The Magic Of Postmodern Interiors
If the standard neutral colour palettes and clean lines of modern architecture and interior design don’t fill you with joy, you may lean more towards highly stylised alternatives. Whether your idea of a stunning home is an elegant Queen Anne-inspired sanctuary or a Maximalist paradise, the joy of being a homeowner is the ability to craft your environment precisely to your liking.
You may or may not have heard the term “postmodern interior design”. Postmodern interiors are vibrant, eclectic and designed to evoke conversation. Granted, not to everybody’s taste, but of course, taste is entirely subjective.
What Is Postmodernism?
Postmodernism is a twentieth-century style and concept that marked the departure from modernism. Prominent in disciplines such as the arts, architecture and philosophy, postmodernism was born from scepticism and suspicion of reason and drew on mid to late twentieth-century philosophy.
In terms of interior design, postmodernism can be defined as “whimsy over functionality”. Interiors have highly stylised features with a juxtaposition of traditional and modern components. Postmodernism rejects the concept of minimalism in favour of theatrical, attention-commanding visuals with a mixture of styles, textures, materials and colour palettes.
Statement Pieces
Unique, statement items featuring irregular shapes, bold patterns and outrageous, abstract elements are the bones of postmodern home decor. When styling statement pieces in a traditional home, we are often told to allow the item to speak for itself and not to dilute it with other statement pieces. However, postmodernism rejects this notion in favour of bold items of furniture and ornamentation co-existing in wonderful chaos. The beauty of styling statement pieces in a postmodern fashion is if nothing “matches”, you’ve excelled in your endeavour.
Vibrant Colours
Postmodern interior design is definitely not for those who prefer muted, neutral tones and a calming colour palette. "More is more" is at the heart of postmodern philosophical values, and this applies to the hues you use around your home. Vivid shades like bright teal, burnt orange and avocado green and canary yellow may seem as though they are more suited to a child’s bedroom, but a playful palette juxtaposed with classical elements is what gives postmodernism its uncanny edge.
Interior Features
In many traditional forms of design, certain interior elements are largely considered “unattractive” and unworthy of attention, such as ventilation systems, support systems and appliances. Conversely, in postmodernism, these elements are exaggerated and transformed into significant features using eye-catching colours and textures. Other features popular in both residential and commercial postmodern-inspired spaces include contemporary staircases, asymmetry and unusual floor plans.
Exterior Features
Vanna Venturi House is considered one of the first prominent works of the postmodern architecture movement. Located in the neighbourhood of Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia, this remarkable structure was designed by architect Robert Venturi for his mother, Vanna Venturi and sparked a wave of postmodern architectural projects. Venturi wanted to challenge the rigidity and oversimplification of modern architecture with functionless features and contradictory elements designed to confound his contemporaries. The house explores the concept of “Complexity and Contradiction in architecture”, which Venturi later went on to discuss in his book of the same name.
Memphis Milano
The Memphis Group, or Memphis Milano, was an Italian architecture and design group specialising in furniture, fabrics and ornamentation founded by Ettore Sottsass. Often considered “garish” and even “tacky”, the designs of the Memphis Group were inspired by Art Deco and Pop Art, sparking a significant cultural phenomenon during the early 80s in Milan and the rest of the western world shortly thereafter. Quintessential in postmodern design, the Memphis Group created items with geometric shapes, bold patterns and clashing colours. Many interior designers believe the iconic Memphis designs are returning to fashion, along with an overall resurgence of 80s-inspired style and interiors.
How To Implement Postmodernism In Your Home
It may seem as though there is a thin line between postmodernism and unadulterated chaos - indeed, it is a style of decor that celebrates the unusual and the uncanny. Postmodernism is predominantly found in commercial settings due cost and level of detail required. However, you can incorporate postmodern elements into your home without going all out and committing to the absurd. As mentioned, statement items, vibrant colours and asymmetry are the best ways to go about adding a postmodern flair to your interiors.