The Baroque style in architecture found its expression in the design of the interior decoration of the premises. Baroque architects did not carry out extensive redevelopment of buildings but transformed them with a whimsical design. Decorative baroque techniques radically change the content of the architectural image, flaunting deliberate splendor.
Contents:
- History
- Features of style
- Baroque furniture
- Different rooms’ decoration
- Wall, ceiling, floor decor
- Non-residential premises in baroque
- Baroque vs rococo comparison
History of Baroque Occurrence
The baroque style was born in Italy in the 17th century and had filled housing of affluent Italians with unprecedented luxury, elegance, and intricacy.
“Barocco” translates from the Italian as “pretentiousness”. This word can convey the complexity of the demonstrativeness and pomp of this style. Today the Baroque interior design of apartment, house, interior, or office aims to emphasize the high status and wealth of the owners.
It is remarkable! Under the influence of the European baroque style Russian baroque has appeared. This style trend was popular in the architecture of the late 17th – early 18th centuries. It is often called “Naryshkin”, as some churches were built in this style being commissioned by the famous Naryshkin family.
The popes hired the best architects, artists, interior designers to build countless churches and palaces, which changed the face of the city, making Rome visually richer and more luxurious. This style was quickly taken up throughout Europe. Following the exterior, the interior decoration of wealthy citizens also changed. Great artists of their time were engaged in the development of a new style of furniture and decor, trying to outdo each other and themselves. Let’s see what they did.
The Characteristic Features of Baroque Style
The interior of the Baroque style becomes more and more popular from day today. You can plunge into the interior of the palace atmosphere using:
- Luxurious linens (brocade, silk, velvet) and rich finishing (tapestries, stucco on the walls, and ceiling). Baroque décor seek pomp and demonstrative grandeur;
- Picturesque decoration of the ceiling and the walls: you can order a Baroque walls painting;
- Sculptures and graceful statues, often depicting children, musicians, and beautiful women can decorate the interior. They can be ordered or found on the market if you don`t have one;
- Furniture, which would be decorated with exquisite carvings covered with gold or bronze, precious wood veneers, trimmed with mosaic and valuable metal, can make be ordered as an option.
How Should the Furniture Look Like?
Baroque furniture must necessarily have a presentable and expensive look. It is characterized:
- Fabric upholstery;
- Lacquering and gilding;
- Curved legs;
- Sophisticated carving;
Tables and countertops in this style are often decorated with mosaics, and the back seats of armchairs are folded back. Baroque is characterized by such furniture as ottoman chairs, cupboards, chests of drawers, and double closets.
The color of the baroque style furniture is often the same as the color of walls but can be contrasting. For example, furniture, upholstered with burgundy cloth looks nicely, against light beige walls and gilded elements.
Baroque Room: the Secrets of Interior Decoration
It should be noted at once that the Baroque style is appropriate for spacious rooms design: otherwise, massive furniture will visually narrow little room.
In order to make the interior of the room recognizable, you can use materials such as crystal, natural stone, precious wood, marble, and gilt as a must.
- The kitchen of Baroque style is a curvy shape kitchen facade with rich carving and gilt, curved legs of furniture, crystal chandeliers. The outlines of the furniture should be smooth, chair` backs rounded. An important point: all modern appliances should “disguised” as possible in your baroque styled kitchen.
- The baroque bedroom also features an abundance of carved pieces of furniture. The ceiling in the bedroom is usually richly decorated with stucco. The windows in the room should be arranged with heavy curtains. The color palette is prevailed by all shades of gold, beige, burgundy, red and brown colors.
- The bathroom in Baroque is least pretentious than the other rooms in the house: exquisite gold-plated taps, marble sinks, mosaic on the ceiling and wall painting. A large mirror in an expensive frame will look advantageously in the bathroom.
Decorating the Walls, Ceiling, and Floor in the Baroque
In the process of space design in the Baroque style, you shouldn`t miss any detail: for example, you may focus on the decorative design of the ceiling, walls, floor covering material.
The ceiling of the Baroque is often a looks like a mural (painting), framed by moldings. The white ceiling is allowed, but again in a decorative frame. The modern building materials market allows you to choose the appropriate option of the finished ceiling decorations.
The walls of the Baroque do not accept flatness: each part of the wall should bear a certain meaning. You can use the pictures and mirrors in a beautiful frame, half-columns. The fireplace (or its imitation) would be a good solution as well.
Floor styled for Baroque can be marble or granite. The area which is directly under the chandelier is advisable to emphasize: you can use the inlay or carpets.
Baroque Interior Design Style for non-Residential Premises
Baroque is intended to emphasize the richness and elegance of the interior environment. And due to the solemnity and grandeur, which it brings to the interior, the Baroque is always popular in the design of restaurants, hotels, and shops.
- To order the design of a jewelry salon in Baroque means just “dive” into the luxury! The abundance of light, the atmosphere of grandeur – what background could be better for jewelry?!
- Baroque style in the interior of the shop, despite its pomp, is perceived quite easily;
- Baroque interior fur salon is a great alternative to design space. Superb colors and an abundance of mirrors will attract the attention of buyers. And the style itself will convey the charm of the offered goods.
Baroque vs Rococo. What’s the Difference?
We’ll try to keep it short as it was with the previous material and won’t dig deep into subtle differences between these two related and outwardly similar styles. However, the distinction between Rococo and Baroque is quite obvious. Let’s refer to the very terms:
- Baroque is a style in art and architecture widespread in European culture in the 17th-18th centuries, which arose in Italy after the Renaissance in the 16th-17th centuries.
- Rococo is a style in art and architecture (mainly in interior design) that originated in France in the first half of the 18th century as a continuation of the Baroque style.
So, comparing these two European Classic post-Renaissance styles we can distinguish some most prominent differences:
- The Rococo style appeared later than the Baroque style and inherited many of its features. But it transformed them, softened them, and scaled them down.
- Baroque is characterized, by contrast, pomp, monumentality, dark bright colors. Rococo’s prerogative is sophistication, lightness, and grace. It is dominated by light pastel colors.
- Strict symmetry is obligatory for baroque; rococo is built on asymmetry.
- In the baroque, scale and volume are held in high esteem; attention to small details and jewelry work prevails in rococo.
- Contrast is characteristic for baroque, for rococo – smooth flow of color.
- Rococo contrasts the pretentious theatricality of the Baroque with playful grace and intimacy.
- Baroque is more about solemnity and majesty, rococo is about refinement and gallantry.
