Your Guide to Interior Design Styles

There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to decorating your home. However, if you’re looking for inspiration and aren’t sure where to start, you may want to learn about the design styles already out there. You might even find a style that calls to you or already works with the furniture and decor you already have.

Contemporary

Referring to anything currently popular, the contemporary design style is always evolving and pulls from many different time periods. This makes it a classic style that can suit all kinds of homes. Contemporary styles include a clean and simple look with various details, such as crown moldings, giving the look of luxury. Common contemporary colors include neutrals, and light is often used to create airiness and openness.

Art Deco

Inspired by the industrial revolution and popularized from the 1910s to the 1940s, art deco emphasizes pointed edges, oversized furniture and the use of metal and glass. Deep, rich colors and lush textures are both used in art deco to showcase lavishness.

Mid-Century Modern

A style that came into fruition in the 1950s and 60s after the war in America, mid-century modern was established to transition into the modern era. Mid-century modern is another classic style that we can see in many homes today with different furniture made of luxurious wood. This style balances form and function and emphasizes a connection to nature.

Modern Farmhouse

Modern farmhouse makes use of warm wood, neutrals and a variety of metals. If you do want to add a pop of color, make sure it’s a color from nature, such as forest green or dark oranges. Some notable design elements also include shiplap and barn doors as well as an abundance of windows to let natural light in.

Modern Cottage

With elements of modern farmhouse and other traditional styles, modern cottage is warm and welcoming and has a romantic feel. This style is largely inspired by English cottage, which can include vintage decor, soft colors and botanical patterns.

Shabby Chic

At the center of the shabby chic style is vintage furniture, passed down from one generation to another and is often painted or distressed, showing its age. This style is soft and feminine while also being rustic and cozy.

Minimalist

If you find that you don’t place a lot of value in “stuff” and “things” and think that less is more, you may find that minimalism could already be applied to your home. With clean lines, simple shapes and soft colors, a minimalist style is meant to evict calmness while showcasing functional furniture and decor in the form of features like built-in storage and an optimized room layout.

Maximalist

On the opposite end of the spectrum, maximalism is meant to be loud in color, texture and patterns. More is more in a maximalist room and could have a huge variety of items on the walls and surfaces from any type of aesthetic or time period. If you’re a collector of anything, a maximalist style could give you the opportunity to put it all on display.

Bohemian

Bohemian or “boho” incorporates natural textures like rattan and bamboo with eclectic, saturated colors. The big picture should look layered and playful while placing an emphasis on nature to bring the outside world in.

Eclectic

A mix of bohemian and maximalist styles, the eclectic design style incorporates neutrals with accent colors and curated, styled decor. Instead of just adding whatever you can find into a room, make sure your items blend well, tell a story and create visual interest.

Coastal

If you find calm near the sea and want to incorporate it into your home, you may want to look into coastal style interior design. This style includes neutrals with pops of blue, light fabrics and textures and comfortable, lived-in furniture. The point of this style is to connect surf and sand with the inside.

Hollywood Regency

Dating back to the golden age in Hollywood in the 1930s, the Hollywood regency style or Hollywood glam includes a mix of art deco and mid-century modern. Bold colors that contrast, high-glamour decor and over-the-top patterns make this style stick out from the rest. Hollywood regency was meant to be seen and makes a loud statement.

Industrial

At the end of the second Industrial Revolution, many factories closed down and were left vacant, allowing people to convert these buildings into homes. Industrial interior design style allows for open spaces, exposed brick, pipes and concrete and unfinished furniture. It’s often described as “cold” or “masculine” which make soft textures a nice addition.

Find Your Style

Understanding what works for your place and what you like could take time. Through trial and error and experimentation, you could find the interior design style that just sticks. Remember that these styles don’t have strict rules. In fact, you can even combine styles to create your own.