroidered cushions on chairs and poufs, souvenirs and magnets on the refrigerator from travels – this is the main set of decorative accessories for an average American family. Important are also live flowers in the interior of an apartment or house.

Textiles in decoration have a greater semantic load than decor. Curtains are mostly monochromatic made from natural fabrics, not overly complicated in design. If there is a pattern – it is small with strict geometry. Modernity "granted" the opportunity to use blinds, Japanese and Roman curtains.

Carpets in American style are used with full awareness of moderation. Covering the entire surface of the room is not aesthetically appropriate for a practical style. Small carpeted coverings in the relaxation area of the living room or next to the bed in the bedroom are appropriate.

Soft furniture upholstery, curtains, chair and sofa covers, decorative cushions are selected in tone with the main elements of the room design.

American Style in Different Rooms

Living Room – a public place. Therefore, all notable, best, quality, and outstanding personal items are placed in a visible location. Americans are inclined to compliments but are not ready to open all doors beyond the living room, especially for unfamiliar people. A large soft sofa, chairs, a coffee table or a table with chairs, a fireplace, a working area with a solid desk, books on shelves, family photos, paintings in various artistic styles and directions – these are indispensable elements of a room for receiving guests in modern American style.

Entrance Hall can be small and connected to the living room. It is important to take off outer clothing. In America, it is not customary to remove shoes before entering the living room.

Design: Julia Kharitonova and Natalia Maslova, 3L Decor Bureau

Bedroom – more is better – such is the motto of American classicism. There are usually at least two. They are mostly located on the second floor of a private house or penthouse. Furniture is light-colored, the bed is large, decorated with decorative cushions and a duvet in tone with the overall drapery, small carpets, lighting fixtures, and sconces create a comfortable atmosphere for rest

Child's Room tends to all whims of the child. There are many toys, pictures, posters. Creative disorder is welcomed, but there should always be plenty of light.

Design: Anna and Daniil Shepanovich, Subiq Studio

Kitchen in northern American style is traditionally with a working island, an abundance of built-in appliances, shelves, and cupboards to the ceiling. The island serves as a boundary between the food preparation area and the dining room with a large family dining table. These two functional zones must be separated!

Bathroom is a place for relaxation. There is no room for washing machines, but a window is always preferred. The floor is marble, the color palette is light – these are the goals to strive for when choosing American style.

Nuances of American Style in Private Homes and Apartments

Americans strive to design apartments in a way that somehow reflects the layout of private homes. The feeling of spaciousness should be present in both cases, and furniture and finishing are similar. In a house, bedrooms are traditionally located on the second floor. In an apartment, they are the furthest from the entrance hall and living room. A place for individual rest is an exclusive area of property owner, just like the bathroom. This is private property that Americans guard very carefully.

Recommendations from Architect Nikita MorozovTypical Swedish CottageDesign: 3L Decor Bureau Design: Natalia VasilevaDesign: Julia Kharitonova and Natalia MaslovaDesign: Oksana Oleynik

Video: Photos of American-style homes.