Kitsch style: features, history, interesting facts and recommendations

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:45

Extravagance, in harmony with outright bad taste, a combination of exoticism and nihilism, the brightness of colors and the loudness of external forms. This is how you can characterize the kitsch style - one of the youngest and brightest. How to create an interior in this style? What decorative elements can be used? What does it take to create a fashionable kitsch look?

Origin of style

The etymology of the word kitsch is rather controversial. There are at least three versions of its origin. According to the first, this word comes from the German musical jargon: kitsch - "trash". The second option is the appearance of the noun "kitsch" from the German verb verkitschen, meaning "to make cheaper". Another version is derived from the English fortekitchen - "for the kitchen", meaning tasteless items that have no place in a "decent room".

In any case, the word "kitsch" has a negative connotation. Therefore, it is commonly used as the opposite of good design.

History of kitsch style

Split andopinions about when the kitsch style was introduced into the interior of houses. Some designers claim that this happened at the end of the 19th century, while others believe that this style entered homes only in the first half of the 20th century. By the way, there is an opinion that kitsch has always existed, and therefore it is wrong to limit it to a time frame.

Kitsch directions

Specialists divide this eccentric style into three main areas:

1. Lumpen kitsch. This direction appeared due to poverty! The joylessness of such rooms is diluted with bright colors, saturation of shades and unusual accessories. Features: Acid colors, graffiti, lampposts, traffic signs and even phone booths!

2. Pseudo-luxury kitsch: a combination of we alth and lack of taste. The incredible ideas of the nouveau riche find their embodiment in this design option. One kitsch room can combine Greek columns painted in neon colors, gold stucco and plastic chairs.

3. Designer kitsch: a competent parody of style. Only professional designers can create kitsch in the house, one look at which will make it clear that this is a mockery of specific style features. The main thing at the same time is not to bring it to the point of absurdity.

Key Features

The main features of this style, which distinguish it from other areas, are vulgarity, cheap materials, inexpensive furniture, retro items. We can say that kitsch is a mixture of classics, futurism and country music. Decor elements must be selected in such a way that theyshocked, expressed the position of the owner of the property and his attitude to life.

Style allows you to combine completely dissimilar finishing materials: velvet and plastic, fur and chrome details coexist in this space. At the same time, all style elements are tasteless parodies of the classics, capable of producing a momentary effect.

For whom?

Kitsch style is extravagance, and therefore suits brave people who think outside the box. Others simply will not be able to live in such a bright and unusual interior. Choosing kitsch, a person denies the classics, preferring postmodernism to it. The originals are capable of this, loving to shock the public.

Ceiling

When designing a kitsch home, it is important to remember one basic rule: there is complete freedom and the rejection of all rules! An ideal option for such an interior is a stretch ceiling. This solution will make the room more spacious. The choice of color depends only on the flight of the designer's imagination. Purple or green, blue or red - the atmosphere of this style allows for bright experiments. You can dilute bright colors with photo printing. A variety of amulets, dream catchers and pendants that need to be fixed on the ceiling will help bring even more color to the interior.

Walls

Kitsch style in interior design provides very extravagant options for walls. They can be sheathed with laminate, glued with bright tiles with abstract patterns, and painted with graffiti. Another bold decision is a combination of incongruous: classic-type wallpaper and wall panels, whimsicalmosaic and 3D wallpaper, glitter and plastic.

Gender

Wood and ceramics, marble and linoleum - there are no restrictions on coverage! The floor can be made of one material, or it can harmoniously combine islands from different coatings. For the kitsch style, imitation of unplaned boards, which are replete with extravagant ornaments, is suitable. The carpet plays a special role in such a room - it simply has to be as bright and large as possible. The presence of a long pile is also important: pillows can be laid out on such a carpet.

Colours

The main tones in which you can create kitsch are quite aggressive: light green, pink, red, purple. In addition, you can use the most ridiculous combinations. For example, lemon combined with brilliant green, matte blue with glossy purple. The stronger the contrast, the better! There are no restrictions here. And to create kitsch, you need gilding: it can be used in any quantity.

Windows and doors

Gothic windows are perfect for kitsch style. It is best to use a combination of luxurious velvet curtains with bright blinds. It is recommended to arrange artificial plants on the windowsills. The simplest doors will do: to enhance the style, just decorate them with reproductions of paintings or paint graffiti.

Furniture

Kitsch design is a parody not only of a beautiful life, but also of screaming poverty. In the interior, furniture from a landfill, polyethylene curtains, handmade partitions (for example, from scraps of plasticpipes).

Distinguished by kitsch and bright furniture. The dark surface of the walls will be diluted with pink, orange and green armchairs, cabinets of all shades of the rainbow. For a bright room, furniture in rich dark shades is ideal: swamp, brown or dark blue.

If we talk about materials, it is better not to use furniture made of wood in the interior of an apartment or house - it is more suitable for a cafe. In the living room or children's room, you should use transparent plastic tables. You can decorate them with colored vases with artificial flowers. Furniture with imitation of gilding will perfectly fit into this style. By the way, it should be not only unusual, but also as functional as possible. Another feature: items should be of different shapes, styles, sizes. A glass table and an old grandmother's sideboard can coexist in one room.

Lighting

There is no unified lighting system in kitsch. It is best to combine several sources - classic chandeliers, sconces or even candles in candelabra can be placed next to paper lanterns. It is important that the light is bright enough - every detail should be clearly visible.

Accessories

Kitsch style provides for an excess of romantic elements: soft toys, bows, guipure ruffles, artificial flowers are acceptable. In general, there should be as many decorations as possible! Among the elements characteristic of kitsch are colorful paintings, catchy tasteless vases, multi-coloredfloor lamps. The color scheme is not the main thing here: the goal of kitsch is disharmony. The kitsch style apartment is designed to create the effect of a luxurious home. For this, colorful carpets on the walls, crystal chandeliers, gilded pseudofoam columns, home fountains, massive floor vases are used.

Special attention should be paid to the carpet: it must be large, soft and as bright as possible. It is best to purchase a product in which there are several colors, as it will fit into absolutely any room, while giving the furniture and accessories a completely different look. It is also important to note that the carpet should have a long pile, because children often play on it or adults sit on it (for this, by the way, small pillows are placed on the floor).

Kitsch style in clothes

Lovers of bright, unconventional solutions are perfect for an image in this defiant style. Just like in design, here it is necessary to combine what, at first glance, cannot be combined. When creating such a bow, bad taste should be a conscious choice. Kitsch came into fashion at the beginning of the last century, but its heyday was in the 70-90s. What fashionista then did not wear tight acid leggings, tops embroidered with sequins and bold miniskirts? Now kitsch has slowed down a bit, but still allows extraordinary girls to show their individuality!