Intro to interior design styles

#01

Traditional interior design

Traditional design is inspired by the 18th and 19th centuries and you’ll often find lots of classic art and antiques

Vibe: Very consistent, orderly, and symmetrical

Colours: Lots of neutral colour palettes with warm and dark tones. It’s often heavy on wood and gold/gilding

Furniture: They’re often ornate, curved, and visually ‘heavier’. You’re more likely than not to see some wingbacks, wood carvings, tassels and fringes

Accessories: Maximalism is big here, so you’ll often find many accessories, with emphasis on vases, candle holders and candelabras. It’s a very detail-oriented style

Textures & patterns: Bold patterns, lots of upholstery and velvet

Other callouts: The furniture layout is not very creative, it’s often straight or at 90-degree angles

Artwork: Paintings are a must-have for any traditional interior. Using large-scale ones above sofas and fireplaces can make great statements. Then combined with smaller ones placed above side tables and in corners of a room can really make for an interesting visual authentic

#02

Mid-century modern

Mid-century modern design sprung up in the 1940s and is still going strong today. Its functionality and timeless look keep it relevant and a staple for a home that wants to achieve a seamless flow

Vibe: It’s utilitarian, simple and super functional

Colours: Natural hues and is often inspired by nature

Furniture: Clean lines and organic curves with very little ornamentation. The forms are very simple but often use rich and luxurious woods

Textures & patterns: It plays with more materials due to the inventions of the time, so you’ll notice wood but also glass, textured fabrics and engineered metals like plexiglass and plastic

Artwork: Simple illustrations look great surrounded by mid-century furniture. The clean lines pop next to one another and lean into the modern narrative of this timeless look

#03

Modern / contemporary

Contemporary design, by definition, is constantly evolving and changes with the times as it’s anything that’s current or in the moment. Due to this, it’s often characterised by a simple and sleek design with a lot of use of metal and glass

Vibe: Contemporary interiors are usually very simple, open and airy. You won’t find much clutter, as the emphasis is on showcasing the space, which can often give it a minimalistic look alongside modern technology

Colours: Mostly neutral palettes with hints of saturated tones

Furniture: Bold and structural pieces, and you’ll often find lots of geometric forms and bold scales

Textures & patterns: Modern and contemporary design loves to play with state-of-the-art materials. Lots of metals, stones and glass

Other callouts: There are often lots of large windows and high ceilings in contemporary and modern spaces

Artwork: Go big and bold. Placing large statement artwork above fireplaces, sofas, and beds will help draw the eye of people entering the room. Although the room may have a neutral palette, don’t be afraid to add splashes of colour

#04

Bohemian interior design

We have quite a bit of hatred towards what bohemian interiors have become. They’ve gained a lot of attention from retailers, which has led to them all jumping on the bandwagon. It’s a bit of an overdone, basic design style in our opinion. A bohemian style is a free-spirited aesthetic that mixes in some zen and hippy-type looks. It aims to evoke a chilled-out environment that has an emphasis on nature

Vibe: Chilled out with elements from different cultures

Colours: A neutral palette with some bolder accents

Furniture: Soft, comfy furnishings

Other callouts: Often has a nomadic feel to it with trinkets from around the world

Artwork: Matching the colour of your artworks to the furnishings can work nicely in Bohemian rooms to create a cohesive look

#05

Industrial interior design

Industrial interior design often feels very relevant and trendy, but you’d be surprised to know it’s been around a long old time. After factories shut down following the second industrial revolution, many large buildings became vacant. So the popularity of this decor style grew as more people renovated them. This style is often characterised by exposed brickwork, pipes, concrete and beams

Vibe: Lots of character with exposure of the building’s original fixtures and fittings. It can often have a cold, masculine feel due to the materials and textures

Furniture: It’s often raw and unfinished with a lack of soft or cosy furniture

Artwork: Big walls and high ceilings make for the perfect blank canvas when building a gallery wall. In industrial spaces, you can get creative with the styles and colours used as it’s a very versatile look

#06

Scandinavian interior design

Scandinavian homes are usually the most obvious as they have very strong and defining characteristics. Think light, airy and organic with a cosy feel throughout

Vibe: Scandinavian design always has a very relaxing and chilled vibe to it

Colours: A lot of white and grey

Furniture: It’s all about clean lines, layered fabrics, glass furniture and textures

Artwork: Look for artworks that have muted colours so they’re not too garish. Combine simple illustrations and minimalist photography for a standout Scandinavian room

#07

Eclectic interior design

We saved the best until last… eclectic interiors are all about high-energy, bold colours, unique finds and interesting furnishings. Be careful not to think the bolder, the better, and anything goes. In reality, eclectic design is all about consistency and creative direction, so a look that might seem easy to imitate would have been carefully planned out

Vibe: Eclectic design is about experimentation and playfulness to create a fun and confident look

Colours: Bold colour palettes with an emphasis on contrasting colours to create a cohesive space

Furniture and accessories: Accent furniture and a maximalism approach works wonders

Artwork: Gallery walls are perfect in eclectic rooms. Mixing in different colours, mediums, sizes, and frames suits the spirit of this interior design style perfectly