As a rule, most people associate the Russian-style interior directly with folk art. These can be clay decorative elements, Gzhel ceramics, an abundance of wood, Khokhloma, and so on. In fact, it is, but we decided to expand these traditional frameworks and made several options for decorating the room in the original Russian style. Look for photos, examples and valuable recommendations below about what an interior in the Russian style can be like.
What to keep in mind when creating a project
Our ancestors built their huts exclusively from natural materials, and it was from the same raw materials that they made all household items and decorations that were placed in their dwellings. Therefore, today, when creating an interior in the Russian style, one should adhere to this restraint and simplicity. Perhaps the result will give off asceticism, but the style in question is typical of this.
This is all relevant if you're designing with a rustic vibe. If your project is an imitation of the boyar chambers or the royal bedrooms that were in the Winter Palace, then the emphasis should be placed exclusively on luxury, pomposity and expensive materials. Well, each of these options will be discussed in more detail below.
Hut on chicken legs
The simplest and most economical option is to imitate those huts in which our distant ancestors lived. As a rule, they consisted of one room, less often one could meet two- or three-room ones (as a rule, such bedrooms were very small). Therefore, it is easy to create a rustic Russian-style interior these days, because you don’t have to worry about not having enough free space. There are four main nuances to consider here:
- The stove is a primordially Russian element that was present in every peasant house. It should be located in the center of the main room, its walls are coated with white clay and painted with Khokhloma or other beautiful ornaments. Note that the stove can become a separator between the living room and the kitchen, and this is an extremely convenient technique in the process of space zoning.
- Bed-couch. Unfortunately, almost none of our contemporaries is no longer heated on the floor. If you are creating an interior in Russian folk style, then there is an opportunity to correct this oversight. This bed is very wide, therefore it is used both as a sleeping place for guests and as a comfortable and warm corner where you can relax at any time.
- Don't forget chests. It's a handy feature that doubles as ergonomic storage and room decoration.
- The interior in Russian style will be incomplete if you do not decorate the stove with tiles. You can use any patterns for them, the main thing is that you like them.
Chic and cozy houses
Of course, it is inconvenient for a modern family to live on a few square meters in one room, where everyone huddles near the stove. Therefore, now we will consider how to create the style of a Russian estate. In the interior that we create, you can afford to combine simplicity and light chic.
So, the main material is still natural wood. It is used both in the construction of walls, ceiling and floor decoration, and in furniture. But now we are complementing it with carved elements that can simply be mounted on the wall, used as decoration for windows, doorways, railings and furniture.
Textiles that will complement such an interior in the Russian style are linen curtains, mostly light, pastel colors. Embroidered towels, napkins, knitted tablecloths and capes will also look relevant.
The area around the house
Now let's move on to what should be the style of the Russian estate. In the interior, the main elements we had were natural fabrics, wood and clay. Here we mostly meet stone, brick tiles, less often metal. When creating the design of the courtyard of a private house, one should give preference to simple shapes and straight lines. Paths paved with bricks should be surrounded by bushes, herbs and flowers that are characteristic of our latitudes. If the estate is large, you can build a gazebo in the yard, which, according to its exterior, will be in harmony with the house. If the yard is small, then confine yourself to a spacious terrace, which is greatwooden (not wicker) furniture will rise.
Unique setting
When we create a rustic interior in the Russian style, we get the opportunity to put in our house pieces of furniture that will not have analogues anywhere else. The interior design is based on wood, and you can make everything from it with your own hands, from a stool to a bed, a sofa and a wardrobe.
Initially, it is recommended to choose a log house of a light shade so that the interior is more transparent and light. When assembling homemade furniture, do not try to make it complicated and pretentious. Simple forms and minimalism are much more relevant here. We also recommend building a bench in addition to sofas and armchairs, which will emphasize the traditional design.
How to equip a kitchen in a hut?
Many people are most worried about what should be the interior of the kitchen in the Russian style, because our ancestors did not have such a room as such. All that the then peasant women were content with was a desktop, a couple of shelves and a stove. A modern woman will not cook in such conditions, so we decided to eliminate this problem. Cabinet furniture should be made exclusively of wood. The same applies to the front of the refrigerator, so that it does not stand out. This material must be treated and protected from moisture, grease, temperature changes, etc. Use white or beige ceramics for wall decoration. Dilute it with tiles or paint it yourself with folk patterns.
Analogues in Western houses
If we compare the Russian style in the interior with what European and American magazines have offered us in recent years, then a clear relationship can be seen with country music. When decorating a room in this style, only natural elements are also used - wood, stone, brick, less often metal. All items, accessories and decorations are not distinguished by pomposity and gloss, on the contrary, they are extremely simple and modest. Also similarities lie in the use of textiles. Only if any textures and colors can be found in Western country counterparts, then when creating the effect of a hut in a house, we can choose only snow-white or cream fabrics that are decorated with folk embroideries and ornaments.
Noble quarters
The Russian style in the interior of the house becomes completely different, if you look at it through the prism of rich landowners who equipped their homes with all the most luxurious and expensive. In such a house, the walls should not be finished with wood, but with wallpaper with a symmetrical pattern or textiles. The furniture is represented by deep and soft sofas, armchairs, pouffes. Their frames are made of natural wood and upholstered in brocade, velvet or leather.
A characteristic feature is the type-setting parquet, which is waxed so that everything is reflected in it. Also on the floor there should always be expensive woolen carpets that match the wallpaper in color.
Luxury estate decor
Supplement thisthe interior can be the following accessories. Firstly, these are lampshades covered with light fabrics. Lamps can be table, wall or be located under the ceiling. Forged candlesticks, coasters, table clocks and inkwells will ideally fit into the interior. It is also important to decorate the room with paintings, photographs, enclosed in wooden carved frames.
This style is also characterized by a mixture of Western and Eastern traditions. Rich people of that time could decorate their homes with things brought from Europe. These were jardinières, couches, ornate coasters and candlesticks. Along with them were oriental decor elements - silks, carpets, hookahs and more.
Much more sophisticated solution
If you don’t like such luxury, which just spills over the edges, but at the same time you don’t want to live in an ascetic hut, we suggest considering the Russian style in the interior, which appeared in the boyar era. It developed until the end of the 19th century. This is Russian Empire. Such an environment is characterized by solemnity, chic, brilliance, but at the same time restraint, unity, harmony are inherent in it. This style was formed on the basis of the notorious Rococo, and has since evolved in various states, including the Russian Empire.
How to recognize Russian Empire style?
Let's start with the colors. Basically, white or beige colors are combined with pink or red-pink. The main part of the walls is light, parquet is approaching them. Doorways, columns, textiles and small accessories become bright accents.
Furniture is made of dark wood or, conversely, painted in white. It is noteworthy that all the legs and other forms of chairs, armchairs and sofas are curved, artsy. It is important to consider that the creation of an interior in the Russian Empire style will not do without biblical and antique motifs. You can use Greek or Roman vases, coasters, paintings that tell us about certain sacred events. Also, the style in question is characterized by the presence of sculptures and stucco. Such accessories should be pompous, but not too bright.
Conclusion
As you can see, the Russian style in the interior can be the most diverse. Some, hearing such a phrase, imagine a cozy tiny hut with a stove, while others are mentally transferred to the royal chambers, decorated with gold and stucco. Note that the design of a modern home in a similar spirit depends on its type. For example, in an apartment it would be best to opt for the Empire style.
