Bauhaus Home Style Architecture & Decor Guide

What is the Bauhaus Style?

Bauhaus design began after WWI. It was a product of its time, which became a major influence of modernism. Bauhaus style stood for economy, simplicity, and usefulness.

Today, Bauhaus modern home design creates meaningful order that fits its physical surroundings. It features practical geometric shapes, simple colors, abstract decor, and basic materials including glass, steel, and concrete.

Bauhaus design includes streamlined shapes with little ornamentation. Flat roofs, tubular furniture, and uncomplicated geometric patterns are all typical.

Bauhaus design is simple and focused on utility. It often uses industrial materials and neutral colors. However, red, yellow, and blue tones get used to accent art and room decor.

Bauhaus Home Style Architecture

The “less is more” approach to Bauhaus architecture makes it easy to modify any home to this design style. Bauhaus architecture is asymmetrical, yet aesthetically balanced.

Bauhaus’ simplicity can even be achieved in traditional houses by incorporating abstract shapes, angles, and repetitive motifs. The following are distinctive characteristics of how simplicity and usefulness are celebrated in Bauhaus-style architecture.

• Use of large panes of glass or glass blocks
• Chrome banisters and fixtures
• Simple chrome and wooden furniture
• Tubular framed chairs with thin padding
• Windows that provide maximum lighting
• Indoor glass walls that create the illusion of a larger living space
• Flat roofs are typical of the Bauhaus style but are not necessary to achieve the modern theme

 

Bauhaus-Style Materials

The Bauhaus philosophy is to use honest materials that serve a purpose. For example, chair and table frames should be displayed openly and not modified by coverings.

All materials used for flooring, furniture, walls, and decor should be functional and avoid waste. This approach suits today’s sustainability concerns.

• Clean, smooth surfaces on walls, ceilings, and window frames
• Use steel, chrome, plastic, glass, and plywood to create sleek geometric shapes.
• Flooring tiles with Bauhaus inspired geometric shapes or plain white, beige, or gray tiles
• Concrete and wood are also functional, simple flooring options
• Hang modern art displaying simple color schemes and geometric patterns

 

Bauhaus-Style Colors and Finishes

Colors bring cohesion to the Bauhaus style and contrast with neutral walls. Rooms transform into modern retreats with neutral palettes such as white, beige, and gray, and primary colors for accessories.

Bauhaus finishes are glossy, clean, and polished. Glossy marble or granite counters and floors or glazed surfaces offer a sleek modern look.

• Neutral tones applied to walls and ceilings
• Primary colors, especially red, yellow, and blue for decor and art
• Glossy chrome kitchen and bathroom fixtures and appliances
• Shiny leather or vinyl upholstery on couches and chairs
• Polished countertops of marble or granite
• Glazed painted surfaces on cabinets, window frames, tables, and desks

Bauhaus Style Furniture and Decor

Bauhaus-style furniture is light and functional. It uses period-inspired pieces made of glossy metals, glass, wood, plastics, and leather. Comfortably accommodating modern life is the key to choosing Bauhaus furniture.

Bauhaus style employs colored decor that creates bold, clean lines and geometric shapes to complement the simplicity of the furniture.

• Industrial-look chairs with metal legs and back
• Glass tables with chrome frames
• Leather sofas and chairs featuring black or chrome legs
• Simple glass table lamps with white dome light covers
• Primary colored bowls and plates
• Metal-framed beds with simple mattresses
• Modern geometric wall art and colored pillow accents on furniture

 

Bauhaus Style Lighting

A popular lighting option for a Bauhaus-style home is a functional ceiling light rather than one that is showy. Bronze or chrome fixtures with glass globes, or sconces, are other good choices that offer contrast and balance. True Bauhaus-style lighting is utilitarian and uncomplicated, with little ornamentation.

• Industrial style overhead vanity lighting with clear globes
• Polished chrome fixture with clear light globes
• Pendant lighting featuring geometric shapes and white globes
• Modernistic wall sconces with chrome or black finishes and geometric shapes
• Industrial chandelier with a metal finish and geometric patterned lights
• Metal abstract chandelier featuring geometric patterns and hanging clear bulbs

These ideas are a good start for transforming your home into a sustainable, Bauhaus-style design.

Featured Bauhaus Kitchen Remodel

This project is an excellent example of Bauhaus home-style architecture. It involved renovating the Garrett Birkhoff House, a landmark in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Walter Boegner designed the home in the 1940s. He is a renowned architect influenced by the Bauhaus-international movement.

The client wanted to modernize the kitchen while referencing the home’s Bauhaus design elements. Feinmann accomplished this goal by repeating and emphasizing the horizontal planes prevalent throughout the house. Additionally, we played off Bauhaus basics with an even more modern twist. As a result, you’ll see stacked tile work, muted color schemes, a hidden pocket door, and an espresso bar. The kitchen has the “clean slate” aesthetic, where form and function are most important. These characteristics are a hallmark of Bauhaus design.

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