How Modern Is Stainless Steel?

by jessica ackerman

stainless steel furniture

Stainless steel, especially in the kitchen or bathroom, is considered an ultra-modern addition to a contemporary space. By looking at design trends and images from decades past, you will soon notice a startling fact. How modern is stainless steel if it was a popular idea even during the 1950s? The answer depends on how you look at the idea versus the execution of adding stainless steel to your home. Since the decor from yesteryear focused more on family and personalization and less on depth and perspective, the latter is a great approach to start your stainless steel journey.

In bygone years, stainless steel was found most often on the legs of furniture or in sinks, appliance and other fixtures. Today, it is far more often to be found on appliances or wall decor, which is drastically different than before. In addition, you can find those traditional applications in a whole new light; for example, you may see stainless steel table legs with glass tops or dining chairs made of stainless steel with fabric seats. In essence, the idea itself may not be modern, but the application thereof is very contemporary. The application is what makes it modern, so we can almost ignore the fact that stainless steel was a part of the design styles that would be considered dated today. However, stainless steel used in both retro styles or contemporary designs can give a home sophisticated flair.

In the past, combining stainless steel with contemporary shades, cool colors and unique textures, was rarely part of the design scheme. As a matter of fact, in most cases it was in industrial, commercial and medical settings where sleek design styles were used because of their tendency to impart a clean and sterile ambiance. Many homeowners have stuck with decor options that were warm and inviting, such as cozy neutrals or warm shades like we still see in our grandparents’ homes. Today, we have replaced the warms with cools and noticed that the home still feels like a home regardless of whether you balance the warm shades with cool metals.

The size of the furniture really does make a big difference. Stainless steel options decades ago tended to include chunky furniture on spindly legs, and wall decor normally featured still life photographs or paintings of scenery. It was—and is—an attractive option for traditional decor, but today there are many great options that are modern and interesting. A contemporary design style features clean lines and geometric shapes, driving the decor toward more abstract pieces and sleek furniture instead.

Keep stainless steel in the bathroom or kitchen but not just on the faucets. As before mentioned, stainless steel used to be limited to the bathroom fixtures and in commercial kitchens primarily as hardware rather than part of the design scheme of the room. The modern choice is to utilize it in other areas of the design as well, such as wall decor, shelving, cabinetry, and even portions of the tub or shower areas or in back splashes and hood ranges in kitchens. It looks great paired with glass and all colors of the rainbow, so choosing the rest of the room’s decor is still a matter of personal taste.

Alyssa Davis is the top writer and creative design specialist for Metal-Wall-Art.com. She specializes in designing with coffee cup metal wall art and treble clef metal wall decor.