The European style was not created as an independent direction. It is a unique combination of interiors that are popular in European homes. A striking example of European-style interiors are studio apartments, which are very popular now. Previously, this layout was created for low-income European students who lived together in the same apartment. Now many people invite famous designers to develop an individual design for such housing. This article is about European interior style. Photos of different rooms and tips on decorating the premises can be found further in the text.
Features of European interior
Many modern Europeans do not have their own home and live in rented apartments for a long time. Women are also not eager to become exemplary housewives, but prefer to build their own careers. Therefore, they do not surround themselves with massive household items; they prefer minimalism in the interior, so that moving to another apartment does not take much time and effort.
An open and free layout has become one of the main features of the interior of a European-style apartment. This includes not only studio apartments, but also cottages that do not have walls or partitions, but are divided only into floors. The space is expanded not only by the absence of walls and partitions. Panoramic windows and French balconies, which open up maximum light, are very popular.
Another feature of European-style interiors is laconicism in architecture. There are no complex or intricate shapes, the appearance of the apartment has only right angles, smooth surfaces, and high ceilings.
All functional parts (pipes, wires), as well as dishes and other household items are not displayed, but are carefully hidden. European style is still distinguished by restraint, although it has recently been influenced by trends that come from the East.
Furniture
When creating an interior design in a European style, the use of bulky sets is not recommended. Different pieces of furniture are carefully selected to create the effect of a harmonious and cozy space. The main criterion for selecting furniture is convenience. All items should not only decorate the interior, but also create an atmosphere of comfort.
Mandatory elements that should be emphasized are a soft, cozy sofa and armchairs with legs. They can be classic with high backs and curved armrests, as well as more modern - rectilinear.
European style furniture
European-style home furnishings do not tolerate compliance with conservative rules. It is much better if representatives of different headsets meet in the same room. Although they differ in color and shape, they have minor common characteristics.
In order to preserve as much free space in the room as possible, it is advisable to give preference to multifunctional furniture.
Furniture in European interiors traditionally has smooth and even surfaces, and its finishing corresponds to the spirit of minimalism. Depending on the emphasis of the interior design, modern or vintage furniture is selected.
Vintage European style implies the presence of carved cabinets and shelves, round coffee tables and stools with curly legs. The geometry of furniture in a modern European style is characterized by simplicity and restraint.
Upholstered furniture should be light, high quality, low, attractive and comfortable.
In the interior of a European kitchen there is often a massive wooden table located strictly in the center of the room.
Lighting
In modern European-style interiors, it is customary to use several lighting options: daytime, work and evening. There is always a large overhead chandelier and several different lamps.
To emphasize a certain area, sconces are installed in a large living room. For reading, place a floor lamp next to the sofa or armchair. To work at a desk, install a table lamp. Evening lighting is provided using decorative LED or neon lighting, which is installed around the perimeter of the ceiling.
A special role in a European-style interior is played by fireplace lighting, creating a soft and subdued light. Its combination with the glare of a live fire makes the atmosphere of the room even more cozy. Fireplace lighting is turned on when all other light sources are extinguished.
Stylish color scheme: avoiding bright colors
In European classics, the use of a limited set of light colors is not a flaw, but an advantage. A huge number of shades of varying degrees of saturation create a rich palette of interior colors. Preference is given to pastel, whitewashed options, color accents are muted. Instead of pure, flashy colors, a more restrained range is used.
Against the background of light walls, upholstered furniture and fabric decor successfully sound old brick, matte chocolate, dark green, gray-blue, warm dark gray, and other complex color combinations.
When decorating an interior in a European style, avoid dark door panels and narrow baseboards that match the color of the floor. White reigns here. Doors and portals of any shade of white are preferred: creamy, snowy, bleached wood.
Walls
Arches and various columns can be used in architecture. Walls in European interiors are mostly painted or covered with wallpaper. Decorative plaster of pastel colors and gypsum moldings are often used.
The materials are dominated by wood, glass, and decorative stone. The walls can be decorated with mosaics, paintings and mirrors can be hung. Small rooms are visually enlarged with the help of mirror panels. Doors and windows are decorated with relief platbands, matching the design with ceiling cornices.
Fireplace
This item has not lost its relevance in European interiors, although it no longer serves as a room heating function. Fireplaces are installed to maintain a cozy atmosphere in the house. They allow you to diversify the interior and satisfy the aesthetic tastes of the home owners.
Real fireplaces are installed only in private homes, since their installation requires the construction of a chimney and the construction of a stable foundation for the product itself. This must be taken into account at the design stage of the house.
Now there are many types of fireplaces that can be installed in apartment buildings. Glass and steel products of unusual geometric shapes, bio-fireplaces, which are built not only into walls, but also into furniture. These products are safe and easy to use. Modern technologies make it possible to reliably reproduce the entire fireplace heating cycle (flame, smoldering coals). In the interior of the room, such products look stylish and attractive.
Color design
European style in the interior of the house is characterized by lightness and restrained color design. Pastel colors (beige, peach) or achrome colors (white, gray) are popular. A light spring mood can be created with the help of a delicate light green color.
To prevent the interior from being boring and dull, objects of bright, rich color are used as an accent. These can be lamp shades, figurines or any other decorative elements.
The good thing about using accent items is that they can be replaced at any time and create a completely different overall mood. To do this, you don’t have to make repairs or spend money on significant interior renovations.
Features and options of the European style
European style in the interior is a modern interpretation of traditional style options. The absence of strict requirements for the obligatory copying of finishing techniques of historical styles easily fits this trend into modern life, makes it in demand among customers, and allows designers to design cozy, elegant spaces filled with air and light. Conventionally, European style can be divided into classic and modern.
| Style Options | European classics | European modernity |
| Distinctive design elements | Large windows with glazing, the use of an arched finial with a fan-shaped frame Classic floor coverings (parquet, parquet boards) | Large window openings, single glass Use of floor tiles, porcelain tiles in living rooms |
| Features of finishing, accessories | Filling the room with side tables and coffee tables Curtains on a curtain rod hanging on both sides of the window Multi-shade chandeliers of complex design | Limiting the number of small furnishings Roman blinds or no curtains Single-shade volumetric luminaires |
One of the main characteristics of European-style apartment design is matte finish.
Dense, velvety finishing materials and fabrics are used. Muted shine is acceptable to a limited extent:
- metal fittings for doors and windows (latches, handles, hinges);
- curtain holders, cornices, plumb lines for Roman blinds;
- lighting fixture parts;
- accessories, decorative objects (vases, candlesticks, fireplace sets, picture framing).
Living room
Simple recommendations will help you decorate your living room interior in European style. Connoisseurs of natural beauty will appreciate panels made of bamboo or cork. These natural materials are highly valued in European homes.
The fireplace niche is finished with natural stone. If wallpaper is glued to the walls, then choose plain materials or with a discreet pattern of pastel colors. The floor can be decorated with a carpet; products with high pile or, conversely, smooth knitted fabrics are especially popular. For the ceiling, it is recommended to choose a stretch fabric in a calm color scheme.
For living room windows, simple roller blinds are suitable that do not clutter up the space of the room. Lovers of the classics will appreciate thick curtains with eyelets. They look very elegant.
The color scheme in the design of the living room should be calm; pastel colors are suitable here. The emphasis in the interior can be made on several objects and use popular natural colors: green, blue, chocolate.
The trends in choosing furniture in a classic style continue, but excessive decorations (moldings, ornate handles and other decor) are a thing of the past. Modern people may be interested in furniture with asymmetrical or intricate shapes, but the main thing is that it should be as functional as possible.
Functionality
In European interiors, much attention is paid to functionality. The premises are not cluttered with unnecessary details, each item is in its place and performs a specific task, which is especially important for small rooms. In the European style, every little detail is thought through, which allows you to completely eliminate unnecessary things. Designers who arrange such an interior prioritize functionality and minimalism.
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Therefore, the first thing you pay attention to is the layout. There should not be a lot of furniture so that there is free space in the room. However, it must perform all the necessary functions. That is why transformable furniture, built-in wardrobes and niches are often used in European interiors. For the kitchen, you can choose an island layout. This will allow you to use the set both as a work surface and for eating.
For most people, a functional interior is, first of all, comfortable. At the same time, everything in the room should be harmonious and beautiful. You should focus on the purpose of the rooms. It is impossible to imagine a European-style living room without upholstered furniture. Headsets upholstered in leather or velvet will look harmonious. Textiles are of great importance in European design. Beds with carved legs can be installed in the bedroom. The furniture will look original on a small podium. Beds are often chosen with secret drawers underneath, in which you can store bedding and other things, which will help save space.
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Bedroom
Here the European style looks very convincing. The secret is simple. Practicality, convenience, calm tones - this is what is needed for a room where people relax. Often, European-style bedrooms are decorated with multi-level ceilings with a wide variety of lighting. The floor here should be at a comfortable temperature, so choose natural wood or install a “warm floor” system.
For a restful and healthy sleep, it is very important that light from the window (daylight or from street lighting) does not enter the room. In the bedroom, night curtains made of thick fabric are needed. You can choose classic curtains, but to make them more expressive, attach them to a beautifully shaped metal or wooden curtain rod. Young people often choose roller blinds. They are made from different materials; an option with thick fabric is also provided.
If a discreet background is chosen as the main one, then the walls can be covered with wallpaper with a floral or floral pattern. Then choose furniture that will look expressive against the background of the walls.
It is very important to choose the right textiles for the bedroom. In European homes, preference is given to high-quality natural materials. Colors close to white: baked milk, pearls, vanilla. For lovers of bright and shocking textiles, we offer textiles with a three-dimensional 3D pattern. It looks impressive and modern.
European style in the living room interior
Simple practical recommendations will help you decorate your living room in a true European style.
- To decorate the ceiling, choose stretch fabrics, lay parquet boards on the floor, and the walls can be partially painted and partially covered with wallpaper. Combining different types of wallpaper in one room is also trending. The main requirement is that they must be in harmony with each other and not tend to the foreground.
- Lovers and connoisseurs of natural beauty can not restrain themselves and decorate the walls with panels made of bamboo, cork or other natural material. This is quite in a modern European style. You can pay tribute to stone textures and decorate one wall with decorative tiles or artificial stone. A fireplace niche will look especially good in this design.
- You can choose a calm color scheme, with a light, peaceful background, and a few bright accents. Gone is the trend of choosing neon, overly bright colors for emphasis. Nowadays only natural colors are used. Chocolate and green can be a good choice for a cozy living room, while floral and floral ornaments and accessories are suitable for a bright and dynamic living room.
- The floor can be decorated with a carpet; dense, high-pile products are popular, or, on the contrary, even, smooth, similar to thick knitted fabrics.
- The windows in such a living room also need to be decorated, although this is neglected in many European interiors. The best option would be practical roller blinds. They will do their job especially well if you decide to include a window sill in the general space of the room and organize, for example, a resting place on it. Fans of classic solutions can choose curtains with eyelets made of thick material. They look great, and at the same time, are highly practical and functional.
- You can choose storage locations either open, in the spirit of Scandinavian interiors, or completely closed, built into the plane of the wall.
- Furniture for a living room in a European style will need smooth shapes, without excessive decorations. It can be asymmetrical, with an intricate outline or with unusual legs. However, the requirements for smoothness, minimalist finishing and high functionality remain relevant.
Kitchen
The European-style kitchen interior is filled with light. There are always large windows and light decoration. A feeling of purity and freedom should reign in everything. Light finishes and artificial lighting are used. There are not many cabinets, unnecessary items and kitchen utensils here, which is confirmed by the photo below. The interior of the European-style kitchen, as you can see, is not cluttered, the room looks fresh and original.
Multifunctional household appliances can become the embodiment of European practicality. An open layout can be created by combining the kitchen with the living room. A studio apartment is always lighter and more spacious; it is easier to place everything you need here, but at the same time save free space. The emphasis is on some large item: a dining area or a closet. The design uses natural materials or their good imitation.
Elements of classics in the kitchen space: cooking and eating in a European way
European style implies a large kitchen space. It could be
- separate spacious kitchen;
- combined kitchen-dining room;
- kitchen combined with living room.
The latter option will allow you to create a European-style interior in a studio or one-room apartment, where the walls between different rooms have been demolished.
If the kitchen area is very small (appendix), but adjacent to a voluminous dining room, then you can abandon the design of the kitchen in the general context, using a more laconic design. It will be possible to do justice to the chosen interior direction by creating the image of a place for family meals.
European style of cuisine is emphasized by:
- dining group, where half-chairs are used instead of hard chairs;
- kitchen set in discreet colors with paneled or flat facades;
- Roman blinds, matched to the tone of the furniture upholstery;
- a full chandelier placed above the dining table.
