Description of the Rococo style in the interior:

Rococo style  is a refined and sophisticated style of the early eighteenth century. The characteristic features of the Rococo style in the interior are sophistication, a large decorative load of interiors and compositions, graceful ornamentation, great attention to mythology, erotic situations, and comfort. Rococo philosophy is the world of the boudoir, the game of carnival. The colors of the Rococo style are dominated by delicate pastel colors. The most popular color combinations are white with blue, green or pink and, of course, gold.

Rococo walls: In the decoration of the rococo style, fractional ornamentation and complex curved shapes are used, as well as thin relief carved and stucco frames, weaves, patterns, curls, torn cartouches, cupid head masks and grotesques in combined with rocaille (seashells). Rococo fabric wallpapers are perfect. In the case of painting the walls, give them a soft sheen by decorating with silk or a glossy fabric. An abundance of white or gilded stucco.

Rococo ceiling: In the Rococo style, the ceiling should be plain with decorative stucco elements. They are gilded or painted white. The ceiling is often made a continuation of the wall in the form of transitional patterns. With the help of a paduga - a smooth semicircular transition, which is decorated with a thin ornament, you can smooth out the angle between the wall and the ceiling. Use a themed fresco as a ceiling decoration.

Rococo floor: In the Rococo style, both wooden and ceramic floors (for example, marble imitation) are used in the same way. The choice of parquet for the Rococo style in the interior is very diverse, from small piece to artistic. The size of the tile, parquet board, or the number of stripes in the laminate, however, as well as the color of all of the above, remains at your personal choice to match the overall interior. To enhance the effect of the golden sheen of furniture or whiteness, choose a glossy floor surface. Also in the Rococo style, the interior uses painted carpets, occupying a small part of the total area.

Rococo furniture: Mostly small in size, but very comfortable. Rococo interiors use cozy chairs, armchairs, sofas, deck chairs, and the like. There are so-called bergerie - double sofas. Sofas, canapés, couches, as well as fragile-looking, but very comfortable benches, were widely used in the Rococo style. Rococo style furniture decor has wavy contours, bent legs, whimsical ornaments in the form of climbing vines, flower garlands, diamond-shaped mesh and an abundance of gilded bronze. Plenty of upholstered furniture. Furniture in the Rococo period was usually made of lime and walnut, which lend themselves to fine carving. The room will be decorated with a fashionable secretary, a cartonerka (a cabinet for papers), a decorative geridon table designed for one figurine, a vase or an ashtray. For storage, a lacquered chest of drawers with a wavy facade is suitable. In the bedroom, take care of a beautiful headboard.

Rococo decor items: Gold-plated candelabra, clocks, porcelain figurines, tapestries, screens are essential elements of the Rococo style. Mirrors and paintings weighing asymmetrically are used in abundance. On sofas and armchairs, use silk pillows and pouffes with plot embroidery.

Caskets, vases and small figurines can be placed literally anywhere. An interesting fact is that it was the Rococo design style that introduced such an innovation into the interior as an aquarium in the interior. 

 

Pro Tips:

1. If you do not want to make a museum out of your house, then it is better not to use all the rococo interior techniques in one room. But some fragments of the Rococo style: curlicues, stucco, headboards or intricate ceiling patterns, easily fit into modern aesthetics.

2. Unlike the palace baroque, the rococo style is not so demanding on the space and height of the room and is suitable for all rooms. It will fit into the library, study, kitchen and bathroom, but will look more organic in the living room and bedroom and bathroom. In the living room, place upholstered furniture both along the walls and in the center of the room. This also applies to decorative tables and various floor pedestals.

3. Don't forget the light. When choosing a rococo chandelier, you need to give preference to the one in which there are crystal pendants and light bulbs in the form of candles. It is good if the sconce looks like a sea shell, a flower or a bowl. Remember that people in that era used candles, so candlesticks and candelabra were everywhere. Be sure to put one in front of the mirror, this will emphasize the mood of that era.

4. The main motif of the rococo design room will create a fireplace. It is made low, covered with a marble slab and filled with candelabra, clocks, porcelain "knick-knacks" and other decorations. A mirror in a luxurious gilded frame is hung above it, you can also hang a picture.

5. Nothing emphasizes and decorates the Rococo style like copies of paintings from the 18th century. The abundance of services offered will allow you to choose your favorite reproduction on the Internet, and then order it, either printed as a picture or transferred to a fresco in the room. The main themes of rococo paintings are mythology and erotica, a little less often landscape and portrait themes. Of the main creators of the Rococo era, one can note: A. Watteau, F. Boucher, D. Tiepolo, P. Longhi; Canaletto, Bellotto and Guardi (landscape painters), Antropov and Rokotov (portrait painters). There was also a passion for oriental themes (chinoiserie).

6. Pay special attention to stucco. In the Rococo style, it is found everywhere, framed by windows, doors, wall spaces inside the building, in plafonds, intricate stucco ornamentation is used. It may consist of curls that vaguely resemble the leaves of plants, convex shields incorrectly surrounded by the same curls, masks, flower garlands and festoons, shells, rough stones (rocaille), etc.

7. The era of the Rococo style was famous for a big step in the production of porcelain (for example, Meissen porcelain). By decorating your home with porcelain figurines, plot or thematic, you will not only add sophistication to the interior, but also add the mood of that era.

 

HISTORY OF THE ROCOCO STYLE:

ROCOCO (from French rocaille - decorative shell, shell, rocaille), less often rococo - a style in art (mainly in interior design), which arose in France in the first half of the 18th century. The appearance of the Rococo style is due to changes in philosophy, tastes and court life. The style received its highest development in architecture in Bavaria.

The Rococo style appeared during the Regency in France (1715-1723) and reached its apogee under Louis XV, moved to other European countries and dominated it until the 1780s. The Rococo style was a continuation of the Baroque style, its modification. He did not introduce any new structural elements into the architecture, but used the old ones, not embarrassing himself in their use by any traditions to achieve a decorative effect.

Most of the buildings in the Rococo style are private houses of the French nobility and country palaces. The rooms in them were not located in an enfilade (as in the 17th century), but formed asymmetric compositions. The main hall (salon) was usually located in the center. Exquisite salons and boudoirs of hotels became an enchanting backdrop for the private life and life of the aristocratic elite.

Throwing away the cold splendor, Rococo architecture strives to be welcoming and playful; she does not care about the combination, distribution of parts of the structure, nor about the expediency of their forms, but disposes of them with complete arbitrariness and caprice. Straight lines and flat surfaces almost disappear or are masked by curly trim; none of the established orders is carried out in its pure form.

Despite such capriciousness, sophistication and the burden of forms, the Rococo style left many monuments that still tempt with their originality, luxury and cheerful beauty, vividly transporting us to the era of rouge and whitewash, flies and powdered wigs.

Since the 1760s the rococo style is everywhere superseded by classicism. In Russia, the Rococo trends, especially strong in the middle of the 18th century, manifested themselves mainly in the decoration of palace interiors, stucco decoration of buildings, in a number of branches of decorative and applied arts (wood carving, art silver and porcelain, furniture, jewelry).

Chinoiserie (from French chinois - Chinese) became a branch of the Rococo style, using motifs and stylistic techniques of medieval Chinese art in European painting, arts and crafts, costume, and in the design of garden and park ensembles of the 18th century.

At the end of the 17th century, aristocratic Europe was seized by a passion for Chinese porcelain. Gold and silver utensils continued to be considered a sign of luxury and wealth, however, they could no longer compete with thin and light porcelain items.

Against the background of this passion for porcelain, there was an interest in the Chinese pictorial tradition. However, this interest was extremely superficial, without penetration into Eastern philosophy. Europeans had very poor knowledge about China at that time, so the masters of the 18th century had to think and fantasize using their own ideas.

Around the same time, a culture of tea drinking emerged in Europe. Unique structures called “tea houses” or Chinese pavilions began to appear.

At present, in the wake of the all-European passion for Chinese philosophical teachings, martial arts and Feng Shui traditions, interest in chinoiserie is re-emerging.