High technologies of interior design – hi-tech

Recommendation points

• A bit of history
• Features and differences
• Hallway
• Bath
• Living room
• Bedroom
• Children
• Kitchen
• Office

“High tech”. This is how hi-tech is translated from English, short for high technology. The high-tech style cannot be called the most popular and widespread in our country, however, it is certainly the most dynamic, original and ultramodern room design option..

In order to create an interior design in this style and not become the hero of a popular anecdote on the network: “We wanted to make repairs in high-tech style, but as a result we got a high-tech style, you should first study all the features of this design direction.

How exactly hi-tech differs from other interior styles? Is it possible to decorate in this style not only an office or living room, but also the rest of the rooms of the house?

Hi-tech can be called a very laconic style, with an almost complete lack of decor, the most functional and ergonomic

A bit of history

Initially, high-tech emerged as a direction in architecture that arose in the depths of late modernism in the 1970s and found fairly widespread use already in the 1980s. Many of its distinctive features hi-tech took from science fiction and pop art, in those days it looked unusually fresh and was a real challenge to society.

The first building to be built in this style in 1977 was the Center Pompidou in Paris. The French immediately accepted the building very skeptically, it was repeatedly criticized as absolutely not fitting into the historical appearance of the city. But after a few years, the controversy subsided, and now the Pompidou Center is rightfully one of the attractions of Paris.

Center Pompidou in Paris

High-tech British architects were very actively popularized, but there are not so many buildings on the planet that were erected in this style..

In interior design, hi-tech began to be used later, in the late 80s, and its peak of popularity came in the 90s. But even today “high technologies” are used all over the world as the main direction of interior decoration, because it is hardly possible to find a more modern and dynamic style..

A laconic and rather austere high-tech facade of the building, large windows, the absence of any decorations, simple decoration are the distinctive features of such architecture

Features and differences

High-tech in the design of residential and office premises is characterized by the following features:

• the most clear and simple geometry. However, behind the apparent simplicity, there may be a “double bottom” – built-in wardrobes, hidden drawers, built-in appliances. Hi-tech is often positioned as “complex simplicity”;
• use of industrial materials: concrete, metal, glass, plastic. Wood and natural stone in such an interior are quite rare, sometimes they are even “disguised” as metal, painted in a silvery color;
• uncovered brick or concrete walls, sometimes with embedded metal structures. In residential premises, such walls can be plastered, but very simply, without unnecessary decorations, no floral wallpaper or Venetian plaster;
• sliding partitions and doors are used in high-tech style very widely, most often they are metal with frosted glass or plastic inserts, but wood options are also possible – without carving and ornaments;
• light plays a huge role in such an interior, built-in lamps divide the room into zones, can be located on the ceiling, and on the walls, and even on the floor;
• avant-garde lamps, furniture made of glass and chrome-plated metal, backlit furniture, built-in furniture in the same shade as the walls – the main elements of a hi-tech room decor;
• tubular structures of shelves, cabinets, stairs, publicly displayed communications and an abundance of technology.

Hi-tech uses the colors of metal and stone – silver, gray, white and black shades. Prints, black and white photos, avant-garde sculptures and paintings are used as decorations and decor, which still takes place in this interior..

An important place in hi-tech is occupied by technology – always the most modern, digital. It becomes not only a functional item, but also a design element.

Original high-tech kitchen – hood pipes and hobs have become its main decoration

In the living room in this style, the TV panel, home theater, video and audio equipment take center stage.

The main advantages of high-tech are functionality and spaciousness, it is these characteristics that attract designers and apartment owners who have decided to decorate their homes in this style. True, in its pure form hi-tech is rarely used in residential premises – such an interior will turn out to be too cold, however, slightly “diluting” “high technologies” with borrowings from other styles, you can get a very attractive and comfortable apartment or house.

Hallway

In this small room, hi-tech is quite appropriate precisely because of its brevity and practical side. Excessive pretentiousness and lush decor elements will make the hallway even smaller, but the simplicity of hi-tech forms is a great option..

An excellent design option for a high-tech hallway: minimum details – maximum possibilities. On the original hanger, the hooks can be rearranged anywhere – holes are specially left for this. Quite technologically advanced, isn’t it?

An even more laconic and austere version of furniture for a “high-tech” hallway – metal, glass, functionality, all the main high-tech attributes are present here. In addition, the furniture is almost invisible against the background of a light wall, and a large mirror can visually expand the space of a small room

Bath

This style also fits well in the bathroom. Chrome-plated surfaces, glass and metal parts look very organic here, moreover, you can’t do without them. And functionality for a small bathroom is just as important as for a hallway..

It is necessary to choose only a sink of an unusual, preferably rectangular or square shape, perhaps made of glass or metal, bright, noticeable mixers and use plain tiles for decoration without drawings and bas-reliefs – the interior will have all the distinctive features of high-tech. A large mirror above the sink or near the bathroom is also welcome, and the main colors should be gray, silver or metallic. A too dull color scheme can be diluted with bright details – shelves, toothbrush holders and soap of yellow, red or blue colors..

A very unusual glass sink on a thicker countertop that differs from it in color – a bright detail of the hi-tech style bathroom interior

In this bathroom, faced with laconic snow-white tiles, hi-tech was diluted with classic furniture with wooden facades and paintings in simple frames, on the whole, the unusual shape of the bath and its unexpectedly dark color are quite in the spirit of “high technology”

Living room

In a small living room, hi-tech will look especially advantageous and will visually expand the space, but in a large room it is quite appropriate. If the living room is combined with a work area or kitchen, they can be separated by sliding plastic or glass partitions inherent in this style..

In any case, technology is present in this main room of a house or apartment, and in high-tech it begins to play a special role. But all the equipment must be ultramodern – an old TV or an outdated audio system will look ridiculous..

It is better to choose wallpaper for walls without a pattern, monochromatic, you can paint the walls and ceiling with glossy or matte paint. A bright rug is inappropriate, like a long pile carpet – the flooring should be smooth, sometimes glossy.

In this spacious living room, all the main elements of the hi-tech style are perfectly visible – sliding glass doors separate the bright kitchen, the walls look as if they are not finished at all, the floor is smooth, monochromatic, the original lamps are installed on long curved legs, the ceiling is complex, multi-level backlight, and the central place was taken by the television panel

Bedroom

Few of the home owners decide to decorate a bedroom, initially a cozy and calm room, in a high-tech style. And yet, some elements of “high technology” can be easily selected for this room..

For example, choose a bed without a headboard and with built-in lighting, decorate the room with avant-garde lamps, choose a plain wallpaper in ivory or a soft shade of gray.

At the same time, of course, the coldness of hi-tech should be diluted with textile details and other “soft” decorative elements, without which the bedroom cannot be imagined.

The headboard of this bed is “disguised” as a shiny metal, the bedside tables are very simple, the walls are warm in color, without drawings and decorations. The most striking detail of the hi-tech style is unusual designer lamps

A more extravagant design option for a “high-tech” bedroom – the bed seems to float in the air, although in fact it rests on an almost invisible stand, the chairs have chrome legs, the floor is matte ceramic tiles

Children

Probably, hi-tech is most rarely found in children’s rooms, this cheerful and cozy room is too contrasted with its laconicism and coldness. A room for a newborn is completely impossible to imagine without soft fabrics and cheerful drawings, unthinkable in high-tech style..

However, already in a room for a schoolchild, and even more so for a teenager, individual hi-tech elements will look organic and will allow, for example, to organize a comfortable workplace, equip a recreation area even in a small room. And, of course, if a grown-up child is fond of “high technologies” and insists on this style of interior himself – you should not interfere, because different tastes are not yet a reason for a family quarrel.

A dynamic, bright and functional room for a teenager, with a separate work area and individual high-tech elements, in particular, laconic furniture facades, an unusual print on the wall and a restrained color scheme

At first glance, there is not a trace of the coldness and severity of hi-tech in this room for a girl. However, plain walls, original lighting, laconic form of furniture and sliding doors of the wardrobe are clearly borrowed from “high technologies”

Kitchen

It is in the kitchen that the high-tech style often manifests itself most clearly. In any modern kitchen, high technology is always present – from a microwave oven to a multifunctional food processor. In addition, functionality is the main purpose of this room, here first of all they work, and only then they rest.

To decorate a high-tech kitchen, you should choose a plain tile for the apron, or even better, replace it with metal or frosted glass. Modern household appliances, which can be both built-in and displayed, laconic facades without unnecessary decorations, rational and simple furniture, lighting above the work surface and in cabinets – it is quite simple to create a hi-tech style in the kitchen, and such an interior will look like unusually bright and dynamic.

High-tech, which arose on the principles of late modernism, borrowed a lot from this style. For example, bright red glossy kitchen furniture fronts. In this case, the kitchen apron is metallic, which looks especially original and emphasizes the shine of household appliances

This kitchen looks more like a spaceship cabin, rather than a cozy place for family breakfasts. And yet it is quite comfortable and very ergonomic, everything you need is at hand, there is roomy storage space and, of course, ultra-modern technology

A particularly striking contrast to such a “high-tech” kitchen is the softness and warmth of the wooden facades of the classic set

Office

High-tech looks most appropriate and organic in office premises. It was simply created in order to turn a boring office into an ultra-modern representative office of a large corporation that values ​​its image..

Metal and glass are indispensable attributes of office premises, there are also plenty of technology here, so hi-tech style is a logical choice for decorating a workspace, executive office or reception.

It is difficult to imagine an office in bright yellow and red tones, but the typical hi-tech white, black and gray shades are exactly what you need.

Laconic cabinet with ultra-modern furniture – tubular table legs and drawer frames were borrowed from “high technologies”

Of course, hi-tech cannot be called a style for everyone. No, it is chosen by a very small part of homeowners, others consider it too “office” and cold, absolutely unsuitable for a living room. Hi-tech – the choice of bright individuals, those who think outside the box and prefer the functional component of the interior.

I hope that the photographs presented in this article were able to convince you, proving that “high technologies” can have a “human face”, are easily combined with elements of other design styles and can help in creating a completely cozy and, undoubtedly, original and practical interior.