Metal Mania Metallic Furnishings Reflect Back-To-Nature Theme Combining Versatile Looks With Minimal Upkeep

People who have a handle on what’s going on in interior design say we’re going to be seeing more and more iron in our decorating diets.

The evolution of the trend toward more metal furnishings at home is the latest manifestation of the back-to-nature theme that has made one very big splash in the marketplace in the past few seasons.

In fashion, it’s the popularity of natural fabrics and fibers. In dining, it’s a pared-down diet that cuts out things fatty, filling in the blanks with foods that have a natural, organic bent.

Gardening? It’s never been more popular. In fact, says Pattie Shaw, home furnishings style director for the J.C. Penney Catalog, the popularity of metal furnishings is an outgrowth of the gardening trend.

Metal furnishings such as porch chairs and iron benches, which once were a mainstay of outdoor decor, have moved indoors and now provide lots of decorating bounce in the living room, bedroom and kitchen.

The current metal mania presents a more contemporary twist. Metal furnishings and accessories come in a wide range of styles to complement every decorating style.

“The curve of the metal design can appear futuristic, retro-George Jetson or Gothic, depending on how you incorporate it into your existing decor,” Shaw says.

In addition, metals are showing up in all sorts of styles. Wrought iron, bronze, copper, matte silver and aluminum - it’s your pick.

“There is a variety in the color, finish and texture of metal today,” Shaw says. “Rough, rusted surfaces and painted and washed finishes are very popular.”

A possible problem in decorating with things metal is the overdose factor. Put too many chintzes in a room and you can’t see the roses for the bushes, so to speak. The same holds true for metal.

To soften the hard look of metal and allow it to stand out, it’s best to mix it with other materials. For added texture, Shaw recommends that metal be used in combination with wood, wicker, glass, stone, natural sisal rugs or lush Jacquard fabrics.

“Opposites attract,” she says. “It’s the combination of hard and soft, solid with translucent, that makes it interesting.”

To give metal furnishings an extra visual boost, keep the accompanying fabrics simple.

“You don’t appreciate the lines of a metal piece if they are lost in the design of the bedding or upholstery,” Shaw says.

To give rooms an updated look with metal, add a curvaceous metal lamp or a metal-trimmed folding screen to the set. You might consider hanging metal mirrors in place of pictures. Or you might want to cluster an assortment of candleholders of varying textures and metals.

An added point in favor of bringing metal into a design scheme is that few furnishings are as easy to care for.

“There’s really no upkeep at all,” Shaw says. “Just wipe away the dust with a soft cloth.”

And here’s another positive point.

Metal, by definition, is sturdy. It’s virtually kid- and animal-proof. Who could ask for more?