Thinking about switching up the general theme of your space? Well, deciding on one interior design style for your home can be extremely difficult when there are so many to choose from. Picking a design style that perfectly reflects yours and your family’s personality can become an overwhelming thought and, sometimes, it’s impossible to decide which way to go. Maybe you want to completely switch up your style, but you can’t even decide where to start? Luckily, there’s an interior design style for every preference and we’re here to help you find the look that’s ideal for your home. Read on to see our guide to the best interior design styles and how they can take your living space to a whole new level.
At a Glance:
Interior Design Styles
We know there’s a plethora of styles to choose from, so to help get you inspired, we’ve broken down the most popular types of interior design styles and how to incorporate them in your home.
Transitional Style
Increasing in popularity, transitional design combines traditional and contemporary modern design, using the best of both worlds. If you use this style, choose a few accent pieces and décor items. Your bold focal pieces will speak for themselves, plus, you can use area rugs and pillows to decorate. Most people use a neutral and monochrome color scheme when working with a transitional style because you’ll want your guests to focus on the modern lines of your furniture.
Like spokes on a wheel, we know that no piece of furniture is complete without comfort, strength, and attractiveness. Designed with their patented Blue Steel Springs durable hardwood and quality fabrics, with this bedframe from Flexsteel, you can count on a refined yet transitional look that offers warmth and comfort with a little bit of sophistication to your space.
Traditional Style
Also known as classic design, traditional interior design is one of the oldest and most common design styles. The traditional style is rooted in heritage with traditional shapes and forms that’s neatly organized. You will often find vintage pieces that haven’t changed at all since they were first created years ago, or more recent traditional home décor that pays homage to the classics. It’s all about conscious layering, formality, and incorporating pieces with structure and symmetry when it comes to styling with a traditional look in mind.
Commonly, traditional style includes patterns like floral, stripes, and damask, with most choosing a neutral color palette, bringing in pops of color with artwork. And with this traditional sofa from Craftmaster, you can nap, snuggle up, or read to your heart's content wherever you decide to place it.
Modern Style
It’s neutral, it’s inviting, and it’s casual ― that’s why everyone loves modern interior design. It relates to contemporary style in its clean aesthetic and color palette, but this style is all about layering neutral textiles and textures to create interest rather than introducing additional color.
With modern style, you’ll find plenty of light-toned woods and relaxed textiles mixed with iconic lighting done in black, brass, and chrome to help complement the rest of your quality décor and furniture. And if you’re in need of a modern, fashion-forward addition to your living room, look no further than this taupe accent chair from Signature Design by Ashley that offers plush comfort and a sleek appearance.
Contemporary Style
You can’t go wrong with contemporary interior design. It’s always current, although the style is always evolving. Contemporary design diverges from modern aesthetics while borrowing from time periods and the current most popular trends. It’s a sleek and simple design that incorporates modern furniture with clean lines. Using a neutral color scheme gives off the look of luxury and will keep your design timeless and easy to update. And if you need to add a bright spot to your contemporary space, this cocktail table from Signature Design by Ashley will instantly heighten your home’s overall aesthetic.
Mid-Century Modern Style
With influence coming heavily from the 1950s and ’60s, mid-century modern style has become one of the most common and relatable styles today. The pieces designed during this period have stood the test of time and still remain fresh, modern, and very relevant to this day. The lines on many mid-century furniture, like this Flexsteel Thunderbird chair, are simple, clean, and minimal and are made out of warm woods with purposeful details and styling to create the ideal look in your home.
Farmhouse Style
Heavily influenced by early western culture, farmhouse is one of the most popular vintage décor designs. People enjoy it for its repurposed barn doors, exposed rafting, and mix of materials like wood, leather, and metal. While many people use natural colors like green, brown, and orange to match their farmhouse décor and furniture, blues and reds will give your design a true American feel.
Coastal Style
Easy goers and beach lovers alike will adore coastal style. Not to be confused with nautical, coastal is about the romance of the sea. Coastal style typically includes straight lines and stripes, and the color palette is blue and green with bursts of pink, purple, orange, and yellow to help brighten the space. Coastal décor and furniture are typically made from natural sources like bamboo, wicker, and mahogany.
For an extra touch of beach aesthetic, you can even incorporate a tropical theme to your coastal design by adding exotic prints and décor to your home. And if you need a functional focal piece for your entryway, this Bermuda Hall Tree from homestyles provides abundant storage space, with two shutter doors that open to a large compartment and two pigeonhole open storage areas at the top.
Rustic Style
When examining rustic interior design style, it can be defined with a few basic traits. There will always be natural materials involved, industrial touches, and some farmhouse charm all around. Rustic design style was originally born from inspirations of the Romantic era and focuses on the simplicity and beauty of nature.
For rustic décor, it’s common to see room design ideas focused around a central piece of furniture and the usage of wood, to create an ultra-cozy feeling. Inspired by the tropical rain forest, this Forest Retreat dresser and mirror from homestyles captures the alluring look of a live edge design for a natural-looking rustic elegance right in your home.
Industrial Style
Thankfully, you don’t have to live in an abandoned factory to create an industrial styled look in your home. Industrial designed interiors are all about exposure and natural architecture so don’t be afraid to let your rafters, old brick, or ductwork show. Some even rip up the previous laminate flooring or carpet to reveal stained concrete or natural wood floors that was underneath all along.
The main focus of the style should be the naturalness and simplicity that’s incorporated in your industrial décor, so using any color that is found in concrete, brick, and natural wood like this distressed walnut dining table from Hillsdale Furniture, will fit perfectly into an industrial-themed home.
French Country Style
Blending several designs, this style is inspired by the countryside of France. Though people often combine it with traditional, shabby chic, and farmhouse designs, the main aesthetic of French country décor is that of a charming cottage, shown off by this elegant white hutch from Liberty Furniture. Vintage and sophisticated, the style is characterized by a variety of different patterns. Those who like combining pastels and soft fabrics will very much enjoy this interior design style in their homes.
Casual Style
Many people feel casual style can be cold, boring, and sterile. However, that couldn’t be farther from the truth. Casual interior design style is rooted in distinct shapes and forms, and can instantly uplift your home. You won’t find anything in this style with extra embellishments or flash, and typically the style has a more of a neutral color palette with the occasional pop of color, but with the correct combination of casual furniture like these klismo arm chairs from Legacy Classic, and your space will have never have looked more inviting.
Shabby Chic Style
Shabby chic interior design style originated in the 18th century and transformed into the vintage style it is today. Vintage-styled furniture has always been at the core of shabby chic décor. In fact, it was common for families to pass down furniture from one generation to the next, then each generation would put their own unique spin on it. Similar to French country design, shabby chic has a very soft and sophisticated feel.
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