In part five we will conclude the series by taking a peek into the 20th and 21st century.

In the Early 20th century there were a number of revivalist styles, but the 2 styles that were prevalent were Art Deco and Modernism. The term Art Deco was coined in 1925. The style was derived from works from the early 20th century art movements of Cubism, Expressionism, Futurism, and from African and native South American art. Prior to the mid 1920s, Art Deco was characterized by rounded and romantic motifs like garlands and rosebuds, but, during the late 1920s and 30s, those rounded motifs were replaced by abstract and geometric motifs. In a nutshell, Art Deco is best recognized by clean lines and smooth planes in walls, ceilings, and with contrasting colored walls and woodwork and textiles with geometric or bold floral patterns. The furniture was generously upholstered and veneered with fine wood.

The Modernist style of architecture and decoration was wholeheartedly adopted on both sides of the Atlantic between the 1st and 2nd world wars. Modern design avoided using unnecessary ornaments and highlighted the industrial origins of modern building material, furniture, and textiles. In a Modern space you would not see displays of bric-a-brac or knick knacks in.

The Modernism style included elements such as chrome and glass furniture and pale walls and ceilings. The curtains were abstract or geometric patterned and carpets were often laid over parquet floors. Hi-rise apartments or lofts are typically decorated in the Modern Style. These types of spaces usually have floor to ceiling windows and exposed material like metal pipes and are very sparsely decorated. The idea is to have as much unobstructed space as possible. One drawback is that these spaces can also come across as cold and uninviting.

During the late 20th century and 21st century, since the end of the 2nd World War, there have been 2 apparent trends in interior design and decoration: one largely Retrospective and the other basically Futuristic. So, in essence, the late 20th and early 21st century is both looking back to decorating styles for inspiration as well as reaching forward to improving upon what is already there and developing new ideas. Classicism, in all its varying interpretations, has been the most enduringly fashionable and least faddish style of the late 20th and early 21st century. In addition, significant and successful reproductive reinterpretations or recreations of just about all the styles have been made even more doable by the response of manufacturers and importers. And, people who live in period homes today are beginning to restore and decorate them in the original period style.

Probably the style talked about most these days is Contemporary. That is because Contemporary simply means today or current. In actuality, any style can be interpreted as Contemporary by using current day materials. I often like to consider Contemporary an application or interpretation rather than a style in and of itself.

I could not tell you every decorating detail but I did tell you enough to give you a good working knowledge of the contributions offered to the decorating industry over the centuries. I hope you feel enlightened and empowered as you approach your next decorating project.

©Rena Bullard 2010

This article may be reprinted, in its entirety, with copyright information.

Rena Bullard is certified and trained as an Interior Decorator and is currently continuing her studies to become an Interior Designer. Rena is a member of The Society of Decorating Professionals, an expert writer for Ezine Articles and a contributing writer for The Society of Decorating Professionals’ blog and online magazine, The Decorator’s Notebook, as well as her own blog ReDecorating Dilemmas. Rena interviews industry professionals and offers free decorating tips as the host of her own podcast radio show called, ReDecorating by Rena, which broadcasts on Blog Talk Radio.

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Rena can be reached via her website: http://www.redecoratingbyrena.com/