From Ukraine to Gaza
As you might guess, Scandinavian design has Nordic roots. It's a minimalistic style that relies on textures and soft colors to turn sleek into cozy.
It's usually a lot of light-toned woods, whites, creams, and tans. It's warm and inviting, simple and relaxed, and uses clean lines, functional furniture, and very simple furnishings.
The bright, beachy atmosphere is what this style aims to capture. It's all about bringing as much light and as many elements of the coast inside your home.
Think white-washed woods, lighter blue tones, nautical stripe accents, and positioning furniture so as to open the space up to beachy sunshine.
It's also characterized by oversized furniture, rich colors, bold geometry, and decadent detail work, embodying a glamorous feeling.
This iconic early 20th-century design style originated in France and then became popular in the US from the 1920s to the 1940s. With the Industrial Revolution as a source of inspiration, the style uses a lot of metal.
You can fill rooms with various colors and statement pieces of furniture across numerous styles, and if you have just enough connection through them (think texture, metal color, complementary colors, etc). it looks cozy and inviting.
Also known as Boho, this style has come in and out of fashion since its conception. It's all about collecting and layering natural and organic elements to create a loosely organized space.
It's like a less refined, more organic take on the eclectic style, but specifically relies on things like rattan, bamboo, crochet, and textiles.
The minimalist style often takes inspiration from Japanese design and relies on clean lines and simple shapes, with a basic principle that less is more.
Many people mistake this as a "random" style, when in reality it's more of a high-energy collection of pieces that are very carefully curated to balance one another. There's a fine line between eclectic and chaos, but it's so harmonious if done right.
Though it seems simple, this style requires a very refined hand when selecting furniture. Everything must have a purpose, there isn't much layering, and often furniture has hidden storage.
This is one of the oldest, and most common, design styles, as it draws its inspiration from 18th- and 19th-century England and France. The style takes root in traditional shapes and forms that have been around for ages.
The style gives a more formal feeling to the space and relies on pieces with structure and symmetry.
This neutral but warm style involves light-toned woods and soothing textiles mixed with black, brass, and chrome elements.
It's similar to the modern style in its clean aesthetic, but it differs in its use of layered natural textiles and textures that make it a bit more casual.
As you might guess, this style has a factory-esque atmosphere with a lot of metal, rustic wood, concrete or stripped timber floors, exposed brick walls, and so forth.
Though the style seems a bit harsh, elements of softness shine through its neutral color palette and the incorporation of found objects, which can give the space character and warmth.
This style often uses textiles like leather, suede, and velvet, and often in jewel-toned colors, so as to make the uncluttered furniture the stars of the show.
Wooden beams and elements mixed with bright whites and black accents really define the space. There are often also plaid patterns and cozy textile layering, so as to make it less formal.
This style lets the furniture and the textiles do the talking as area rugs, throw pillows, and blankets balance the formal elegance of the pieces. Many find this style to be the perfect mix of masculine and feminine energy.
It relies on simple, clean, and minimal lines, earthy colors, and purposeful, bold details.
This style is great for those who love the country feeling. It uses found objects to add warmth and character to more modern furniture, mixing rustic with refined.
There are no extra embellishments, no bright bursts of color, no cluttered areas. It usually has a neutral color palette and a very unified appearance.
Totally opposite to Boho or eclectic is this modern style. Sometimes the style can be perceived as cold and sterile, but its charm comes from the cohesive reliance on square shapes and forms, painting the space with bold strokes that can be very relaxing.
This style is called transitional because it sits between two styles, which is perfect if the traditional style is too formal but the modern style is out of your comfort zone.
Though it varies depending on which Southern European region you're partial to, the design is often simple and incorporates the outdoors, rustic furniture, tile floors, wall textures, arches, and columns.
Sources: (Architectural Digest) (Bobby Berk) (Better Homes and Gardens) (Decorilla)
It's high-end, luxurious, and has all the finest finishes, but it's also careful to use minimal touches with big impact. The spaciousness is what gives it that elevated look.
The Mediterranean style is characterized by natural and romantic aesthetics of Southern European countries like Greece, Italy, France, and Spain: lots of light, warm tones, and the extensive use of natural materials like ceramics, wood, stone, wrought iron, and cotton.
Taking cues from the ’50s and ’60s, this style has remained chic, modern, and functional for people to this day.
If you’re starting to decorate your home or even if you’re employing an interior designer to help you, there’s one essential first step that you must take in order to save yourself a lot of misunderstandings along the way: pin down your interior design style.
Most people who get the opportunity to decorate a place for the first time have no idea that there are simple and widely known styles of which knowing the names can help maintain a cohesive design within your space and can translate the dreamy images in your head into something concrete for others to follow or help guide you in the right direction.
Even if you don’t know what you want, you can at least start on the process of elimination to figure out what you don’t want. Though styles are constantly changing and evolving, and many people end up doing a combination of styles, learning the basics is extremely important. Click through to get started.
Do you know your interior design style?
Here’s how to convey your aspirations for your dream home
LIFESTYLE Home
If you’re starting to decorate your home or even if you’re employing an interior designer to help you, there’s one essential first step that you must take in order to save yourself a lot of misunderstandings along the way: pin down your interior design style.
Most people who get the opportunity to decorate a place for the first time have no idea that there are simple and widely known styles of which knowing the names can help maintain a cohesive design within your space and can translate the dreamy images in your head into something concrete for others to follow or help guide you in the right direction.
Even if you don’t know what you want, you can at least start on the process of elimination to figure out what you don’t want. Though styles are constantly changing and evolving, and many people end up doing a combination of styles, learning the basics is extremely important. Click through to get started.