Last week I gave you some pointers on the hot new design trend of urban decay. Today, I’m going to give you some pointers on how to achieve it in your home (without busting your bank).
Image: Lovegrove and Repucci
Colours
The palette for urban decay is muted, with dark and light blues being prominent, and with accents of lighter taupe and pale yellow. Rust and light aqua are also featured colours. The colours you want to aim for are the ones you might see in an industrial loft or studio.
To prevent everything from sagging into a washed out, watery palette, be sure to add some bold choices. Black can really add zing to a room (as long as it is restricted to baseboards or a similar accent) and it fits with the look, as do acidic yellows.
Prints
Another way to create that urban decay look – without moving into a converted warehouse – is to actually bring in some urban decay in photo form. There are some professional photographers like Mathew Merrett who focus on urban decay, and from whom you can purchase prints.
However, perhaps even easier is to take your own photographs. The cost for printing and framing will be minimal (around $100), and you can more easily tailor what you want to your home decor.
Pieces
If the idea of getting prints of falling apart factories sounds too overdramatic and doom-focused to you, there are more lighthearted ways you can enjoy this trend.
For instance, if you have a very steel and chrome-focused modern look to your home, adding wood-based furniture with an attractively rough edge can add some of the same urban decay spirit. Or, if you want something more dramatic, a rococo chair with peeling paint and an unframed mirror resting on the ground can also give your living room some edge without the doom.
You can also go even more refined by simply taking some urban decay motifs, and applying them to very classic objects. For instance, Lovegrove and Repucci’s London Delft collection features graffiti on white bone china. The effect is one of discreet sass.
At its heart, urban decay is about playing with the idea that things don’t last. So, the key thing you should remember is: don’t be too serious. Have fun and go wild.
Heleen Jacobsen
Broker of Record with InfoMarket Group GMAC Real Estate
www.infomarketgroup.com
