If earlier the columns in the interior were used only for practical purposes, as the basis for the ceiling, today the situation has changed dramatically. The modern interior implies not only their functional purpose but also decorative. In both cases, this structural unit can be different and depend on many factors, which we will talk about.
How to use the columns?
The column in the interior does not look like an eyesore; it is necessary to find the right application for it.
Technics. Install the TV on the column a little wider than it, inside it (if made of drywall) hide the wires. Above or below, there will be space for the audio system.
Shelves. It is convenient when two columns in an apartment are located at a small distance from each other. Then shelves are hung between them and used for open storage.
Countertop. In the kitchen, the column can be used as a support for the island, peninsula, and bar.
Cupboard. Install shelves, dividers inside the columns, and additional spacious storage—for example, a bar with wines, or library, souvenirs, and any other things.
If you don’t want to give a design any functionality, there are several ways to “dissolve” it in space:
What styles to decorate a room with columns
A correctly selected style of columns in the interior can emphasize the stylistic orientation of the room favorably, giving it personality and sophistication. Let’s look at the most popular options for such combinations with specific examples.
Classic style
Its distinguishing feature is refined and concise design techniques. Decorative columns can be white, lined with polyurethane foam, polystyrene foam, or gypsum. You can emphasize the attitude to the classics with any elements of stucco molding. A right solution would be white or light Venetian plaster, imitating marble painting, or other natural stone types of expensive breeds.
Please note that a characteristic feature of the classical style is the presence of symmetrical shapes. Therefore, when planning the interior, this nuance is taken into account in the first place. An excellent example of the correct design will be two columns, interconnected by a horizontal ceiling beam, finished similarly.
East style
Here, the columns act as an exquisite element, but as a mandatory attribute, an integral part of the architectural composition. They have the form of an arcade, each part connected by a round arch. An expressive feature that distinguishes from the restrained and, at the same time, grand classic style, is the abundance of decor, additional refined lines. The columns’ surface is faced with mosaics and stucco molding, causing associations with the oriental style. Often used ornaments, colored inserts. It is possible to emphasize and complete the ensemble with stained-glass windows or fabric draperies.
Oriental-style columns look great in the interior of studio apartments. The absence of a partition between the kitchen and the living room is played out by the ceiling vaulted arch, perfectly zoning the room’s space. It will not only clearly limit the cooking area from a place to relax or guest room, but will also not occupy free space, will not become an obstacle to natural light and turn into a “real highlight” of your home.
Loft style
Modern styles, implying a lack of pomp and decor. Another distinguishing feature of these styles is the presence of open space free from furniture, partitions, and other interior elements. The columns in that style are most often presented in raw or deliberately aged supporting bearings made of stone, wood, brick, and metal or their imitation.
High tech style
For hi-tech columns, chrome metal is best, but glass, backlit panels, or futuristic “aquariums” with air bubbles are also suitable. Custom lava panels that look like a big lava lamp are available on request.
Baroque style
The pompous, luxurious antique design does not accept half measures, so the columns in the room are preferable from natural stone, mahogany, and other expensive materials. The uniqueness is emphasized by the intricate decor of the capitals, to highlight this element add highlighting from below.
Minimalism, modern, neoclassicism style
In these styles, the decoration of the columns can be done with drywall, painted in a different shade from the general interior. Such a concept will be enough to “pour” them into a single ensemble of premises and make the necessary emphasis. They can also act as a delimiter of space, to complement the effect of which is accessible by connecting them with a ceiling arch of a similar rectangular configuration.
Rustic style
A characteristic feature of this style affects the maximum simplicity and the presence of natural materials. The columns remain unprocessed. A stone or its imitation is used only if these materials are present in other versions. For example, it may be the facing of a fireplace, one of the walls.
The supporting structures are strictly simple, uncomplicated forms, with a minimum of decoration and decor. It is allowed to use unpainted wood, the effect of the fibers of which is distinguished only by stain or varnish.
Country style
The rustic style prefers wooden decorative elements; the decoration of the columns is no exception. The pillars look different: a neat cylindrical beam, an uncouth barrel of irregular shape, a half-column of painted boards.
Materials for columns
If several centuries ago marble, granite, and other natural stone were used for the manufacture of columns, they are practically not used today. The reason was the high price of the material and possible problems during subsequent processing. Stone structures are found in cultural and historical buildings, while other materials are taken for the construction of residential premises.
Whatever the column is made of in the interior, it consists of 3 parts:
Natural stone
In the classical interiors of the 18-19th century and ancient architecture, marble, granite, and malachite were most often used. But for the manufacture of modern columns, stone is rarely used. The reason is the high cost and complexity of the work. Recommended for spacious rooms and luxurious furnishings, a stone pillar in a small room will look defiant.
Concrete
Reinforced concrete columns in a modern interior can be presented in various designs: round, rectangular, square. They are made on-site with the help of molds during the construction of a building or concrete production, after which they are delivered and installed using specialized equipment. Such designs can remain almost intact. A thin layer of putty hides all the defects of the product, turning it into a full-fledged decorative element that remains only to be painted or processed differently.
Metal
If you need practical, reliable, and simple – choose this option. Metal columns in the interior will decorate the loft, high-tech, modern, and contemporary styles.
Brick
Brick columns are popular in industrial interior styles. It is built quickly, and simply and it will last a long time. Plaster and finish with any materials or leave bare brick as a design element.
Natural wood
The wood in the columns’ design can act as the primary material from which they are made or used in the form of facing. These include ordinary retaining posts, beams. The decoration depends on the style of the room in which these columns are used. In ethnic areas (rustic, French country, chalet), coloring is allowed, a similar condition applies to modern loft and minimalism. In a classic or other elaborate styles, wooden columns are decorated with additional decor.
Gypsum stone
It is made of water, gypsum, sand, additives, and plasticizers. The final composition may be different, depending on the manufacturer. It is used in various types: imitation of artificial or natural stone, stucco molding, antique patterns, tiles, compositions for puttying. The main advantage of the material is complete safety for humans, a high coefficient of vapor permeability, and a simple application procedure. In most cases, the finished elements are glued to the column’s surface in the prescribed manner.
Mosaic
The variety of varieties makes it one of the most popular design options for columns. You can use flexible views where the pattern is fixed on a fabric or paper basis. In this case, all you need is to trim the elements to a suitable size and stick them on the column with mounting glue.
Drywall
Drywall is a unique material, the shape of which can be changed depending on the need. The column, trimmed with such sheets, can be rectangular, square, round, have any other shape. After priming and puttying, it is finished in one of the significant ways: it is plastered, faced with wall panels, gypsum, polyurethane, polystyrene foam, mosaic, painted.
The advantage and, at the same time, the disadvantage of the material lies in need to build the crate on which the drywall is fixed. On the one hand, this can be regarded as unnecessary work and a decrease in the room area; on the other hand, it is easy to hide communications inside: electrical wiring, ventilation pipes.
Useful! It should be borne in mind that thick columns in the interior visually reduce the room’s space, but give the impression of confidence and reliability of the design. Thin will add elegance, expand, and visually increase the height of the ceiling.
Advantages and disadvantages of columns in the interior
The main drawback of the column in the interior is that it “steals” free space. Another concern is the need to take care of its integration into the interior of the room, which requires additional effort both from a physical and material point of view.
As for the advantages of a decorative piece, there are many more. They consist of the methods of “useing” this architectural element.
Disguise
This technique will help when the columns in the interior of the room occupy the wrong place; that is, it cannot be used for another purpose (dividing the space, expose it as an elegant element that emphasizes the stylistic orientation, apply it for another purpose). In this case, there is only one way out – to make it as less noticeable as possible against the general background. There can be several tricks for this:
Zoning
With a good location, the decorative column can be used as a delimiter of space into zones that are different in terms of functional characteristics. This method will have an additional number of advantages, which were already mentioned earlier:
Emphasis
Using as an element of decor is an excellent option on how to use columns in the interior. There are many ways to implement this. The basic rule is the right choice of material and method of cladding, which combines favorably with the rest of the room design.
One of the options for the execution of what was planned could be decor using decorative materials and attracting attention with the help of artificial lighting. For example, install a lamp at the bottom or top of columns. The only thing to consider is that the saturation of light should not be excessive. It is not necessary to illuminate the entire surface of the column, and it is enough to direct the beam at one of the protruding faces. Such a technique is advantageous regardless of its shape, rectangular or rounded.
Practical use
In addition to aesthetic functions, decorative columns can play a practical role. In particular, they are easy to adapt to specific needs, combining beauty and style with needs. There are a lot of options. Consider some of the most popular solutions:
Important! The need for the construction of supporting columns most often arises during the creation of a large-size suburban cottage. In this case, you can preoccupy yourself with the location problem and build the project in such a way as to use them in the future with profit.
Examples of interiors with columns
With proper design, the columns can become a sign of the family’s greatness and wealth, as they relate to the majestic palace-style elements. However, the inconvenient location and errors in the choice of style, finishing material can lead to the fact that they will turn into a design that will only occupy free space and nothing more.
Kitchens
Consider several original options for facing columns in the interior of the kitchen with photo examples. In the kitchen, columns can be easily included. The column in the kitchen can be placed so that the island or the worktable is incorporated in it, and space will be saved.
Living room
By a similar principle, we will follow the curious methods of a successful interior using a stylish example – a living room with one or more columns located in different places.
Bedrooms
Pay attention to how you can beautifully decorate the columns in the bedroom. It is not the most suitable room for columns, so you must carefully choose the design. A column covered with mirrors will be a perfect one, or a column to help you hang the canopy.
Solution for a small apartment
In small footage, you usually want to do without extra partitions. If the bedroom and living room are in a single space, the columns will be an indispensable zoning tool. At the border of the two zones, there can be placed a TV stand and metal beams with classic details that look like bronze casting thanks to the coating.
Conclusion
Bearing columns in the interior of modern apartments is rare, and if this happens, then, in most cases, they are built on the owners’ initiative. The role is performed only by decorative, that is, they serve for decoration. In country houses, this happens more often, since they are part of the structural elements that support the ceiling. In both cases, regardless of their functional purpose, they can become an indispensable part of the interior of the room and not only decorate it, but also hide possible imperfections or visually adjust the space. The main thing is to choose the right solution.
