MAJOR DESIGN STYLES THROUGHOUT HISTORY
MAJOR INTERIOR DESIGN STYLES :
FRENCH INTERIOR STYLE (DECORATIVE ARTS) :
Mostly influenced by the homes in southern France.
• Known for its finely crafted furniture, intricate carvings.
• Shows a mix of rustic elements and elegant details similar to the baroque
style.
• Floors are dark wood, stone, or tile, walls are a textured plaster, and exposed
wooden ceiling and wall beams are common.
• In contrast to the rustic elements, furnishings are more refined; including
upholstered seating with carved-wood frames, window coverings in natural,
toile and floral fabrics, and large gilded or carved wood-framed mirrors.
• Warm, earthy color.
• French country design may include soft and warm tones of red, yellow or gold
and natural materials like stone and brick.
BOHEMIAN STYLE :
Reflects a carefree lifestyle with little rules, except to follow your hearts desire.
Bohemian homes may include :
Vintage furniture and light fixtures,
Globally inspired textiles and rugs,
Displays of collections, and
Items found in widely varied sources including flea markets and during one’s
travels.
Floor pillows and comfortable seating spaces.
This eclectic style can incorporate an ultra-glam chandelier paired with a well-worn
rug and a mid-century chair.
MAJOR INTERIOR DESIGN STYLES :
TRADITIONAL STYLE :
Highlights varied design styles and movement’s .
For those who appreciate antiques, classic art, symmetry, and design rich with history.
Best represented by English furniture design.
Offers comforting elegance and gracious living that easily adapts to changing lifestyles.
Based upon styling first popularized in the 18th and 19th centuries.
Decoration shows finely crafted woodworking.
Fabrics like velvet, silk and brocade, which may include a variety of patterns.
Neither too shiny, nor too textured, with solid, tone-on-tone, and muted patterns.
Offers classic details, sumptuous furnishings, and an abundance of accessories.
Dark, finished wood, rich color palettes, and a variety of textures and curved lines. Furnishings
have elaborate and ornate details and fabrics,
There’s depth, layering and dimensionality within most traditional designs.
ROCOCCO (BAROQUE ) STYLE :
Luxurious or over-the-top ornamental home décor.
Elegant and lavishly detailed design style.
Interior design features unique elements like tortoise shell and pearl embellishments.
Preference of palaces and churches throughout europe through the mid-eighteenth century.
Color palette is rich, incorporating dark reds or greens to enhance gold accent features that
are commonly used to decorate mirrors, art, and accessories.
MAJOR INTERIOR DESIGN STYLES :
INDUSTRIAL STYLE :
Draws inspiration from a warehouse.
Metal fixtures or stripped back floorboards.
Statement lights are a feature and are particularly important for softening an otherwise
cold space.
Color palette is guided by raw materials used for a truly authentic industrial look.
Open-plan and high ceilings define some of the most eye-catching spaces.
This style is all about raw, exposed materials, by using exposed brick walls, concrete or
weathered wood floors, bare ceilings, structural beams, and metal air ducts.
NEOCLASSICAL STYLE :
Inspired from ancient Greek and Roman cultures this era.
Furnishings rely heavily on the use of bronze and gold metals.
Soft furnishings featuring silk, velvet, and satin.
The trend of matching wallpaper and furnishings also took hold.
ARTS & CRAFTS :
Formed as a part of the decorative arts movement of the late nineteenth century.
The style was a response to the industrial era, where handcrafted work was being
replaced by mass-produced, factory-made home wares.
Textiles, ceramics, furniture, and metal work were handmade by artists in simple
forms for home use.
Objects created were typically functional as well as decorative.
MAJOR INTERIOR DESIGN STYLES :
ECLECTIC STYLE :
Break the rules, have a little fun and inject your personality into your decorating.
Mix of any design style or a mix of objects from different eras.
Very best eclectic interiors are a cohesive blend of old, new, color, texture and pattern.
While this style is not minimalist, it requires precise thought in its display, so as not to
cross the line from “style” to “stuff”.
CLASSICAL STYLE :
Columns and other classical architectural elements are key in the style’s interior and
exterior architecture as well as furniture designs.
The klismos chair – a bowed back open occasional chair with saber legs – is the most
durable classical furniture piece.
Other prominent motifs include laurel wreaths, urns, busts and dentil moldings.
VICTORIAN STYLE :
Features ornate and excessive decoration in all things.
Defined by orderliness and ornamentation.
Surfaces filled with objects that reflect the owner's interest, such as antique vases.
Carved wood chairs and furnishings are typical of this design aesthetic, and are
generally small in scale to fit these rooms.
MAJOR INTERIOR DESIGN STYLES :
ART DECO :
Blend of styles including Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, Bauhaus, Art
Nouveau, and Futurism.
Represents modernity, everyday glamor, and elegance.
Relies on clean lines, fuss-free angular shapes, bold color.
Stylized patterns like zig-zags and optical figures.
Materials are slick and reflective for everyday glamor in the home.
Plenty of metallics are present ; from gold to silver, stainless steel,
and chrome adding luxury.
Glass is also a frequently used ; whether that’s through mirrors,
glass-topped tables, sculptural elements or an art deco vase or
lamp, as glass adds to the elegant feel of an art deco room.
Color palette is black, white and gold.
Uncluttered through minimal furniture.
MODERN :
Sleek style with clean, crisp lines.
Simple color palette.
Materials that include metal, glass and steel.
Shows of simplicity in every element, including furniture.
MAJOR INTERIOR DESIGN STYLES :
TRANSITIONAL STYLE :
Merge of traditional and contemporary furniture, finishes, materials, and fabrics.
Color palette relies on a lack of color to evoke a clean, serene atmosphere.
Dark colors used to add depth to a neutral balance of taupe, tan, and vanilla.
Furniture lines are simple yet sophisticated, featuring either straight lines or rounded profiles.
Fabrics feature everything from graphic patterns on overstuffed sofas to textured chenilles fabric
on sleek wood frames.
Uses modern materials, such as steel and glass, and then unite them with plush furnishings.
CONTEMPORARY STYLE :
Classic yet timeless due to a light-handed, spare take on decorating to ensure it will never feel
dated.
This style is calming and serene, and is peppered with a focus on architectural elements,
decorative details, attention to bold scales.
Color palette to create a warm space with easy sophistication.
Metals and glass are popular contemporary materials and intricate details are kept to a
minimum.
Installation lighting is an important element of a room’s overall design as is specialist wall
cladding and flooring.
Characterized by open spaces, modern, clean lines, and carefully selected accents in bold
shades.
There is a lack of ornamentation in contemporary design.
Floors are typically hardwood, tile, or polished concrete.
MAJOR INTERIOR DESIGN STYLES :
MID-CENTURY MODERN :
Simplicity with clean lines and minimal decoration.
Furniture style emphasizes on straight lines.
Open floor plans, with large floor-to-ceiling windows that call attention to the natural
environment.
Natural elements are also brought into the home with stone wall details and natural wood
beams.
Furniture is leather or wood and highly polished and sophisticated.
Stainless steel and granite are complimentary materials with their sleek surfaces.
MINIMALIST :
Minimalism is ultimately defined by a sense of functionality and ultra-clean lines.
Notions of modern design and simplifies them further.
Color palettes are neutral and airy.
Furnishings are simple and streamlined, and nothing is excessive or flamboyant in
accessories or décor.
Considers the importance of negative space as much as positive space.
Accessorizing is less and sculptural pieces takes over ornamental designs.
Texture plays a key role in minimalist interiors.
MAJOR INTERIOR DESIGN STYLES :
COASTAL :
Creates a relaxed and comfortable environment inspired by the beach and ocean.
Brings the outdoors in.
Often inspired by the beach with natural wood, white walls, and blue and yellow accents,
color palette is characterized as “breezy” with bright or pastel hues influenced by the sea and
sand.
For interior look of a beach cottage, bead board and clapboard are commonly used as wall
coverings.
Natural light is enhanced through the use of sheer window panels or white slatted blinds
Furniture is comfortable and functional so as to fit in with the active beachfront lifestyle. Mostly
white and beige.
Blue and white striped patterns for pillows, large windows, white plush sofas, and painted white
wood are also common.
SCANDINAVIAN :
Three main focuses – easy living, functionality and a preference for all things natural.
Woods (usually pale to medium and typically ashy) are the most universal element , used in
conjunction with whitewashed walls and breezy furniture arrangements.
Seating is slim-lined in comparison to other styles with full upholstery usually being limited to
sofas.
Wooden or wireframe and stools and benches are common.
Occasional furniture is with little ornamentation or decorative woodwork.
All white color palettes.
If there are pops of color it often comes from the use of art, natural fiber throws or furs, or a
single piece of furniture.
Spacious, natural lighting, less accessories and functional furniture characterizes Scandinavian
designs.
