American style originated in the 17th century. During this period, the Spaniards, the Dutch and residents of other countries moved to the continent. Each of them brought a piece of their culture, creating a cozy interior of their homes. Over time, the arrangement of houses has changed, taking into account weather conditions and the taste preferences of the local population.
Modern American interiors should be filled with light and space, so most often this design is used to equip the central room of the house. And how to decorate an American-style living room on your own, read our article.
The main features of the American interior
American style is constantly being improved and supplemented with newfangled ideas, so today there are several subspecies of this design. These include:
- Loft style. Recognized by the abundance of brick surfaces and metal elements.
- Pop art. It is characterized by a play of colors, an abundance of portraits of stars and posters.
- New York. Hecombines minimalism and modernity. The surfaces are decorated with fashionable materials, but in the room every thing is functional. A distinctive feature is the paintings depicting the streets of the city of the same name.
As for the classics, the American-style living room interior is spacious. To achieve the desired effect, designers recommend combining several rooms into one large space. So modern apartments have living rooms combined with a hallway, dining room and even a bedroom.
The division of space is carried out by various methods of zoning the premises. For this purpose, columns and arches are actively used, allowing you to divide the room, but leave a feeling of spaciousness.
Particular attention is paid to the convenience of the interior: the cost of furniture and decor does not matter, all elements should create an atmosphere of comfort.
Choosing furniture
The American-style living room is equipped with a large variety of poufs, sofas and armchairs, which are installed in the center of the room. Along the walls are the rest of the interior. It is very important that the furniture in the same room is made in the same style, combined in design and color.
The desire to provide comfort to every guest encourages Americans to use high-quality and massive furniture. Most often it is made of natural fabrics and leather.
Business cards of the American interiorsteel:
- rocking chairs;
- large coffee table;
- plenty of decorative pillows;
- rack hangers;
- all kinds of pair decor.
Interior design takes place around one central element, such as a fireplace or a set of upholstered furniture. At the same time, additional decor should be paired: if it is a sofa, then it is better to use two identical and small items.
Finishing materials
In most cases, natural materials are used to decorate an American-style living room: wood, metal, stone. When it is not possible to purchase an expensive finish, you can replace it with more affordable counterparts.
For example:
- MDF panels with imitation of the natural texture of wood;
- ceramic tiles;
- porcelain tile.
Gypsum imitation can be used as a natural stone, and expensive granite can easily replace panels in the appropriate design.
Colours
If you look at a few photos of an American style living room, you will notice that this design uses a classic color palette. The main emphasis is on warm shades, a combination of beige and brown tones. One of the main roles is given to white color.
Possibly a non-standard combination of colors that creates a contrast in the interior. For example, dark shades of brown will look good against the background of beige or red elements. Sand and cream decorwill look advantageous among the sky-blue walls. This approach allows you to visually push the boundaries of the room and create the necessary space.
Lighting fixtures
American interiors favor daylight. For this, huge windows are installed in the living rooms, on which there are no curtains. At night, spotlights are used to fill the space with soft and diffused light. In this case, the central chandelier may be completely absent.
Often, fixtures are used for space zoning, for example, when creating an American-style kitchen-living room design. In one part of the room, a brighter light is installed, and in the other, a muffled one. It is customary to install spotlights in dining rooms.
Lampshades, sconces and floor lamps in various designs are very popular in such interiors. But massive chandeliers are best replaced with elegant pendant lights.
Choice of finishing materials
To decorate the floor in the living room, traditional materials are used: parquet, laminate, tiles. When choosing laminated panels, special attention is paid to their colors. Preference is given to those options that are as similar as possible to natural wood.
Photos of the American-style kitchen-living room demonstrate the appropriateness of using porcelain stoneware. The work area is more often tiled, and the place for receiving guests is more warm and pleasant to the touch materials.
The simplest and most budgetary finish in the form of paint and rolled wallpaper is suitable for walls. At the same time, patterns and pronounced texture should be avoided. If preference is given to neutral tones, then the emphasis is on furniture upholstery.
A good effect can be achieved by combining several types of wallpaper. They can be alternated across the strip or use a different finish on each of the walls. Geometric patterns depicted on the walls fit perfectly into American design.
Often, plastic or MDF panels are used to decorate surfaces. They decorate part of the walls or the entire room.
As for the ceiling, in most American interiors it is simply painted white. This allows you to visually expand the space and fill the room with freshness.
Household appliances
The living room in the style of American classics is filled with a huge amount of household appliances. This is due to the fact that Americans strive to create comfort for every guest.
If small children often come to the house, a game system is installed in the room. To watch movies on the walls is a large TV with sound system. Upholstered furniture is complemented by massage devices, lighting has several modes of operation.
In high-rise buildings where it is impossible to install a real fireplace, electrical analogues with simulated flames are used. Almost every home has air purification systems and climate control.
Designers' tips for choosingdecor
The presence of useful little things is very important in the American interior. In a large space there is room for a lot of decor, but it must be of some use.
Creating an American-style living room design, designers use bright vases for fresh flowers. Pitchers, books with expensive covers, flower arrangements and figurines made from natural materials are often used.
Since the walls themselves are decorated very restrainedly, paintings and photographs in beautiful frames are placed on them as decorations. Massive pots with tall houseplants are often installed in the corners of the room. Upholstered furniture is completed with a huge number of bright pillows that are combined with other interior items, such as curtains.
All decor must be in harmony with the overall design of the room. The style and color scheme must be observed. It is better to use shades close to each other. All items in the interior must have a pair.
Summing up
The living room is the main room in the house, so its design should be approached with particular seriousness. Do not overload the room with items that will interfere with the movement of young children and elderly family members. The basic principle of creating an American-style living room design is to provide coziness and comfort to every resident and guest of the house.
The final project must meet four main criteria:
- convenience;
- massive furniture;
- space;
- conservative.
The American-style room promotes relaxation and peace. It cannot be overloaded with a large number of items, since the classic does not accept this. Every corner in such a room creates a real homely atmosphere in which it is pleasant to spend time with guests and relax after a working day.
