The trick to achieving a completely finished look in your home is through texture. A rich tapestry of textures layered throughout the house will add real depth and interest. Strong and traditionally industrial materials are currently featuring strongly in interior design themes. Stone, concrete, wood and the subject of this piece- metal, are all being put to effective use by designers across the globe. The reason for this is the innate sense of satisfying tangibility and feeling of cocooning safety they bring. After a decade of apartment living with no more than two sheets of plasterboard separating us from our neighbours, Britain is design is rightly staging something of a real material resurgence.
Using metal as the predominant material in a giving space would probably be a little too of putting for most but as an accent material it should not be feared. A home full to bursting with soft furnishings alone would be far too…marshmallow-esque? Metal and similar materials will help balance out the architectural/comfort ratio and provide stark contrast with fabrics. Rather than leave a space feeling cold, the contrast will actually enhance the sensuality of any areas of softness and help make clear the purpose of such areas.
So now we know what metal has to offer, how do we go about implementing it in a design? Urns and ornaments are a safe introduction. For added contrast you might want to opt for a stark flower pot filled with some pink roses or something equally as delicate. Picture frames are another subtle way of upping the texture count. For contemporary styling go for high sheen stainless steel or for retro points try classy brushed steel.
Floor lamps are a brilliant way to use metal on a larger but non-fixed stage. An arca lamp complete with solid marble base arches over an entire room in a really protective way. Its brushed steel frame and head adds instant chic to any room and is doubly useful in that it can transform a room from open to intimate in the way it lowers the lighting from ceiling height.
Surprisingly, metal can also be used to warm a space. Using copper or brass in the kitchen in the kitchen can have a really comforting effect. The warm, reddish tints and aged look they quickly take on add a timeless quality to any room. Incorporate such metal a unusual splash backs in the kitchen or as taps over an old farmhouse sink and instantly your house becomes a home.
A new and innovative way we are seeing metal used in retail and commercial spaces is as a wood replacement by using metal that has been rusted then coated for protection. The rich brown tones of the controlled rusting is quite an eye catcher, so for the bravest or most style conscious of home owners, why not be amongst the first to use this amazing new idea in a domestic setting. Why not use it in place of bathroom tiles or as a feature wall?
Metal used as a decorative tool will transform your home from tired and tedious to bold and bright. As long as you remember to pair up your steel coffee table with a fluffy sheep skin rug and match your metal picture frames with a colourful scene, you can’t go wrong.
