A style that combines modern and sleek with high-tech is a solution for dynamic people who are motivated, ambitious, and focused on the urban aspect of living, and have a thoughtful attitude towards furniture arrangement, the choice of appliances, and the use of artificial materials. A tech-style living room has a luxurious beauty that derives from smooth surfaces, modern, electronics, and minimal dynamic elegance of décor.
The history of style
The interior design style we today call high-tech appeared on the second half of the 20th century, and its name comes as an abbreviation of high technology. However, not many people know that this style actually evolved from architecture, where it was influenced by the ideas of early modernism, which combined science fiction of the 60s, functional pragmatism, and pop art.
The architectural pioneers of high-tech were British Norman Foster, Nicholas Grimshaw, Richard Rogers, Italian Renzo Piano and the group of “Archigram” architects. Buildings in high-tech style were advertised as expensive, modern, and comfortable, while their interior was decorated using expensive artificial materials, simplicity, and functionality that were based on aesthetic minimalism.
Characteristics of high-tech interiors
Although clear shapes and angular details dominate the furniture and accessory design, some items may have smooth but otherworldly shapes, resembling space or high-tech industry style.
The colours that are predominant in a high-tech living room are cold and light, while furniture and walls are devoid of any ornaments or floral motifs. The dominant materials include concrete, plastic, metal, and glass, while the inclusion of popes, valves, and air ducts into the interior brings it closer to industrial style. Metallic colours and finishes with lustre work in unison with a variety of modern LED and concealed indirect lighting. Finally, high-tech spaces can never be complete without plenty of modern technology.
Space considerations
The rapid advancement of technology that allowed for more connectivity has sparked an interest in high-tech interiors once again, making it one of the most popular trends in Australian homes in the past two years.
However, when it comes to available space, high-tech style works best in larger, or open plan living rooms. In addition, high-tech style often calls for use of mirrors that can ‘push' the walls further away, creating an illusion of bigger space. Small, non-flat screen TVs look anachronic in high-tech living spaces, so to save space, homeowners often hire these professionals for TV installation in Adelaide to mount their big screen LCD TVs to walls, using the most appropriate wall mounts that don’t compromise the aesthetic appeal of the room.
Furniture
The furniture in high-tech living rooms should be glossy, light, and laminated, sometimes decorated with chrome accents. The usual pieces include compact wall units, shelves, TV stands, and cabinets with high-tech interior and glossy finishes. As upholstered furniture is concerned, the upholstery should be monochromatic, as well as smooth and shiny, no matter if it's leather or fabric.
If the living room and dining room form an open plan space, complement the monochromatic upholstering of the sofas with plastic dining chairs in complementary colours, or even consider transparent plastic models. As a cherry on top, add a few furniture pieces with bizarre shapes that will echo the high-tech style origins and 1960s’ fascination with alien and space technology.
Colours, finishes, and lines
High-tech style living room decor is ideal for people who appreciate convenience and comfort, without excess, and pure beauty without a drop of pretentiousness. These spaces offer a harmony of symmetry, straight lines, and austere shapes, restrained colour gamut, and minimalist aesthetics.
The main colours should be cool grey and white, but you shouldn't overlook bright colours with metallic gloss either, as they can make great accents. These include orange, red, neon green, even black. The floor options are limited to smooth and glossy coverings, such as high-sheen laminate or linoleum, or ceramic tiles.
Accessories and décor
High-tech style rooms have little use for additional décor, as playful interactions of light, chrome, and glossy surfaces with gorgeous area rug give away more glitz than you ever may need. However, surrealist paintings, original glass décor, and metal statues can infuse the space with extra glamour and give it an urban chic character.
The growing number of connective devices can also increase the sense of comfort and luxury, so think about how much connectivity you want to integrate into your living room design.
Lighting
Artificial light is one of the most important elements of the high-tech style, so you should keep an eye on basic and additional lighting solutions that suit the scheme. If the room feels cold or lacks comfort, make it cosier using floor and table lamps made of metal, plastic, and glass. Lamps should be made in simple forms, with shades in bluish, green or milky glass. At the same time, these lamps need to follow strict geometrical shapes. Instead of built-in chandeliers, use string lights, spotlights, illuminated panels, etc.
The high-tech combines the practicality of functionalism style and techno style with inclusions of minimalist style. Such a combination was born out of the need to fully grasp the beauty of the space, freedom of expression, and comfort of the interior provided by modern appliances.
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