From cozy to luxurious, you want to create an atmosphere of unity in your house that fits you and your family’s personality and lifestyle. The materials incorporated into your design elements can create a cohesive unity for your whole house or a unique feel for each room.
Wood and stone are commonly used in home designs for their versatility, textures, and energies. Bronze is a metal that can create unique features and incredible custom architectural elements.
The Energy of Wood
In the ancient design philosophy of Feng Shui, natural elements and their corresponding colors are brought into a room to balance the energies. There are 5 elements used in this technique. These include wood, fire, earth, metal, and water.
Photo by Resolution: 4 Architecture
Wood having been created from a living entity, symbolizes life and growth. Having strong roots, it also represents grounding and stability. The colors associated with wood are greens and browns. Wood décor has stress-reducing properties. According to Wood for Good, using wood as a design element has been shown to lower blood pressure and pulse rates.
You can easily add wood details into your home design to create a more relaxing environment. Wood planking for wall cladding or flooring is an excellent way to utilize the material. Wood flooring is a traditional design aesthetic. For richness and warmth, use flooring made from Maple or Cherry. Reclaimed wood, either for flooring or as an accent wall, creates a unique design element and a casual feel to a room.
The Energy of Bronze
Bronze is an alloy made from copper and tin and is a golden, hard, brittle material.
Due to its durability, many artists use bronze for their sculptures. Bells and singing bowls are also often made of bronze. If the material is forged well, it has a rich, soothing, tonal quality. In ancient times bronze was a sought after material to use in mirrors and became a symbol of beauty.
As bronze ages, the top layer oxidizes and turns into a beautiful patina. For interior design, bronze can be used in any style for a touch of old-world charm. Add bronze tables, or accessories in the living room for a bit of glamour. Bronze in your kitchen for your backsplash, lighting, or fixtures gives the room a sense off allure. To glam up your bathroom include a bronze clawfoot bathtub for the ultimate in bath design.
Photo by Alison Whittaker Design, Inc.
Bronze is also an excellent material for custom architectural elements. Custom-made statement pieces made with bronze such as stair railings, light fixtures, and furniture are not just home décor but a piece of artwork in their own right.
The Energy of Stone
Stone used as a design component is a versatile material. There are a variety of stones that can be used in almost any area of the home, inside and out. The textures of stones range from smooth to rough, and the colors from grays to beautiful tones of greens, blues, and reds.
In a home’s interior design, natural stone brings in an element of the outdoors. Slate brings a rustic feel to a room. It’s often used in a cabin design for flooring, countertops, and around fireplaces. Slate can also be incorporated in an exterior design for walkways, patios, and around fire pits to add texture and style to the area.
Photo by David A. Kaech & Associates, Inc.
Granite is often used for kitchen countertops. It’s a durable material that fits well with many home design styles. It gives a kitchen a casual, comfortable feel that makes everyone want to gather there for conversation and food.
Marble is a luxurious stone that creates an elegant sense to a room. The sleek material is used extensively in bathroom and kitchen designs for countertops, walls, and flooring. It creates an air of luxury when used around fireplaces, and as an accent wall.
Many other types of natural stone can be used for both interior and exterior design elements such as soapstone, quartz, travertine, and limestone. Each one brings a different aesthetic to a room.
The atmosphere of your home reflects the energies of the materials you use in your design. Choosing elements such as wood, bronze, and stone can create different moods in a room. Working with textures, colors, and dynamics of these elements can help you to create the perfect atmosphere for your home.