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The outgoing 20th century has bequeathed us an aesthetic known as Hi Tech, meaning “high technology”.

The advent of the high-tech era marked the beginning of a new stylistic in interior design—Hi Tech. When creating “Hi Tech,” architects and designers thought along these lines: “A person could live inside a computer. But since technology does not yet allow us to fully ‘digitize’ him, we can transform his dwelling into something resembling a computer.”

And indeed, a “Hi Tech” style home fully replicates computer aesthetics—no decorations, all objects by their shape should remind one of keys, screens, microchips, and touch panels. Moving into such an interior, one truly feels like they are inside a large laptop.

 

This style is dry, laconic, and simple. Here are its main characteristics:

 

• Clear and straight lines;
• Metallic details in the form of tubes;
• Built-in furniture;
• Sliding doors and partitions;
• Simple wall finishes;
• Use of the latest materials;
• An abundance of glossy and metallic surfaces;
• Almost a complete absence of accessories and decorative items;
• Numerous sources of light and a variety of bright backlighting—since everything should remind one of the aesthetics of monitors and smartphones.

While other styles might be discussed in terms of whether they are fashionable or not, the “Hi Tech” style needs no discussion—it is the “it” thing, one of the main trends today.

 

Here are some recommendations for decorating various rooms in the “high-tech” style:

 

Living Room

 

The “high-tech” style is characterized by the use of cool color combinations and smooth surfaces. Therefore, the furniture for the living room should be chosen in clear geometric shapes, preferably in black, white, or gray shades. Bright color accents are permissible but very measured. It’s better if they mimic metallic shine.

In the center of the living room, you can place a spacious sofa, and around it arrange several chairs or rectangular ottomans in the same color scheme as the sofa, and in front of them place a small table. It should also resemble the shape of a cube or parallelepiped.

Floor coverings should have a glossy texture. Floors made of stone tiles or varnished laminate look very impressive. The same materials can be used for wall cladding. Walls are also beautifully adorned with lacquered or frosted wallpaper. Ceilings are also glossy – either stretch or suspended, often with concealed lighting.

And, of course, lighting. It should be everywhere. You can place large spherical lamps in different corners of the room, as well as make hidden lighting on the ceiling or on furniture items.

Designers often allow for the combination of the living room with the dining area and kitchen in high-tech interiors. In this case, the functional areas are separated either by creating a difference in floor heights or using panels made of glass or plastic.

Decorative items are used very sparingly, often with original-shaped lamps serving this role, but placing a few unusual plastic or metal statuettes or a couple of surrealistic paintings on the walls is permissible.

 

Bedroom

The interior of the bedroom also fully conforms to the overall “high-tech” style. That is, a large bed with a strict rectangular shape is placed in the center. Sometimes a rather original approach is used – with built-in lighting or with glass legs, creating the impression that the bed is “floating” in the air. The more unusual the design – the better.

Wardrobes are not welcomed in “high-tech,” so storage in the house is often built-in, which helps to create a lot of free space. The bedroom is no exception. On the doors of the built-in wardrobe, you can depict an original drawing or cover them with one of the modern finishes, creating an additional effect.

The flooring in the bedroom is made of the same materials as in the living room, but for the bedroom, a large fluffy carpet on the floor would be suitable. It can be either monochromatic or have a subtle graphic pattern.

Other pieces of furniture in the bedroom are selected to match the style of the bed; there should be few of them, but they should have a modern and original shape.

Window curtains are chosen either in solid colors or with vertical lines to stay within the overall ensemble. Horizontal blinds would also look beautiful.

Lighting in the bedroom is multilevel; often individual pieces of furniture and decor are highlighted, but this does not mean that you cannot place several additional striking lamps in the room.

Abstract panels or paintings can be hung on the walls. And, of course, what “high-tech” interior would be complete without a large TV and laptop?

 

Kitchen

 

The kitchen is the most “stylish” space for the high-tech style. This is where there is a great scope for the application of all fashionable and high-tech innovations.

High-tech necessarily involves many built-in multifunctional cabinets, and in the kitchen, they are perfect for concealing all household appliances. A person entering wouldn’t guess immediately that they’ve entered a kitchen. The sink and stove are the only giveaways of the kitchen’s theme, everything else is often completely hidden from view.

This is a very functional and practical kitchen with many appliances, placed with maximum ergonomics, carefully thought out and calculated. All engineering systems are also fully disguised. It creates the impression that, apart from the table and chairs, there is nothing in the kitchen, just metallic or glossy panels on the walls.

But how effectively you can design the kitchen table in such a trend towards minimalism, giving it a new look with multi-colored lighting and futuristic design appliances. It can be arranged in the form of a bar counter with high chairs.

The kitchen set for “high-tech” is often made to order to accommodate all household appliances. Furniture fronts are solid, with the effect of metal surfaces or from lacquered plastic. Even the slightest hint of hardware is absent; doors open either with hidden handles or by pressing with a hand.

For the dining table and chairs, metallic tubular legs and tabletops made of clear or tinted glass are characteristic.

The minimum of decorative items in the kitchen is the main motto of “high-tech,” with only one or two vases allowed.

 

Bathroom

 

High technology has also infiltrated bathroom design, so a bathroom in the high-tech style is characterized by:

• The installation of bathtubs of entirely unusual shapes and colors;
• The use of quite contrasting materials, such as wood or metal;
• Rich and multicolored lighting, even illuminating the water stream;
• Sanitary ware of a concise and futuristic design;
• Partitions made of transparent or tinted glass;
• The use of a metallic effect not only for appliances but also in wall and floor finishes;
• An abundance of mirrors.

And of course, the main features of the style are smooth surfaces, cubic shapes, and clean, sparse lines. The boldest step is the installation of monitors and TVs in the bathroom.

This is a very fashionable style and everyone will want to have such an interior. And how to make it beautiful, efficient, and not too expensive, I will tell you – designer Olesya Blashchenko