Kitsch: Cool or Corny?
While the basic thumb rule in kitsch is anything goes, it would be wise to use that rule judiciously
Kitsch, in contemporary times, has become a statement all by itself. All things retro, especially from the ’60s and ’70s, have seen a resurgence of sorts: in fashion (hello again, bell bottoms), in music (did disco ever go out of style?) and in décor (every self-respecting kitsch collector will own at least one Warhol print).
There is no right or wrong way of doing kitsch. It really depends on your sensibilities. Some love the OTT-ness that comes with an overload of colour and busyness of print – less is never more for them; others will be happy with one or two statement kitsch pieces that will truly stand out. The good thing about doing up a home the kitsch way is that there are no rules, except one. Say no to anything made of plastic.
There is no right or wrong way of doing kitsch. It really depends on your sensibilities. Some love the OTT-ness that comes with an overload of colour and busyness of print – less is never more for them; others will be happy with one or two statement kitsch pieces that will truly stand out. The good thing about doing up a home the kitsch way is that there are no rules, except one. Say no to anything made of plastic.
In this picture, the bold colours are reversed. They show up in the form of a solitary chair and a cushion or two in a sea of neutrality, but are equally striking.
Pop art, an imperative
Be it framed movie posters, portraits of music or movie icons or prints of Warhol’s screen-printed images, they bring an instant cool vibe. The best part? These images can be printed on a variety of surfaces (such as canvas or plexiglass) and sizes. And you can work them over with your favourite filters.
Find out how to add pop art at home, Andy Warhol style
Be it framed movie posters, portraits of music or movie icons or prints of Warhol’s screen-printed images, they bring an instant cool vibe. The best part? These images can be printed on a variety of surfaces (such as canvas or plexiglass) and sizes. And you can work them over with your favourite filters.
Find out how to add pop art at home, Andy Warhol style
Bring respite with monochromes
They especially work well on the floor. When everything else is vibrant and colourful, black-and-white rugs or floor tiles instantly stand out in the merry chaos of kitsch, making the point that monochrome can tie in the diversity of patterns and textures and give visual respite.
They especially work well on the floor. When everything else is vibrant and colourful, black-and-white rugs or floor tiles instantly stand out in the merry chaos of kitsch, making the point that monochrome can tie in the diversity of patterns and textures and give visual respite.
Go for retro furniture
Nothing like ’70s American diner-style furniture to imbue your dining area with a retro vibe. Keep your furniture sleek and solid coloured against a background of boldly coloured walls or upholstery.
Nothing like ’70s American diner-style furniture to imbue your dining area with a retro vibe. Keep your furniture sleek and solid coloured against a background of boldly coloured walls or upholstery.
Pop the walls
If you want to go the minimalistic way (if there is such a thing in kitschland), choose to highlight any one wall or a part of it. Setting it off with neutral-toned furniture ensures that it really stands out.
See 10 breathtaking accent walls
If you want to go the minimalistic way (if there is such a thing in kitschland), choose to highlight any one wall or a part of it. Setting it off with neutral-toned furniture ensures that it really stands out.
See 10 breathtaking accent walls
Don’t shy away from animal prints
The small animal-print rug here fits in perfectly with the eclectic theme of the room. It pairs surprisingly well with the vibrant yellow of the coffee table, the colourful bookshelves and the small print settee. It’s a corner of a room surrounded and balanced by calming pale-yellow walls.
The small animal-print rug here fits in perfectly with the eclectic theme of the room. It pairs surprisingly well with the vibrant yellow of the coffee table, the colourful bookshelves and the small print settee. It’s a corner of a room surrounded and balanced by calming pale-yellow walls.
Indulge your candy fetish
For many, this may resemble a doll house but for the true kitsch aficionado, this is heaven … or the living room. The trick here is to use complementary colours; if using pastels, stick with pastels. If you are using strong colours, stick with those, albeit in different hues. And never the twain shall meet, because that would be a garish mish-mash, not stylish kitsch.
For many, this may resemble a doll house but for the true kitsch aficionado, this is heaven … or the living room. The trick here is to use complementary colours; if using pastels, stick with pastels. If you are using strong colours, stick with those, albeit in different hues. And never the twain shall meet, because that would be a garish mish-mash, not stylish kitsch.
In the image above, the main colours, pink, blue and green complement each other beautifully, while in the space on the left, the room is overflowing with a mix of strong colours, yet manages to remain cohesive.
The details sometimes lie in the accessories
If all else is regular, you can still indulge in your kitsch fetish by indulging in a few stand-out features. Think lava lamps, strawberry themes, or – like here – monochrome flamingo prints accentuated by bright neon colours.
Read more:
Complete Guide: What is Interior Designing?
How to Embrace Industrial Decor
Tell us:
Do you find kitsch cool or corny? Tell us in Comments below.
If all else is regular, you can still indulge in your kitsch fetish by indulging in a few stand-out features. Think lava lamps, strawberry themes, or – like here – monochrome flamingo prints accentuated by bright neon colours.
Read more:
Complete Guide: What is Interior Designing?
How to Embrace Industrial Decor
Tell us:
Do you find kitsch cool or corny? Tell us in Comments below.
Whether it’s wall colours or wall art, don’t be afraid to use strong colours. The thing to keep in mind when using bold colours is to keep the palette uniform, as it avoids overpowering the senses. In this case, the bold blue of the wall is set off by different shades of blue in the floor rug. The portraits on the wall, though contrasting, are each unicoloured, making the wall the centre of attraction.