Design Inspiration: Edward Hopper
By: Anna Popov
Design Inspiration: Edward Hopper
By: Anna Popov
Oftentimes interior designers find design inspiration from artists and the overall feeling of the art they create. Colors, angles, balance, and light are all important elements for visual artists. Interior designers are drawn to artists for inspiration and vision when working on projects. Whether they are basing a room around a piece of statement art or using the design elements portrayed in the art, the possibilities are endless.
Edward Hopper is an amazing example of an artist who has had a great impact on interior design inspiration. He was an American realist painter known for his contrasting colors, dramatic angles, incredibly sensitive use of light, and a sense of balance in every painting. At the beginning of Edward Hopper’s career, he made a few trips to France. Paris’s architecture, ambiance, and culture greatly affected his development as an artist.
According to EdwardHopper.net, “the praise he received for his work in 1933 was among the best of his career. The gorgeous landscapes, quiet rooms and empty rooms he designed, and the transitory effect which many of his works posed, created a sense of contemporary life and a new style.”
Key features of Edward Hopper’s work
With Edward Hopper, composition is everything. From color and angles to balance and light, he has perfectly mastered a dramatic and unique aesthetic.
Contrasting Colors: Oftentimes there is a stark contrast between exterior and interior in his paintings. Bright blue skies appear next to off-white walls. Blush yellows sit next to stark greens and blues of the night sky.
Dramatic Angles: Angles reflected in Hopper’s paintings are often dramatic and direct where and how to look at a space. At first glance, it is clear what you should be focusing on. This makes the space feel architecturally interesting and vivid.
Perfect Balance: In his paintings, there is a place for everything. Hopper is very particular in the contents of his scenes and uses a minimalistic approach. The people in his paintings exist in a space of bold lines and strong contrasts, but nothing overwhelms the senses.
Intentional Design: Hopper’s design is great for those who want interesting visuals in their home but do not want to be overwhelmed with too much décor. There is no unnecessary clutter, and everything is intentional to the scene. The style is in the structure and overall color scheme. Little pieces of décor are secondary and feel in place.
Thoughtful Lighting: The big windows and light sources in Hopper’s art make angles and shapes with light. This creates a unique and interesting effect.
Examples of Edward Hopper’s Design Inspiration
Many of Edward Hopper’s paintings offer unique elements that perfectly bridge into interior design. A popular approach to bringing art to life is by identifying consistent elements in the work of art and using them to approach furniture selection and achieving balance in the overall layout of the space.
In these examples, you can see how light traveling throughout the space allows the eye to land pleasantly on intentional surfaces. The use of the space is careful and Hopper uses minimal clutter. The cohesive feeling of light mixing with dark feels seamless and unobtrusive and inspires interesting and pleasing designs.
One of the most beautiful things about the two worlds of art and design is that they blend together seamlessly. Artists often find inspiration from designers and vice versa and this creates a magical atmosphere in the home and on the canvas. Edward Hopper’s paintings are some of our favorites when it comes to inspiration. We love his incomparable sense of balance, light, and color and often use his paintings and aesthetics in our design philosophy.
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