How to furnish the interior of your art-nouveau home using modern furniture: ideas and inspiration
Do modern pieces of furniture even work in a home in art-nouveau style? It might sound like a challenging proposition but the answer is: yes! It can be done by finding the right balance. The aim is to preserve the classic charm of your home, while incorporating modern elements.
Art nouveau, also known as Liberty style in the world of Italian art and architecture, reached its pinnacle between the late 19th and early 20th century. This style is characterised by its organic shapes, floral motifs and fine materials. The Italian cities most representative of this style include Palermo, Turin and Milan, where you can still see stunning examples of art-nouveau buildings and architectural features today.
Read on to see how you can mix contemporary design with art-nouveau details, to create practical, elegant spaces in your own home.
Distinctive art-nouveau features
Decorative architecture: art-nouveau style is characterised by decorative structural elements such as sinuous arches, wrought iron details and stained glass windows. Soft lines and curves reflecting nature prevail over symmetry, making each and every architectural element an integral part of the overall design.
Fine materials: inlaid wood, marble and decorative glass are key to art-nouveau style. Furnishings made from fine wood, often decorated with intricate inlays, are paired with marble flooring and lamps embellished with stained or blown glass details, such as those by Tiffany.
Floral motifs and organic shapes: art-nouveau decorations are inspired by nature, featuring floral motifs, undulating lines and stylised animal designs. These elements can be found not only in the patterns and decorations, but also in the shapes of the furniture itself.
If your home has period features in art-nouveau style, such as wood panelling, decorative ceilings, mosaic floors or stained glass windows, restoring them to their former glory and turning them into a focal point in your new design really is a must. These are the elements at the heart of this style and they represent a great tool for bringing together the architectural history and modern-day form of the space.
5 ways to bring modern furnishings into art-nouveau interiors
The aim is to unite two seemingly distant worlds, respecting the historical identity of the space, without compromising on clean, functional modern design. Here are our tips for creating elegant, harmonious spaces that celebrate the charm and elegance of art-nouveau style, with a contemporary twist.
1. Choose modern furniture with clean lines
Modern furniture with simple lines and a minimalist aesthetic counteract the decorative richness of an art-nouveau interior. Solutions such as a TV stand with slender legs, a linear sofa in neutral tones or a double-sided bookcase can create just the right contrast. In the living room shown in the photo, featuring herringbone wooden flooring and mouldings on the walls and ceilings, the chosen pieces preserve the balance between period and modern features.
2. Maintain proportions and visual balance
Keeping each element in proportion with respect to the whole is a surefire way to ensure your interiors are well integrated. Using low or compact modern units and soft lines is a good way to accent art-nouveau features such as decorated ceilings, inlaid wooden panelling and curved walls. In an art-nouveau bedroom, for example, a wardrobe with glass doors provides storage space without being obtrusive; in the same way, a bed with a slender frame and rounded headboard echoes the architectural forms in the space. Bedside tables with a round marble and metal top and base complete the overall look.
3. Select materials in keeping with art-nouveau style
One effective way to create a continuous crossover between the two styles is to weave the characteristics of one into the other, while balancing the choice of materials and details. A striking table featuring a marble effect and metal legs accompanied by curved-back chairs is perfect for furnishing a modern dining room with an art-nouveau vibe.
4. Opt for minimalist furnishings
Art-nouveau interiors already have a strong identity, which is why your choice of furnishings needs to be subtle. Simple lamps, monochromatic rugs or mirrors with slender frames avoid overfilling the space, ensuring the art-nouveau features remain the focal point. One interesting idea is hanging an arched frameless mirror – the shape echoes typical art-nouveau style, without cluttering up the space.
5. Adapt your idea to every room
Every room has different needs but you can adapt these suggestions to each space. For example, in the living room, you can create a contrast between a modern sofa and art-nouveau fireplace, for an inviting, contemporary feel. In a bedroom, statement lamps and monochromatic fabrics can be used to accent original architectural features.
Art-nouveau style in modern shades: 2 interior design projects
One of the hallmarks of art-nouveau style is the freedom it gives you to be both creative and elegant, and the choice of colour scheme plays a key role in finding the balance. Art-nouveau style lends itself to both elegant, understated palettes, and bright, vibrant pops of colour, according to different aesthetic preferences and tastes. Neutral colours such as ivory white, beige and pastel tones infuse a sense of harmony into the interior decoration, creating a light space that doesn’t date. Bolder shades like sage green or petrol blue represent the energy of this style, adding character and personality to your interiors.
Below are two interior design projects by Santalucia Mobili, which both respect and exploit their art-nouveau setting. The first uses neutral tones to create an understated, elegant result, while the second uses colour to create a delicate contrast with the decorative elements in the home.
Art-nouveau interiors in neutral shades
In this project, a neutral colour palette was chosen to accentuate the subtle elegance typical of art-nouveau interiors. The archway backdrop is complemented with furnishings that are both light and modern in their design and composition.
In this living space, a wooden base unit and display cabinet in the same finish have been arranged alongside pale marble-effect wall panelling and a TV stand.
The sideboards with glass doors and a Champagne-coloured metal frame are perfect for art-nouveau interiors, creating a decorative feel with LED lighting built into the shelves.
The same neutral shades continue into the bedroom, with the addition of some decorative details. The Solano Plissè bed, with pleated fabric headboard and slender bed frame, is the perfect blend of elegance and modernity.
The Ego bedside tables and dresser are also in a neutral shade, embellished with a Champagne-coloured metal handle and a fluted front, enriching the drawer design with an elegant textured finish.
The Luxury walk-in wardrobe completes the bedroom interior, carrying through the finish of the living room display units to create continuity of style throughout the home.
An art-nouveau apartment with splashes of colour
The second project highlights how art-nouveau style can embrace bright, vibrant colours, without losing its elegance and sophistication. Original architectural features like the wooden panel door, the bay window that creates a sort of balcony on the inside, and the decorative mosaic floor were carefully studied before deciding on a colour scheme.
The expansive wall leading from the entrance to the other rooms was furnished with a geometric bookcase, featuring alternating open and closed compartments. The blue-grey doors tone in with the flooring. Centre stage, a striking, sculptural pendant light with a modern metal structure recalls an art-nouveau chandelier.
Continuing into the living area, there’s a study corner composition that carries through the design of the entrance unit. It echoes the alternating open and closed compartments, this time in a more vivid shade of deep blue. The sofa shares the same bold tones and modern forms, and the double-sided bookcase preserves the flow of the space, while also creating a partition with the dining area.
In the dining area, the wooden Dominik table was paired with coloured Ofelia chairs, which have a modern design that matches the bookcase units.
The bedroom setting is spacious and ultra-decorative, featuring a frescoed ceiling.
To create a contrast, the Ora bed was chosen. Its simple wooden design consists of a dual-panel headboard and clear supporting legs. The addition of the blue Giada dresser and bedside tables is a reference back to the main colour scheme.
As for the wardrobe, the Ego Maxi was chosen in white, with the Vision unit built in for watching TV comfortably in bed.
Lighting: accenting art-nouveau architecture
Lighting can be used as a way of tying art-nouveau style and contemporary design together. In both of these interior design projects, the light fittings were chosen to spotlight both the furnishings and the original architectural features.
In another interior space, this suspended statement pendant light with glass spheres recalls the originality of art-nouveau style, with a modern twist.
For spaces where you’d prefer a more minimalist aesthetic, like the dining room, there’s a choice of sober pendant light designs to choose from. These models preserve the harmonious feel of the space without cramming in too much.
In addition to the ceiling light fixtures, wall lamps or LED strip lighting around the ceiling can also serve a dual purpose: spotlighting the hallmark art-nouveau architectural details such as mouldings and decorations, and contributing to creating diffuse, uniform lighting that enhances the spaces in a subtle yet sophisticated manner.
Adding personality with accessories and finishing touches
Using accessories and soft furnishings is another way to connect art-nouveau style and modern design, and create unique spaces.
Among the recommended pieces for your art-nouveau interior is the Tulipa sideboard. With curved forms, replicating the sinuous shapes typical of art-nouveau design, it fits perfectly into these decorative spaces.
The patterned glass top adds a further decorative touch to the piece, available in gold, silver and bronze.
When paired with sleek modern furniture, curtains and cushions are a great way to introduce art-nouveau motifs with floral decorations and organic shapes. You can bring a minimalist sofa to life with cushions featuring nature-inspired prints.
Walls in art-nouveau style often feature mouldings or panelling – these can be decorated with contemporary artwork or prints. By opting for an abstract piece on the wall, you can add to the architectural richness of your space, without creating clashes. An original alternative could also be to incorporate a mirror with a rounded frame to echo the fluid shapes typical of art-nouveau design.
To finish off the space: a well-balanced mix of modern ornaments and decorative art-nouveau pieces. Take, for example, floral vases you can pair with simple sculptures or minimalist lamps to create an interesting contrast to complement both styles.
Art-nouveau and modern style: the perfect pair makes magic
Combining art-nouveau style and modern design creates interiors that tell a story – a story in which the rich tapestry of the past blends harmoniously with the practical needs of today’s contemporary living. From shape to colour, to texture and light: by carefully dosing these elements you can bring to life the historical heritage of your space, while personalising it to suit your needs.
If you’re looking to renovate a space in art-nouveau style or you’re just curious to experiment with these two different aesthetics, take inspiration from our interior ideas and make your own unique style.