Rococo style in the interior: history, features

Luxury, shine, sophistication, pretentiousness of bends similar to a sink – this is how the Rococo style in the interior is characterized. The name itself, translated from French, means – “shell”, “shell”, “curl”. You can relate to him in different ways, but from the 18th century until now he finds his fans.

History of the style direction

It is considered a continuation of another direction in art – the baroque, which at the beginning of the 18th century experienced a crisis and decline. Both directions – baroque, rococo – are characterized by splendor, an abundance of elegant details, the difference is that rococo is softer in color. It arose in art (mostly in the design of residential buildings of the nobility), filling aristocratic salons and houses with charm. In addition to the interior, the style is reflected in architecture, music, poetry, but it continues to exist in interior design to this day, albeit not as actively as 300 years ago..

Beautiful rococo style room design

Rococo style in the interior

Wood in the interior of a room in the Rococo style

The table will help to compare Rococo and Baroque:

Style features

Baroque

Rococo

General

– tension;

– ostentatious luxury;

– dark shades;

– a combination of realities and illusions;

– expressiveness

– lightness;

– sophistication;

– light colors;

– withdrawal from reality;

– pretense

Architecture

– scope;

– strict features, symmetry;

– curved lines;

– play of light and shadow

– pretentiousness;

– lightness;

– soft forms;

– asymmetry of parts;

– many curly elements, curved lines

Interior

– large rooms;

– large details (frescoes, sculptures, gilding);

– color contrasts;

– massive furniture;

– expensive fabrics

– small rooms;

– fine carving, stucco molding;

– lack of contrast;

– gentle tones;

– elegant, light furniture

Fashion

– splendor;

– lots of decorations;

– unnaturalness;

– maturity

– grace, refinement;

– harmony;

– youth

Art

– dynamism;

– bright characters;

– vivid plots

– playfulness and flirtatiousness;

– shepherd’s motives;

– naked bodies

Appearing in France during the regency in the first decades of the 18th century, the new style reached its peak under Louis XV, was widespread not only in the French capital, but throughout Europe until about the 80s of the 18th century. The nobility received guests in magnificently decorated, with a pretense of sophistication, drawing rooms, state rooms, but by the end of the 18th century, the splendor and playfulness that reigned in art and life gave way to strict classicism.

The development of the Rococo style was influenced by the traditions of Eastern culture – in particular, Chinese, the so-called chinoiserie style. The traditions of Chinese porcelain, delicate, gracefully painted plots are reflected in decor items, decoration, dishes.

It is believed that the new life of the Rococo style was given by the fascination with eastern cultures that had awakened with renewed vigor. Once again, the Chinese theme is at the peak of popularity, which gave rise to the fashion for the creation of stylized interiors of country mansions, studio apartments, halls of public buildings.

Rococo kitchen design

Paintings in the interior of a room in the Rococo style

Styling features

The modern Rococo interior differs from the one that dominated the palace halls and private boudoirs of aristocrats three centuries ago. However, the main, main features are the insignia of style to this day:

delicate pastel colors, combined with each other or with snow-white color, gilding;
a lot of modeling, it is present on the walls, ceiling, decoration of windows, portals;
expensive textiles, luxurious designs on fabrics;
decoration of all surfaces: wall painting, rich ornaments, carving, gilding on furniture;
many decorative things: graceful clock on the fireplace, candlesticks, candelabra, figurines, vases, painted porcelain dishes.

The Rococo style is characterized by special patterns – curls resembling a shell, an auricle (they gave the name to the style). The interior is complemented by elegant furniture on thin curved legs, lush textiles on the windows, decorated with lambrequins, tassels.

The main difference between the Rococo style and others is its great decorative saturation. Recognizable decorative elements:

rocaille (sea shell – used for interior decoration, furniture, decor items);
cartouche – it is used to decorate walls, furniture;
figurines, images of angels;
floral motifs, love themes in pictures.

Flamboyant rococo design

Beautiful rococo bedroom

Chic rococo bedroom design

Rococo style in the interior

The design does not dictate special requirements for the premises, therefore, spacious halls of country mansions, small living rooms, offices, offices and public spaces – restaurants, hotel halls are decorated in the Rococo style.

High ceilings, a spacious area, a special shape of the room are not required – any, even a small room can be successfully decorated.

Before decorating surfaces – walls, ceilings – you need to think over the general appearance, starting from decoration, painting, supplemented with stucco, to furniture and the arrangement of decor details. They need to be harmoniously distributed throughout the room so that the room does not look cluttered, like a museum..

The wall painting is complemented by a ceiling painting, ornate patterns of fabrics – on curtains, sofas and armchairs. Motives of a man’s love for a woman, angels, the image of the firmament – themes characteristic of the Rococo style are still present in design. Floral images are as realistic as possible, accurately drawn or decorated with gold silhouettes. Luxurious chandeliers, mirrors in lush frames are an indispensable attribute of the interior.

Rococo bedroom design

Beautiful rococo style living room design

Rococo color palette

A modern Rococo house is not as bright as in the 18th century, it has less theatricality and bombast. For most rooms, a white and gold scale is used; for a bedroom, sand, cream, light green tones are often used..

The pastel range is the main shades inherent in the Rococo style:

snow-white with gold;
blue, white;
delicate green combined with light pink;
light colors – blue, pink, green;
cream, gold.

Such combinations are typical for rococo three centuries ago, and now they are popular when recreating the interior. This is what distinguishes Rococo from Baroque with its rich, deep color palette..

Rococo style in the interior

White color in the interior design of the bedroom in the rococo style

Rococo living room design

Room decoration

It has already been said about the need to think over all the decoration of the room down to the smallest detail before starting the finishing work. To finish wall surfaces, their entire area is divided into sections, each of which is filled with a certain type of decor. Segments can be separated from each other by stucco motifs.

There are many options for wall decoration:

painting walls with pastel matte water-based paints;
velor wallpaper with a pattern, patterns of a suitable design;
photo wallpaper, decoupage – will help to create an imitation of painted walls;
the modern trend is airbrushing, with which you can recreate unique images reminiscent of the painting of the historical Rococo (the drawing is covered with several layers of varnish, which makes it durable).

Plaster rosettes, cornices, stucco elements can be replaced with modern lightweight materials. To separate segments, highlight decorative paintings, you can use golden moldings.

The technique of horizontal division of the wall is often used – the bottom is decorated with wallpaper, paintings, tapestries, mirrors in carved frames are placed in the upper segment.

Black color in the interior design of the bedroom in the rococo style

Rococo house design

Historical Rococo decorated not only walls, but also ceilings exquisitely. To design them, you can use:

painting with light pastel shades or white;
decoration – patterned cornices, fillets are attached around the perimeter, and a rosette is placed in the center, a richly decorated crystal chandelier is placed on it.
division into sectors, painting, airbrushing – traditional motives: heaven, angels.

High ceilings are decorated with paintings and various stucco moldings. There should be a lot of stucco elements – both in the center and along the perimeter of the room. They divide the ceiling into sections, hide the transition from walls to ceiling, decorate the center.

Do not forget about the required elements – shells, cartouches, curls. Gilded convex decorative elements on walls and ceilings are appropriate. Stucco can be used to decorate door and window openings, columns, arches.

For the floor, choose parquet, tiles. An important requirement is gloss, shine. Suitable in living rooms, large halls and offices, in the bedroom there are carpets on the floor.

Rococo living room design

Dark rococo room design

Light colors in Rococo interior design

Rococo furniture

Furniture in this interior, rich in decorative elements, should not be strict, it is harmoniously “fit” into the interior. Rococo is characterized by the absence of bulky furniture, huge sofas, wardrobes, and even more so – wardrobes. All furniture is selected small, comfortable:

small sofas;
couches;
chairs and armchairs with high backs;
dressers, dressing and coffee tables.

A golden hue in Rococo interior design

Chic interior design in Rococo style

A secretaire, a small chest of drawers, and a cardboard box will harmoniously fit into the interior. In the living room, bedroom, study, you can put a small sofa. Furniture has curved legs, headboards, backs. Carving, gold inlay, painting are elements that distinguish Rococo style furniture. The facade, drawers of a chest of drawers, a coffee table can be decorated with your own hands – using decoupage technique.

Upholstered furniture can have silk or satin upholstery with oriental or floral ornate patterns. It is better to choose natural wood for furniture..

The bedroom must have a “royal” wide bed with a rich headboard – floral patterns, rocaille, curls – the necessary design elements. Necessarily a large mirror in a twisted gilded frame, a dressing table with a soft satin ottoman, small canapes, armchairs. The bed can be decorated with a luxurious canopy, raised to the podium. She is the centerpiece of the room.

Rococo design

Rococo style in interior design

Rococo design

Textiles and decor

There are a lot of Rococo-style textiles – from its use for wall decoration, furniture upholstery, to decorative pillows, curtains on the windows – luxurious, multi-layered with rich lambrequins. This is an indispensable element of style..

The color scheme is selected in one tone, no contrast is expected in the textile design of the Rococo interior. Heavy fabrics that hold the drapery of curtains well are for windows, dense shiny ones for upholstery of sofas and armchairs, pillows and bedspreads. Fabrics can be both with a pattern – vegetable, patterned, and plain, striped.

The decor is arranged harmoniously in the space, without overloading any one corner or segment of the room. All things – floor and table vases, figurines, porcelain sets, candlesticks and candelabra are decorated with gilding, rocailles, curls – they speak, but do not shout about luxury. On a chest of drawers, a fireplace, a dressing table, you can put a clock in a bronze case, depicting a couple in love, a girl, a lady or cupids. A large painted vase can decorate the hallway, stairs leading to the second floor. In a cupboard behind glazed doors in the living room or dining room, place a fine china set with a painting.

Walls can be decorated with paintings, tapestries – in the event that they are not painted.

Chic interior design in Rococo style

Turquoise color in the interior of the room in the Rococo style

In the rooms, crystal chandeliers are required, hanging in the center, decorated with an openwork rosette. You can separately complement the areas of the room with floor lamps, wall sconces. Lighting fixtures can be made of gilded metal or have a bronze base. Lamps with candle lamps will add a special flavor. And put similar candlesticks on the fireplace, chest of drawers.

Rococo interior design is fun. Style, on the one hand, demonstrating luxury, on the other – pastel, gentle colors. Abundance of painting, gilding and – light colors, a few pieces of furniture. The Rococo style, which has absorbed historical notes and complemented by modern materials, will inspire you for a unique interior in a country house or city apartment..