What styles are popular in Europe now?
This is not a simple question, as there is no concept of a single style for Europe. There are a huge number of styles. There are basic styles, based on which new styles emerge.
For example, at the beginning of the 2000s, classic art deco was popular.
After that came fusion style - a style based on art deco, Scandinavian style, and others. This style is common in big cities.
One of the most popular styles for the past 5 years and will remain popular for just as long is the Scandinavian style. It is popular because of its simplicity and adaptability to small-sized apartments, which are common in Spain. Another advantage is the relatively low cost of the style.
Minimalism is also a fairly common style. Thanks to its minimal, so to say basic set of furniture, it is easy to adapt it to each person and make changes easily.
Eclecticism - the colonial fashionable style of the 2000s, a mixture of different styles with the addition of elements and decorations from different countries.
These are the most common styles that designers work with.
The main point and, so to say, limitation in Spain for designers is that houses are sold ready-made. It's one thing when you walk into an apartment or house and there are bare walls, rough finishing and you can hire a designer and let your imagination run wild, come up with various options, switch rooms, etc. And it's another thing when you buy a house and everything is already done, including renovations, then you just have to choose furniture, appliances, and lighting.
What are the main colors and tones used in modern interior design?
The choice of color is determined primarily by the client's desire, the color scheme of the chosen style, and of course, the purpose the real estate will serve. If, for example, the apartment will be rented out, then one color is chosen. If for personal living, commercial real estate, then the choice is at the discretion of the client. Speaking of styles, the Scandinavian style is always decorated in white, sandy colors. It involves decoration with stone and natural wood. Pastel, green, and blue colors are also popular.
Plants in decor.
As for greening, it is not very popular in Spain, especially in apartments. Owners who do not live there permanently and do not have the option of automatic watering do not welcome decorating with live flowers. But there is a solution - artificial flowers, which are of course more expensive than live ones, but look no different and sometimes brighter, and will last for many years.
Speaking of greening houses, of course, greenery is very pleasing to the eye and widely used, but requires a lot of time and financial investment for care.
Nuances in the design and decor of residential properties.
When designing, it is necessary to consider the layout, whether it is on the sunny or shaded side.
So, on the shaded side, it is recommended to use more light furniture, light walls, more lighting. For rooms on the sunny side, there can be a play of colors on walls and furniture.
The layout also influences color preferences and furniture choices, as light walls and glass furniture, for example, visually enlarge small apartments.
The popularity of fireplaces in Spain.
In northern Spain, fireplaces are more popular in houses and small hotels. As for southern Spain, a quality air conditioner is more popular for heating and cooling.
But if you really want individuality and fire, there are electric fireplaces that serve as heaters, are mounted on the wall, well decorated, with the appearance of a burning flame. Yes, it's not real fire, but it's worth noting that maintaining a real fireplace, the cost of coal or gas, chimney cleaning – is an expensive and laborious pleasure.
Wallpaper in Spain.
There are no specialized stores in Spain where wallpapers are sold, but they are still used in design. The most important thing in wallpapering is to entrust this process to professionals. You need to prepare the wall, ideally align it, treat it with a special solution, and then stick according to the instructions. Considering the humidity in Spain, wallpapering is a delicate and not easy task.
Apartment design, timeframe, and influencing factors.
The time for developing the design, the promptness of clients in choosing a project, furniture production at the factory. These are the main factors affecting the timing of room design. In total, it will be 3.5-4 months. Furniture production according to the project takes 1.5 months.
Cost of designer services.
The cost of decorating an apartment or house will depend mostly on one thing - how much the owner is willing to invest! Yes, there is a minimum set, which for a 60 sq.m. apartment, for example, can amount to 9000 euros, but it can also be 25000 euros for the same area. It will all depend on how the space will be used in the future (rented out, own living space). Therefore, summarizing the initial data, it can be said that the design decoration of an apartment for 100-150 thousand euros will cost 10-15 thousand euros.
The cost of designing a townhouse with a terrace and a yard will be at least 20-25 thousand euros, due to the fact that terrace aluminum furniture is quite expensive and the area of the townhouse is larger than an apartment.
Designer services for a standalone villa with its own plot, pool, and several terraces will cost from 30 thousand euros.
Interesting points.
The "Smart Home" system is popular in Spain and works very well, but it is worth noting that its installation is done by specialists during the construction of the house, not in an already finished space. It is not a cheap system, but it is worth it.
You can buy exclusive decor and design items in Spain, but you will have to pay a decent amount for it. For example, a custom painting by an artist will cost 600-800 euros, a carpet with a specific design 2000 euros, and so on. It all depends on how much the client is willing to pay.
Wishing you successful design solutions!
