Baroque Interior Design: a Stylish Departure From the Ordinary

Baroque interior design reveals the stylish departure from the ordinary. Golden seats, stucco on the ceiling and mirrors everywhere, this is what we associate with the baroque interior design.

If you want to rekindle the glamor and glory of that era or give your home a touch of that extravagant style, you’ve come to the right place!

Want to bring a bit of Versailles to your interior? Follow the advice of our experts to create your own baroque interior design!

While the baroque interior design has established itself across Europe, it has had variations depending on the country. However, if we have to define it, we can say that the Baroque style is marked by splendor and abundance. The absolutism of Louis XIV and the wealth of Versailles also embody baroque beauty to perfection.

The Baroque era at a glance

Born in Italy, the baroque interior style refers to the abundance of large ornaments which contrasts with the sobriety of the Renaissance style.

The word barrocco meant something twisted and irregular. baroque interior design considered offensive for its time, its image has changed a lot over time. From a strange style to an expression of modern art, it is above all an impressive and colorful art that manages to seduce.

Barocco interior: how to adopt it in your home?

This style took off in France during the era of absolute monarchy, during the time of the Sun King. All European kingdoms at this time want to compete with each other.

France during this period has a very important cultural influence which is expressed through its monuments, gardens, artistic works and wants to express its own classical style.

The other European countries were fascinated by the baroque style, ostentatious and pompous, and built magnificent churches and other palaces of Baroque inspiration.

Some facts on baroque interior design

During the Counter-Reformation, the Church hired painters, sculptors and other artists to highlight the full splendor of the Catholic faith. The clean lines of the Renaissance era have been exaggerated and embellished.

Although the preference for symmetry was largely retained, the priority was to incorporate emotion and movement into the works of art. Thus was born the lavish, rich Baroque style which flourished under the absolutism of the Sun King in France. And like no other style, it conveyed the ruler’s dominance and divinity.

As the beginning of the Baroque was still marked by the sufferings of the Thirty Years’ War, the concept of vanity and decadence also played an important role.

The poet Andreas Gryphius with his poem All is Vanity, vividly captured the sense of the absurdity of all human aspirations.

Born in Italy, the baroque interior design refers to the abundance of large ornaments which contrasts with the sobriety of the Renaissance style.

The word barrocco meant something twisted and irregular. Baroque interior design considered offensive for its time, its image has changed a lot over time.

From a strange style to an expression of modern art, it is above all an impressive and colorful art that manages to seduce.

This style took off in France during the era of absolute monarchy, during the time of the Sun King. All European kingdoms at this time want to compete with each other.

France during this period has a very important cultural influence which is expressed through its monuments, gardens, artistic works and wants to express its own classical style.

The other European countries were fascinated by the baroque style, ostentatious and pompous, and built magnificent churches and other palaces of Baroque inspiration.

As the beginning of the Baroque was still marked by the sufferings of the Thirty Years’ War, the concept of vanity and decadence also played an important role.

Here is how to furnish your four walls in the Baroque style:

Brocade-look wallpapers can be recognized by their opulent background colors, such as blood red or purple, with stylized ornamental designs in the foreground in gold or another metallic tone.

Mahogany wood seats with curved shapes and meticulous details, covered with thick padding in noble fabrics such as velvet, brocade or jacquard.

The colors of the baroque interior design range from creamy white to vanilla yellow. Tapestry, curtains or rugs in these golden tones illuminate and ennoble the room.

Elements of glass, crystal, or light reflecting metal make chandeliers a symbol of the magnificent glorification of earthly existence of baroque interior design. Use modern LED chandeliers for optimal lighting and design.

Don’t forget the elaborate borders! The frames, walls and floors also reflect light.

Golden figurines, busts, velvet and silk… anything sumptuous and shiny reinforces the baroque feeling. Richly decorated music boxes, gems or vases are also suitable.

Style ideas for your baroque interior

Want to feel like the Sun King, but afraid to let kitsch invade your four walls? In this case, make sure you have a consistent overview. A baroque interior can also be monochrome with very careful furniture in the details.

Combine the uncluttered monochrome furniture with wallpapers designed with a baroque motif. So you can create a modern vintage look that nevertheless draws inspiration from the baroque style.

Finally, large mirrored glass surfaces and a subtle decoration blend perfectly. The baroque style can also be splendidly implemented in a monochrome version in black and white. Modern wallpaper completes the elegant look of your living room paired with black baroque furniture.

Does baroque impress you and want to give your home a royal look? Westwing offers you an exclusive selection of baroque furniture and matching decorative accessories: pompous chandeliers or extravagant wallpapers, let yourself be inspired by the baroque style!

Here is how to furnish your four walls in the Baroque style:

Brocade-look wallpapers can be recognized by their opulent background colors, such as blood red or purple, with stylized ornamental designs in the foreground in gold or another metallic tone.

Mahogany wood seats with curved shapes and meticulous details, covered with thick padding in noble fabrics such as velvet, brocade or jacquard.

The colors of the baroque interior design range from creamy white to vanilla yellow. Tapestry, curtains or rugs in these golden tones illuminate and ennoble the room.

Elements of glass, crystal, or light reflecting metal make chandeliers a symbol of the magnificent glorification of earthly existence. Use modern LED chandeliers for optimal lighting and design.

Don’t forget the elaborate borders in baroque interior design! The frames, walls and floors also reflect light.

Golden figurines, busts, velvet and silk… anything sumptuous and shiny reinforces the baroque feeling. Richly decorated music boxes, gems or vases are also suitable.

Decorating  your baroque interior design

Want to feel like the Sun King, but afraid to let kitsch invade your four walls? In this case, make sure you have a consistent overview. A baroque interior can also be monochrome with very careful furniture in the details.

Combine the uncluttered monochrome furniture with wallpapers designed with a baroque motif. So you can create a modern vintage look that nevertheless draws inspiration from the baroque style.

Finally, large mirrored glass surfaces and a subtle decoration blend perfectly. The baroque style can also be splendidly implemented in a monochrome version in black and white. Modern wallpaper completes the elegant look of your living room paired with black baroque furniture.

Does baroque impress you and want to give your home a royal look? our blog offers you an exclusive selection of baroque furniture and matching decorative accessories: pompous chandeliers or extravagant wallpapers, let yourself be inspired by the baroque style!

Very used in decoration in the past, they were for a time shunned by lovers of minimalism… and are making a comeback to adorn the corners of rooms in large houses and small chic interiors.

Curved, in a circle, in an arch, in an oval or in a rectangle, moldings are also used to create pretty rosettes in baroque interior design, friezes or small niches in a corner of a room.

Nowadays, moldings are available in various materials, in various colors and with a multitude of finishes. Here’s everything you need to know about moldings.

The different types of decorative moldings in baroque interior design

Moldings come in a multitude of forms. Each type of molding is designed for a specific purpose: to frame a door, to ensure a visual transition at the junction of walls and floors, to dress a ceiling, to decorate the outline of a niche, to hang a picture on the wall …

There are so many types of decorative moldings for our homes that it can sometimes be difficult to tell them apart. Want to fall for decorative grinds? Ask yourself this question: what types should you buy for your home improvement project? Here is a guide to enlighten you!

Cornices

Cornices are part of the family of moldings that attach to the ceiling. They indeed run all around the room, at the top of the wall. They thus serve to dress the ceiling with refinement and ultimate chic and to hide the imperfections of imperfect angles.

Cornices are therefore ideal moldings for correcting wall imperfections when mounting studs or installing drywall, such as alignment, the junction between drywall in the wall.

Ultra-chic, the cornices are associated with the Art Deco, Regency or Louis XV style. We note that the cornice is also used to improve the architectural elements and the aesthetic appearance of a room.

In recent years, lighted cornices have been causing a stir. These moldings are a more modern version of the traditional cornices since they include the installation of LED lights inside their internal face.

The picture rails

The word “cimaise” is a Latin term which itself comes from ancient Greek which meant wave or wave. In the architectural world, the word “chair rail” corresponds to a molding that forms the top of a cornice. In cabinetmaking, on the other hand, the chair rail is a decorative woodwork which is characterized by the constitution of a body of molding.

Today, the chair rail is most often used as a hanging system for pictures, frames and photos, or for fixing pictures in a room.

The chair rail is also used to create the illusion of a sepaeration of the wall between the top and the bottom. It therefore makes it possible to divide the top and the bottom of the wall, while providing a finish to the boxes or paneling.

The ogeas

An ogee is a decorative molding most often used to create a trompe-l’oeil panel effect. It is often seen on interior doors or used to create shadows of paneling boxes. It is also installed to add a finishing touch to walls and furniture.

Crown moldings

Crown moldings, such as cornices, are typically used to line up the area where the ceiling of a house meets the wall. The use of this type of molding has its origins in the late Renaissance, when moldings were used to cover imperfections in this area.

Still used for this purpose today, crown moldings are also installed to bring a touch of chic and dress a room with romanticism.

We note that they also have a purely decorative function: they are installed above cupboards or kitchen furniture to create refined trompe-l’oeil details. They can also be transformed into moldings to dress the doors.

Plinths

Baseboards are used to dress the bottom of the walls, where they meet the floor. They thus ensure a perfect and harmonious transition between the wall and the floor to avoid the presence of an unsightly free space. The plinths are made up of three elements: a decorative crown, a flat face and a quarter round.

Floor moldings

Floor moldings are there to create a junction between the wall and the floor. It therefore has the same function as the plinth.

The chair rail is a functional wall molding installed in the middle of the wall to protect walls from furniture damage. Of course, this molding also has a purely decorative function. It can be used to highlight two different types of wall coverings, paint and wallpaper, for example.

Angles in baroque interior design

Corner moldings are placed on the ceiling and are specially designed to dress the corners of the walls of a baroque interior design room. There are incoming angles corresponding to the angles formed by the corners of a room but also outgoing angles to be used when a wall forms another “sharp” angle inside a room.

Where to place decorative moldings

By discovering the types of moldings, you understood that some moldings are designed to be placed on the ceiling. Other decorative moldings are placed in the middle of the walls while others are placed at the bottom of the walls.

Certain moldings, such as “electric” moldings, can be placed on the floor as well as on the ceiling.

These moldings contain a space specially designed to enter the electrical wires of your devices. So they are ideal for hiding all those unsightly cables and not disturbing the harmony of your decoration.

Finally, we note that most decorative moldings can be transformed into moldings for the doors and thus dress the doors of the house.

Baroque style bedroom: what colors?

The colors in the baroque interior design are intense. Choose shades of gold and silver to give it a touch of glamor. Red, purple, burgundy and deep blue are also typical of this style.

Don’t be afraid to mix them up as this style is known to be overkill. Black is another popular color in the Baroque style, but it should be used with care as it can quickly create a dark and heavy atmosphere when used in too much.

Restore the balance by combining it with gold and beige.

Baroque style bedroom: what types of furniture?

If you choose to decorate your room in the baroque interior design, opt for furniture that is both classic and eccentric. The whole thing to be imposing. The legs of your tables and chairs can be adorned with carved details. If you have a sofa in your bedroom, choose it with legs, just like your bed which can feature very ornate and ornate legs. Arrange large pieces of furniture such as large wardrobes.

All your furniture, if it has a covering, can be in velvet, taffeta or silk. Obviously, become regulars at flea markets, antique furniture stores and other antique shops to find furniture that perfectly matches this baroque style.

Modern baroque interior: what about the walls?

Wallpaper or wood panels, these are generally the decorations of the walls in the baroque interior design. Make way for floral, arabesque or geometric patterns.

If you dare, you can paint your walls with one of these extravagant shapes. If you prefer to paint in one color, choose one of the typical shades of the style.

If you are placing mirrors on the walls, keep in mind that they should be surrounded by large, highly detailed and ornate frames.

Baroque interior design of  bedroom: what about the floors?

The Baroque style floors also feature a very detailed pattern. Stone floors are the most popular, which must have details typical of the time.

If you want to stick to the baroque interior design, you can choose wooden floors, but you will have to choose a dark tone. Cover the floors with Persian rugs which also include a number of patterns and details.