What are ornaments?
Ornaments are moldings and woodwork that traditionally adorn walls and ceilings. These decorative elements are particularly essential elements in large aristocratic residences. They are also associated with the Haussmannian apartment.
There are different types of moldings and woodwork: decorative panels, plinths and paneling, the cornice which is located at the junction of the wall and the ceiling, the pediment, which crowns the door frame, the chair rail, which is placed on the wall, etc. These different ornaments can be adopted alone or in combination.
In recent seasons, ornaments are making a comeback: they are leaving very chic homes to invite themselves into all interiors. We adopt them all the more readily because they are easy to handle. In particular, there are flexible self-adhesive versions which allow you to create a base as well as to spruce up a door. Cut out, glue, paint, and… it’s done!
Classic, the ornaments?
Ornaments have above all an aesthetic function, and they immediately give character to an interior. Much smarter than they seem, they are also practical for remodeling space.
Chevron pattern parquet, moldings and beautiful lighting: here is the winning trio for transforming a smooth interior into an apartment with a Haussmann spirit. For an even more convincing style, dare to go for an immaculate total look. Think about indoor plants to enhance your white decor.
To modernize a Haussmann-style apartment, we often have fun contrasting furniture and contemporary art with classic ornaments. What if you took inspiration from it to revamp the living room or bedroom? Sleek furniture allows you to air out the decor: this is particularly smart in the case of a small room or when the ceiling is a little low.
On the contrary, do you have a very large room and generous ceiling height? In this case pull out all the stops: base, moldings on the door and cornice. And because the trend is for decoration full of fantasy, play with color and patterns to create a slightly offbeat aesthetic.
When the ceiling is very high in the bedroom or living room, the room is often a little cold. To make it more cozy, we cheat a little to remodel the space. Painting allows you to restructure the room. Add a few ornaments, possibly wallpaper, and you have a much more cocooning space with strong character.
The chair rail is traditionally placed on the wall at a height of approximately eighty centimeters. However, you can use it as you wish. And why not replace the frieze when you combine two different wall coverings?
In recent seasons, curves are leading the way in our interiors. We love organic shapes when it comes to furniture and mirrors. On the wall, it is the arch shape that wins all the votes. And it’s easy to make with wall ornaments. Here is a perfect alternative if you fall for the niche, but you do not have the possibility of adopting it.
The offset version ornament
Ornaments are much more creative decorative elements than one might believe at first glance. Of course we love them in the classic version. And we love them when they let themselves be diverted to bring a twist full of fantasy to the decor of the bedroom and living room!
Traditionally, the rosette adorns the ceiling. It is often used to showcase the lighting: generally a chandelier with tassels or more contemporary. What if you used them to create a wall composition? It’s not very complicated: you just need to get a few ornaments and give them colors using spray paint.
To create a decoration that stands out, you can have fun staging them by playing with paint or a wall fresco. Rosettes are available in very lightweight materials such as polystyrene. You can therefore attach them very easily using a simple double-sided adhesive tape, which avoids having to drill into the walls.
Rosettes have more than one trick up their sleeve and you can use them to add style to the dressing room door. Here, we positioned them at the level of the door handles and we opted for tone on tone. The golden brass handles add a very glamorous finishing touch. Here again, do not hesitate to choose the polystyrene version, much lighter than plaster, which will easily adapt to any type of door.
In the classic interior, ornaments are used to create rather symmetrical patterns. But in this very contemporary bedroom, we take the opposite approach to create two oval shapes and display pretty wall decorations.
Trompe l’oeil is a lovely way to adopt ornaments into your home. Of course you can find panoramic wallpapers that perfectly imitate classic moldings and woodwork. But the truly original option is a trompe-l’oeil created freehand… or at least it appears to be!