Although minimalism and high-tech are at the peak of popularity today, not everyone likes them. There are many people who want their homes to be more comfortable and colorful. In addition, no one has canceled patriotism, and the desire to return to one’s roots will always inspire respect. In this regard, the Russian style in the interior continues to remain relevant. This article will tell you about its history, varieties and characteristics.
Russian style in the interior: History
In the interior of the homes of any nation one can discern a connection with its history. Russia is no exception.
Numerous wars and disasters have caused the fact that almost no examples of interiors that are hundreds and thousands of years old, similar to the design of the premises of medieval castles in England or Italy, have survived to this day.
However, the little that has survived allows us to create a small historical overview and imagine what a Russian-style house looked like in different eras.
So, the Old Russian style in the interior of an ordinary village house was as ascetic as possible. An important place was occupied by a large stove with a stove bench, which was responsible both for heating and was used for cooking and served as a place to sleep.
After the Baptism of Rus', the so-called Red Corner with images appeared in every house.
In the 15th century, features of the Byzantine style began to be visible in the interior of the palaces of noble nobles. Furniture items used were chests, benches, tables, benches, to which were added beds with lush canopies.
Later, Western motifs began to be seen in the design of homes, which became especially strong, starting with the reign of Alexei Mikhailovich. The latter brought into fashion baroque interiors, which were given a Russian flavor. During this period, chairs and cabinets appeared in the houses of the nobility, relegating traditional chests and caskets to the background.
Russian style in the interior: varieties
There are several varieties of Russian style:
- popular print or A-la rus;
- Russian hut style;
- Russian estate style.
Each of these options has its own characteristics. And that's great! You have the opportunity to choose a Russian interior to suit your taste.
If you love ethno and bright colors, then choose the popular print. Fans of Country music will be ideally suited to give the interior of their home the appearance of a hut, and the style of a Russian estate will be an excellent solution for those who are attracted by the status of the interior design.
Bedroom in the style “a la Russe”
The bedroom is a place for relaxation, so it is usually in light colors. Pyramids of pillows on the bed and a carpet on the wall are appropriate here. And the side door leads to a ladies' boudoir or a small office with an antique bureau.
Add bedspreads with national patterns and even an ordinary bedroom will take on a “a la Russe” tint. The interior will be very intimate and homely.
Pseudo-Russian style in the interior of A-la Rus
This design is one of the varieties of Ethno style, which has its army of fans all over the world.
The A-la-Russe style originated in Europe at the beginning of the 20th century, in connection with the Diaghilev seasons, which made everything connected with Russia super fashionable and bohemian.
The first wave of emigrants contributed to its further popularization.
Once in Paris, St. Petersburg aristocrats began to recreate the interiors of their estates and capital palaces in a new place. They decorated the premises with the few authentic items that they managed to take away. Their friends and acquaintances were delighted with this design and ordered something similar from the designers.
As a result, the A-la-Russe popular print style emerged, characterized by exaggerated decorativeness and the use of a bright “Khokhloma” color palette.
Its distinctive feature is the use in decoration, decor and even furniture of elements “seen” from masters of traditional folk crafts.
A typical technique is to decorate the walls of the room with paintings in the style of Khokhloma or Gzhel.
The pseudo-Russian style in the interior of A-la-Russ presupposes the obligatory use of such items as a samovar, balalaika, nesting dolls and wood carvings.
Paintings stylized as traditional popular prints will help add color. The use of antique chests and stylized pieces of furniture as decoration is encouraged.
In general, the exaggerated Russian style in the interior should be bright and pleasing to the eye. It is somewhat reminiscent of Boho or the recently emerged Maximalism style, adding an emphasized Russian flavor to their characteristic features.
Variety of designs - ascetic hut
There are several basic concepts for embodying the Russian style. The interpretation can be extremely complete and then the result is a Russian hut. There are certain features:
- maximum environmental friendliness;
- colorfulness, even a certain “popularity”, “fabulousness”;
- the texture of wood is usually emphasized and complemented by metal: tin, cast iron, brass;
- sufficient area so that each significant object stands out;
- rough furnishings.
Interesting are the objects that seem to have come from time immemorial, such as wooden chests, kitchen grips, pots, jugs, and other hand-made folk crafts. It is only important to stop in time in pursuit of decorativeness and think about practical use.
Russian hut is a rustic trend, extremely natural, unprocessed. But not everyone feels comfortable in such interiors, especially for a long time. Therefore, there is a more refined version - a Russian tower with slightly adapted, modernized external characteristics.
Russian hut style
Those who want to furnish a house in the Russian style most often decide to give it the features of a hut. This design is a domestic variation on the Country theme. It is perfect for decorating wooden houses and bath complexes.
House in Russian style: exterior of the hut
Traditional Russian hut with 4, 5 or 6 walls. The choice of one of these designs determines how many rooms it will have.
Modern wooden houses in a peasant style are more comfortable. However, outwardly they try to give them characteristic features using carved shutters and trim. Many similar houses are equipped with a beautiful porch with a couple of three steps.
Interior of a “Russian hut”
To combine Russian style and peasant design in such buildings does not require large expenses. In particular, the walls and ceiling, provided that the construction was carried out correctly and proper thermal insulation was provided, can be left without finishing. It is enough to impregnate them with special compounds that prevent rotting, insect damage and prevent the rapid spread of fire.
The style of the Russian hut is quite ascetic and does not involve the use of a large amount of furniture. An open plan and a combination of the kitchen and living room are encouraged.
The main decoration of the house, emphasizing the Russian style in the interior, as already mentioned, is the stove. If you have a modern heating system, then you can use a kitchen storage system stylized as a Russian stove.
You can make it look like the real thing by installing an oven where firewood is placed, and a forged damper.
Textiles and decor for the “Russian hut”
Russian style in the interior of a country house, decorated like a hut, also involves the use of a large amount of textiles. It should be the simplest. A “cheerful” floral chintz would be ideal. You can use a Pavlovo Posad scarf as a cover for benches or a sofa stylized as a bench.
The rustic Russian style in the interior of a country house can be emphasized with the help of decor. However, he must be quite restrained. It is enough to use a couple of folk craft items. Again, the decoration of the living room, which serves as a dining room, will be a large samovar, painted as Khokhloma. “Juicy” still lifes and paintings with subjects typical, for example, of Kustodiev’s work are also suitable.
What varieties are known?
It has one important feature - the presence of three directions. Some of them will look ridiculous even in a typical home with this atmosphere. That is why when working with a room, take into account the nuances of each of them. Each has its own characteristics in the Russian style in the interior, which are worth considering in more detail.
Russian hut
It is quite difficult to decorate an apartment in this direction; the overall appearance will look ridiculous, so it is ideal for country houses. It doesn’t matter at all whether you live in this house permanently or come to take a break from the noisy city. Basic principle: minimum technology – maximum natural materials. A house of this type should be a continuation of nature.
Russian style in the interior cannot do without wood; here it is the basis of everything. Boards with an aged effect will look great. Instead of plastic windows, install wooden frames with swing shutters. If you absolutely do not want to give up plastic windows, style them as wood.
The basis of the Russian style is a minimum of modern technology and a maximum of natural materials
Wood is the basis of Russian style
It was customary to welcome guests in the hut and eat food in the upper room. In the modern world, it serves simultaneously for eating and relaxing. This explains the fact that the upper room has always been the brightest and most spacious room. In this place there should be a large stove, which will find a place even in a modern design, a table and a corner with icons. The stove is used immediately for cooking food, storing basic utensils and beautifully decorating the kitchen and dining room. It looks great in the style of a Russian mansion.
It is worth paying special attention to the bedroom and the main element – the bed. It must be decorated with duvets, many small pillows and a huge amount of textiles. In the Russian style, they used to actively sew from scraps; nowadays this technique is called patchwork. Now this technology is used in Russia in many other areas and by residents from other countries. This makes shopping for a colorful blanket easier.
It is advisable to decorate the bed with pillows and bedspreads
The upper room must have a stove or fireplace
Russian style in the interior looks very beautiful and harmonious
People's Tower
This Russian style in the interior is worth using if you love luxury and wealth. Patterns of the brightest colors, chests with all the riches and other pieces of furniture characteristic of the nobility and in the general style of Russian Rococo - these elements must be placed in your home if you decide to decorate it in the “terem” direction. The nobles lived in their own world, which is why they were characterized by special style features with their own decorative elements.
This direction is closest to modern types of design. Walls in the Russian style are decorated with various types of fabrics or some types of wallpaper. The floors are covered with parquet and covered with beautiful and luxurious carpets. If rough furniture is used in a country house, here you can freely place armchairs and sofas in the house.
Important! If you are installing armchairs, the upholstery must be chosen only from high-quality fabric in the style of a Russian mansion. It's worth spending a little to buy quality fabric, but it looks very beautiful and complements the atmosphere of the room.
For good lighting, buy a large crystal chandelier. Please note: it is necessary to buy large chandeliers; in those days they were considered an indicator of a certain status of the owner of the house. In this case, metal elements are imitated into gold. It is recommended to decorate the rooms with brocade.
Icons and towels were often hung on the walls
In Russian style you need to use only natural materials
A la russe
This Russian style in the interior most accurately reflects national motifs. This explains the incredible popularity of “a la russe” in other countries of the world. When arranging your home, use nesting dolls, balalaikas, samovars and other attributes loved by tourists. One of the most controversial trends: some consider it vulgar to decorate a room this way, others happily use folk motifs.
Important! Use only those things that have practical value, otherwise your home will turn into Plyushkin’s house.
In the Russian style, many people use the ornament separately or only as accessories. Even in the modern world, there must be painted dishes in the house, from which it will be pleasant to eat yourself and treat guests. At that time, it was popular to decorate porcelain dinner sets with paintings in floral motifs. This tradition has not gone away over time, so you can use this technique both on holidays and in everyday life.
This Russian style in the interior most accurately reflects national motifs
Use only things that have value
In the Russian style, many people use the ornament separately or only as accessories.
A crazy bright and effective element in the interior of this trend can certainly be called lace. The first lace sparkled incredibly, because it was woven from gold and silver threads. Nowadays it is quite difficult to find such lace. If you still want to purchase this particular option, buy Vologda lace. Don't be afraid to use napkins, tablecloths and curtains to serve as luxurious accessories in your home.
Before you start decorating, think carefully about the design.
Lace was often used in Russian style
Manor Russian style in the interior of a country house
Today there are many wealthy people who want to have a country house that will become a real family nest for their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. The ideal choice in this case would be the style of a Russian estate.
As a rule, such houses externally comply with all the canons of Classicism. Their architecture should show clear symmetry and should contain elements such as columns and a portico.
The interior in the style of a Russian estate should also have features of interior fashion characteristic of the late 18th - early 19th centuries. However, it is distinguished by two features - slight eclecticism and the use of items with traditionally Russian design.
Features of the interior “a la rus”
The basis of this style is the memory of the past. It is reflected in patterns on wallpaper, textiles and furniture. Lace tablecloths and napkins on the tables, old photographs and little things lovingly kept by the owners are appropriate here.
Wall decoration
The walls are decorated with a wood look using decorative boards and often a painting is added that extends to the ceiling.
Floor decoration
The main finishing material is still wood: pine, birch, alder, oak.
Accessories
There are no problems with accessories. You can hang black and white photographs of grandparents or a painting by a Russian artist on the walls. Don't forget about copper candlesticks and fringed floor lamps.
This chest seems to have been created for an interior in the “a la Russe” style. After all, before Peter I in Russia they did not use cabinets; things were stored in chests. But since you can’t do without a closet in an apartment, you should give preference to massive and carved options, as in the photo above.
A colorful table decoration is a samovar and a collection of nesting dolls, especially if it has been kept in the family for a long time.
The “a la Russe” style is one of the few into which icons fit harmoniously. And this is another nod towards history, because before the revolution, not a single house could do without them.
Russian style in the interior of the apartment
The varieties discussed above are not suitable for a city apartment. To arrange it, choose a modern Russian style in the interior of your home.
To create such a design, they choose Minimalism as the base and give it an appropriate ethnic flavor with the help of characteristic pieces of furniture and decor.
Russian style in the kitchen interior
The modern Russian-style kitchen is furnished with modern custom-made furniture. The facades with Khokhloma or Gzhel paintings look gorgeous. In order not to overload the interior of a Russian-style kitchen, you should choose the simplest possible finish. An important place in design should be given to textiles. Floral chintz curtains will do.
If the kitchen is spacious enough or combined with the living room, an island design stylized as a Russian stove will look original. It can combine the functions of a storage system, an additional work surface and even a small sofa bed. k The sofa can be located on the top of the structure, which is reached by climbing 5-6 steps of a ladder from a completely modern design. Thus, you can improve the layout of the room by making it multi-level.
This combination, characteristic of a traditional Russian home, will make your modern interior not only attractive, but also ergonomic and comfortable.
A fairly traditional technique is to give the room a national flavor with the help of a beautifully designed kitchen apron. It should not be overly variegated. You can use several handmade tiles or lay out the apron with tiles with the image of “cockerels”, such as on Russian towels.
Living room in Russian style
The Russian style in the interior of a modern living room can be emphasized using paintings stylized as ancient Russian painting.
To decorate the walls you need to use wood panels. It is not necessary that this finish be used for all walls. You can combine the panels with painting, plastering or textured wallpaper to look like brickwork. Some designers also use the technique of painting one of the walls to imitate log masonry.
Russian estate
This stylistic direction gives free rein to imagination. The interior allows you to combine simplicity and folk chic, creating a truly luxurious and original home design. Approximately the same situation prevailed among landowners in Rus'.
This destination should appeal to connoisseurs of luxury.
The peculiarity of this direction is a combination of truly Russian traditions, but with the introduction of some “overseas” details.
For example, such ceiling painting is more typical of European palaces
The design and setting rules are as follows:
- Natural materials. This rule is unchanged if there is a desire to embody the style in the most realistic way. Natural wood can be used for walls and floors. The walls can be decorated with hand painting and traditional motifs.
This is what a Russian estate looked like 2 centuries ago
The modern version looks more elegant, even if only wood is used - Situation. Furniture can be made to order or items inherited from grandparents can be used in the setting. But if you master artificial aging techniques, you can add an elegant touch of antiquity to new furniture. Traditional Russian interior cannot be ascetic. It is the accessories that will add that unique ethnic flavor.
Furniture for such an interior combines simplicity and chic - An antique clock on the wall, a sconce near a cozy chair, paintings in heavy frames and other interior accents will add notes of noble luxury.
Furniture in Russian style
By choosing a modern Russian style in the interior, you can use simple, minimalist furniture. To give it ethnic features, it is recommended to use pillows with covers with a recognizable print.
The only strict restriction is the ban on the use of plastic and other artificial materials.
Even the most modern interior can be given a Russian flavor by using a stove with tiles or a design that imitates it. Fortunately, today on the market you can find ceramic facing materials with appropriate decor.
It will be great if you use decorative items that perform utilitarian functions. For example, a ceiling lamp in a vintage merchant style will enliven even the most modern interior.
Now you know what the interior of a Russian-style house should be like. This design will not go out of fashion for a long time and will make your home cozy and attractive.
What to pay attention to when creating
It is recommended to highlight that the Russian style is scale, space, natural nature . That is why this design direction is not suitable for all projects. It will look especially harmonious on large country plots that contain natural objects: forest, river, stream, meadows, etc.
At the same time, according to tradition, the entire territory is divided arbitrarily into several basic zones. Read on for a description and features of each of them.
Grounds area
When organizing the ground floor, that is, the central zone of the estate, decorators give preference to the use of classical design details.
Relevant in this case are:
- compositions in the form of topiary from euonymus or spirea;
- small, neatly trimmed “living” fences;
- original front gardens and flower beds;
- irregularly shaped mixborders with flowering and fragrant plants.
A driveway made from the bark of linden or birch trees, creating an imitation of natural motifs, will look great. Additional decorations can include various sculptures, figures of fairy-tale characters, and small neat fences.
