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Exploring the Origins of Bauhaus Style
The Bauhaus school was founded in 1919 in Weimar by the German architect, urban planner, and designer Walter Gropius. Gropius aimed to bring back traditional craftsmanship in construction, ensuring that each space or piece was tailored to its function and making industrial production pieces accessible to the general public.
In 1928, Swiss architect Hannes Meyer became the second director of Bauhaus, followed by German architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, who served as the third director from 1930 to 1933.
Alongside Gropius, Mies van der Rohe is one of the most renowned figures of Bauhaus. His Bauhaus-style bungalows remain iconic and exemplary today, with his motto “less is more” being a widely quoted principle in interior design.
In addition to its founders, Bauhaus also boasted prominent artists like Wassily Kandinsky, Lyonel Feininger, Paul Klee, and László Moholy-Nagy.
3 Key Elements to Achieving Bauhaus Style at Home
Bauhaus-style homes are highly distinctive, with the stately houses in Dessau serving as prime examples of this architectural style. But what about the decor? What pieces are essential for decorating your home in Bauhaus style? Here are three key elements:
- Timeless Classics: The great masters crafted furniture pieces with simple, straight lines and geometric designs. These enduring designs remain modern and timeless, reflecting impeccable design standards.
- Materials: Steel, glass, and leather, particularly in Chesterfield or tufted upholstery styles, are prominent in Bauhaus style.
- Less is More: Decorative pieces are stripped down to their essential components, maintaining practicality while upholding high design standards.
Key Colors
Aside from its functionality, Bauhaus style is also known for its color palette. The famous color wheel originated from Swiss painter and art pedagogue Johannes Itten, who taught at the Bauhaus school. Bauhaus art focused on a limited spectrum of colors, especially primary colors like red, yellow, blue, as well as black and white.
Bauhaus style not only introduced color to furniture pieces but also to room walls.
Tip: If painting an entire wall in bold colors isn’t your preference, consider alternatives like geometric-patterned wallpapers.
Lamps, Tables, and Chairs with Style
When envisioning Bauhaus-style furniture and decorative objects, sleek metallic designs with straight lines immediately come to mind. Here are some key pieces commonly found in a Bauhaus-style home:
- The Wagenfeld WG24 table lamp, an industrial design icon known for its spherical white glass shade, tubular stem, and round glass or metal base.
- The Kaiser Idell 6631 desk lamp, another iconic piece in high demand today, featuring a curved stem and a metal shell-like shade.
- The Cantilever chair is another symbol of the Bauhaus school era, characterized by its thin and light metal leg structure.
- When it comes to Bauhaus tables, the Nesting Tables by Josef Albers are a classic choice: straight-lined nesting tables in wood with colors ranging from yellow to white, red, and blue.
Explore our exclusive selection at Westwing to discover your new Bauhaus-style furniture for your home. Whether you’re looking for small decorative pieces or aiming to decorate your entire apartment in this style, find inspiration in classic design and enjoy the decorating process!