Pictured: Equo Barstool

What was the Bauhaus?

The Bauhaus was an art and design school founded in Weimar in 1919 under the direction of Walter Gropius. It moved to Dessau in 1925 and to Berlin in 1932; it was dissolved in 1933. In just 14 years, the school produced designs for furniture, lighting, textiles, and architecture that are still considered classics today—including Marcel Breuer’s tubular steel furniture.

What characterizes the Bauhaus style?

Typical features include basic geometric shapes such as circles, squares, and triangles; minimalist designs in which function determines form; and industrial materials such as steel and glass, alongside wood. Ornaments and decoration take a back seat. The guiding principle “form follows function” was originally coined by architect Louis Sullivan but is often associated with the Bauhaus.

Pictured: Cat in gray, white, and black

Which colors go well with the Bauhaus style?

Black, white, and gray form the foundation. Bold primary colors—red, yellow, and blue—are used to create accents, applied sparingly rather than over large areas. A black light fixture against a red wall, as shown in the image above, illustrates the principle: a little color, used with precision.

How does the Bauhaus style translate into everyday living?

Hardly anyone today furnishes their home entirely “in the Bauhaus style.” More common are individual pieces with clean lines and authentic materials, paired with neutral walls. A wall shelf made of powder-coated metal, such as the Skwad in black or white, adds a clean, graphic touch.

Pictured: Fabella Porcelain Lamp in White

Porcelain from a Weimar School

The Fabella porcelain lamp was designed by Laura Straßer. She studied product design at the Bauhaus University in Weimar—the city where the Bauhaus was founded in 1919. Its clean, soft lines, available in black or white, complement interiors with clean, basic shapes.

Mirror, Steel, and Oak

The Concierge Mirror by Andreas Kowalewski combines a mirror, a powder-coated steel frame, and a solid oak shelf—a contemporary piece in which function determines form.

Pictured: Cat in black and white, dog in beige

Geometry in Black and White

Cat & Dog by Andreas Kowalewski: A cat and a dog, reduced to just a few geometric shapes. Available in jet black or white, they complement an interior featuring black-and-white contrasts.

A Shelf as a Line

Skwad by Andreas Kowalewski is a wall shelf made of powder-coated metal—available in black or white, it’s a simple addition to clean-lined walls.

Pictured: Wedge Table in natural ash

How can you keep the Bauhaus style from looking cold?

Steel, glass, and black-and-white can come across as austere. To balance this out:

• Wood: for example, the oak shelf on the Concierge Mirror or a wedge table made of ash.
• Textiles: Rugs, curtains, and pillows soften the room.
• A pop of color: it’s better to use one accent color strategically than all three at once.