Which Design Style Am I?
13 November 2023
Interior by Laura Fulmine
Are you spending hours scouring Instagram dreaming about overhauling your interiors to create your ideal home? Not to mention the fact that you have no idea what style you like or even what it is called and now you are just confused?! If this is you then do read on!
So much of what we see influences us to what we like or don’t like and can even dictate what is on trend or not. You are not alone in being confused and overwhelmed by all the different interior styles you are seeing on Pinterest and Instagram. According to Google searches, allot of you out there are searching for the question “What interior style am I?”
A survey done by Berkley Group for House Beautiful Magazine, revealed the most popular design styles you are looking at on Instagram right now. To help you on your way we thought it best to break it down to the 5 most popular styles.
Understanding these styles and what defines them are key to helping you become more confident and experimental, which in turn will allow you to adapt one (or more) of these styles to fit your own unique personality.
Modern Design Style
There are 5 defining elements to this style.
Clean Lines: Modern homes have clean, straight lines and minimal ornamentation.
Minimal Home Decor: The spaces are free from clutter and unnecessary displays. Any displays are intentional and/or functional to draw the eye.
Neutral Colours: This style stays well clear of bright colours and tend to have a monochromatic or neutral earthy colour palette. Think white, grey, beige, black and (sometimes) pastel colours.
Open Floor Plan: A Modern Style home favours an open floor plan with lots of natural light, where furniture pieces or fixtures defines each space, not walls. For example, a kitchen island can separate a kitchen from the dining room, and a sectional sofa can bring definition to an open living room.
Low and Long Furniture: The best way to achieve a modern look is to use long furniture pieces that are low to the ground. These pieces can be made from natural materials like wood or metal. Upholstered furniture are in natural fabrics like wool, linen or leather. Wood veneers (like the classic Eames chairs), glass, steel, chrome and concrete are popular material finishes to furniture pieces.
Scandinavian
We know it best as Scandi-style. It is an interior style that is all about light filled spaces that are well designed in a practical way that promotes overall wellbeing and create a sense of relaxation. Scandinavian designed homes are both about comfort and practicality. It is very much a minimalistic design style in that it has a soft earthy colour palette, uncluttered and functional modern furniture pieces that can be utilised in different ways. Think simple plywood stools for side tables, for example.
Design Elements that define Scandinavian Design:
Understated functional design with a minimalist aesthetic where purpose of the piece is most important and the principal of “less is more” are followed and where furniture can easily be re-arranged to fulfil a specific need or purpose. Furniture pieces have clean and organic lines. Light to medium wood colours are used in furniture pieces, as well as chrome, leather and molded plastic. Think Eames and Wagner Chairs.
Light, Neutral and Natural Colour scheme, where greenery (plants, flowers and other botanicals), are used to brighten up spaces and breathe life into a room.
Muted, dark colours that’s reminiscent of Nordic landscapes like black, dark greys, deep greens and indigo blues are used as accent colours.
Decorative statement lighting are either in wood, chrome or steel covered in powder coated black or dark paint.
Wood accents are used in flooring, wall panelling (wood slats) and ornaments.
Organic soft furnishings and finishes with lots of texture. Wool, sheep skin and plant based rugs are used with soft tufted scatter cushions and throws in either linen, cotton or faux fur. Linen is mostly used in bedding and Window dressings.
Modern Vintage
Image @christineflynnart
This is a very popular design style right now, and appeals to anyone that has a couple of heirloom pieces but like a modern aesthetic. Modern Vintage interior design style is all about mixing and matching old and new elements. The clean and uncluttered look of the modern style is juxtaposed with worn and interesting vintage pieces that gives your home an artistic flair that is soulful and unique.
Elements of Modern Vintage Style are:
Vintage furniture pieces mixed with modern pieces. If you have a vintage chair, for example, you can match it with a modern side table made of glass or steel. The trick is to make sure the pieces compliment each other.
Modern Lighting. Using modern lighting in a vintage home can definitely give your house a whole new modern feel. Think big modern statement lighting like multi-arm ceiling lights or chandeliers, (See Tom Dixon, Flos or Heals), with antique brass or ceramic lamps.
Neutral Colour palette with ‘pops’ of colour. Modern Vintage design usually has a neutral colour palette with a couple of accent colours to create interest. However it can also incorporate pastel colours with a mix of patterned fabric.
Objects d’Art (also known as ornamental art) and Interesting Art pieces. Again this can be Modern or Vintage pieces which can be mixed and matched on bookcases, shelves, coffee tables, mantles, etc. It’s all about creating interesting arrangements. The rule of 3 applies very well here. Place the biggest piece in the centre with smaller objects/pieces radiating outwards.
Art can be mixed by hanging both vintage and modern art in the same room or on the same wall. If hanging art on the same wall, start with a bigger centre piece and placing the smaller pieces outward, deciding each piece as you go.
Contemporary Style
Interior by Arent & Pyke
Contemporary style is a general term used to describe what is “in” and relevant now. It is a style that is constantly evolving. It stared in the 1970’s and continues to pull inspiration from other design styles like modern, minimalistic, rustic and bohemian. Contemporary homes are simplistic with a subtle sophistication where a deliberate use of texture and clean lines characterise it’s open plan living spaces. To get the look, opt for simple paired-back spaces where soft furnishings like cotton, linen and wool have been coupled with natural materials like wood, stone and metal.
Elements associated with this design style are:
Craftsmanship; “Craftsmanship is the hallmark of contemporary design” according to Kelly Wearstler. Everything is intentional from the flooring to the lighting and even the window treatments.
Furniture pieces are made or selected to fit the space with clean and uncluttered surfaces.
Natural Materials. Texture is created by using natural elements like wood, stone, jute, and metals throughout. As well as linen cotton, leather and wool for furniture upholstery and soft furnishings. Hardwood or engineered wooden floors and exposed untreated walls are very much a part of this design style.
It favours a fairly neutral colour palette with whites, creams, greys or taupes with pops of bold or pastel colours (depending on the look you going for). These colours can be incorporated by accent pieces such as wall art, lamps or throw pillows. This design approach allows for the room to be updated quickly.
Curved lines. Even thought the style favours clean lines, it doesn’t necessarily mean it is straight. Curved and rounded seating, tables and arches are very popular in this style.
Bohemian
Image @artvsta.com
Bohemian or Boho style as it’s better known, has it’s roots in Bohemia, a region in current day Czech Republic, that the Romani people occupied. They where best know for their creativity as artists, musicians and tradespeople. ‘Bohemian’ evolved in 19th Century France, to include any creative person that led an unconventional lifestyle. Today Bohemian design style indicates an aesthetic that takes its influence from those free spirits of generations past.
Boho style is relaxed, bold and unconventional. The look typically involves an eclectic mix of natural elements and many colours, patterns and textures from different cultures. It is essentially a style that is individual, free-spirited, creative and fun, that tells the story of where you have been and what is important to you.
Elements of the Bohemian Style include:
Natural Elements. Potted plants, unfinished wood, rustic stoneware and clay pottery that’s mixed with soft wool, natural linen and jute are often found in a Bohemian styled room.
Eclectic mix of artworks, crafts and personal items that holds a specific meaning to you or cultural pieces that have been accumulated during your travels can be found in a Bohemian interior. For the less adventurous traveller, it can be interesting or vintage decor pieces found at flea markets, second hand or antique stores.
Mix of Patterns and colours. Classic Bohemian style tends to use a bold jewel tone colour palette of sapphire, emerald and ruby; where the modern take on Boho style focuses more on neutral and earthy tones. Think leafy greens, dusty terracotta, muddy browns, dirty pinks and overcast greys. Using any of the classic jewelled tone colours in your bohemian interior not only creates interest but adds an element of fun. Patterns that are synonymous with this style tend to be Moroccan, Islamic or African in design.
Vintage pieces. Popular vintage furniture pieces are generally from the 50’s, 60’s or 70’s. It can also be anything that are made using wood, rattan, bamboo or leather in it’s design, as long as comfort is at the order of the day. Furniture is covered in comfortable cushions or throws in either sheepskin, wool or linen fabrics in bold patterns and is artfully layered.
Minimal adorned window dressing. The idea is to let in as much natural light as possible. Use unlined linen or cotton (sheer) curtains that are hung off a curtain rod. This can be combined with a bamboo roller blind or alternatively only use the blind and drape a favourite shawl over a curtain rod for some extra flair!
Everyone has a story to tell through the spaces they occupy. There is a style or a combination of styles that can help you tell this story. Do get in contact with us if you want us to help you define your style so you can have a home to be proud of and which reflects who you are.
