There are so many different interior design styles out there that convey a host of different feelings and moods and cater to a myriad of people. Many clients may not know the name of the style they want in their space, but they will be able to describe to you their favourite colours, textures, features, and how they want their space to feel. As an interior designer or decorator, you need to be able to take the information the client gives you and turn it into a real space. Having a thorough understanding of many interior design styles will be massively valuable when it comes to your ability to do this for any client. We want to help you do this today by exploring various interior design styles, including traditional, contemporary, modern, rustic, and bohemian.
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Interior Design Styles: A Comprehensive Guide for Interior Designers and Decorators
POSTED: May 16, 2023
Traditional Interior Design
The popular style of traditional interior design draws heavily on European styles from the 18th and 19th centuries, embodying the conventional idea of what a comfortable, well-put-together home should look like. It is elegant and timeless. It features classic furniture pieces, symmetry, and rich colors. Typically, this design incorporates familiar furnishings, color schemes, textiles, and decor that reference historical periods rather than being trendy. Think Pride and Prejudice with a touch of modern convenience and the smell of a wood-burning fireplace. Common elements include woodwork, floral patterns, and formal window treatments. To achieve this style, use warm color palettes, such as beige, brown, and gold, and incorporate plush fabrics like velvet and silk.
Contemporary Interior Design
Contemporary interior design is the minimalist forward-thinker of the design styles - all about simplicity and clean lines. This style focuses on open spaces, natural light, and neutral colors. Contemporary interiors are unmistakably of the moment - even when the moment shifts. A contemporary space can be compared to your quietly magnetizing friend, they don’t shout for your attention and yet their intrigue cannot be denied as those around them try to decipher their interesting angles. Many contemporary homes use a variety of design aspects to generate a sleek and modern appearance. Open floor plans and spaces, streamlined silhouettes, geometric shapes, layered textures, and neutral color schemes with pops of color from artwork are a few examples of such qualities. A focus point might also be a striking chandelier or pendant light. Soft textiles, metal accents, carved wood, and organic woven components like jute are just a few materials you can use to bring a contemporary interior design look and feel into a space.
Modern Interior Design
Although on the surface contemporary and modern interior design have some similarities in their features, and the terms are used interchangeably by some, they are indeed entirely different styles that convey very different feelings. Contemporary design reflects the ever-changing trends of the present, whereas modern design pertains to a specific visual style of a particular historical era. While contemporary interior design is your intriguing minimalist friend, modern interior design is their functional minimalist counterpart. Contemporary interior design adjusts itself to the theme of the moment while maintaining a minimalist feel, while modern interior design is always about 3 things: simplicity, functionality, and clean lines - emphasizing form over ornamental details. So what does modern interior design feature? Imagine clean lines and minimal ornamentation. Functionality is prioritized over fashion, resulting in spaces that are free from clutter and unnecessary flourishes. Neutral color palettes are favored over bright colors, with shades of white, beige, gray, black, and pastels being the norm. Open floor plans are another hallmark of modern design, utilizing furniture instead of walls to differentiate between spaces. Long furniture pieces situated low to the ground, made from natural materials like unpainted wood or metal, give a home a modern look. Other popular finishes include leather and fabric upholstery, wood veneers, glass, chrome, steel, and concrete.
Rustic Interior Design
A rustic space feels like movie days with hot cocoa or curling up with a book and a glass of red wine. Rustic interior design exemplifies a raw, worn-out, and informal design aesthetic. A variety of variations on the style, including Tuscan, seaside, cottage, and modern rustic, are included in the broad category. Whatever the variation, rustic style emphasizes wild, unspoiled beauty. The design naturally developed and harkens back to a time when individuals constructed or recycled objects - this is an excellent style for lovers of sustainable interior design. Most things were organic and rustic by nature because they were directly from the land. Rustic design may appear dark and weighty in this way, but upon closer inspection, and with modern aspects taken into account, it can also be a very fresh and light aesthetic when done right. This style features comfortable, distressed furniture and vintage accents. Common elements include exposed wood beams, animal hides, and warm, earthy colors. To achieve this style, use warm color palettes like brown and beige, and incorporate natural materials like wood, stone, and leather.
Bohemian Interior Design
Bohemian is described as being “socially unconventional in an artistic way” and we must say, it is a most apt description of Bohemian interior design as well. This type of design feels free- spirited and energizing with very eclectic tastes. It blends together various different colours, textures, cultural influences, and global styles to create a homey, vibrant space. Pattern mixing is encouraged as is tonnes of texture with a focus on comfort. If walking into the space feels like a warm hug accompanied by a giggle at the wonder of life: you’ve hit the nail on the head. Common elements include natural materials, vintage furniture, and artwork from different cultures. To achieve this style, don’t be afraid of bright colors, incorporate unique items like tapestries, lanterns, and ethnic patterns, layer items, colours, and patterns to create depth and create a visually stimulating and energizing space. The different interior design styles are like an essential blueprint for interior designers and decorators to create a space that meets their client's needs and preferences. In cases where your client knows exactly the style they’re after, it’s a no-brainer that having a good understanding of that style’s features and characteristics will help you to achieve it. Similarly, in cases where a client doesn't know the name of a style but they know the features, materials, colours, and other design elements they want, you’ll be fully equipped to bring those elements together for them by understanding the moods, themes, and features of different design styles.
To recap, for traditional interior design magazine a cozy, elegant home straight out of a period drama, with classic furniture, rich colors, and a wood-burning fireplace. Contemporary interior design is all about clean lines, neutral colors, and layered textures, with a focus on open spaces and natural light - not to be confused with modern interior design.