Interior Design Styles

When I ask my clients about their favorite Interior Style, most of them respond with the few terms of Modern, traditional or mixed. I have always been asked to describe various interior styles and explain the difference. Today, I decided to attach a quick note for an easy understanding of various interior design style. I did a bit of research on this to make sure to include as much as I can. There are ... of them, and they are all very different from each other. Some of these styles can be mixed with one another, but I advise hiring a professional to do that so no mistakes are made. 

AMERICAN: There are 4 distinct 'American' interior design styles.

1. American Colonial Style focuses on function and practicality and is still popular today. 

2. Southwestern Style often in incorporates a bold color palette and light colored wood.

3. Shaker Style is simplistic and furniture is made from quality wood.

4. Patriotic Style themes include the American flag, American icons and American retro.

ARTS AND CRAFTS: the arts and crafts style flourished between 1860 to 1910. This movement was made up of a group of designers and writers from England, UK. They produced high quality, well made, handcrafted goods which were costly.

ART NOUVEAU: from 1880 to around 1910 art nouveau was in full swing and it is said to be the first 20th Century modern style as it was the first style to look to nature and the surrounding world instead of backwards in history. Many people confuse art nouveau with art deco interior design however they are very different styles.

ART DECO: Art deco interior design represents a period between 1908 through till 1935. This style particularly began in Paris and worked its way through Europe and then globally.

ARABIAN: Arabian interior design is a magnificent blend of color, pattern and personality. It encompasses the rich, vibrancy of tones found in the desert with complex designs.

ASIAN: Asian interior design reflects materials and finishes from the East. This design style is typical of Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and China.

BRITISH: there is many styles to celebrate British interior design however, I am going to focus on two of them, Cool Britannia and Shabby Chic.

• Cool Britannia is British interior design, styled around patriotism and in the 1990's the phrase 'shabby chic' was coined to describe the modern laid-back style. 
• 'Shabby' refers to older, lived in or secondhand objects that have a distressed look about them, but not overly damaged. 'Chic' applies to objects which are old but definitely worth keeping.

CONTEMPORARY: contemporary interior design became popular in America in the 50's and early 60's just as travel by aircraft became accessible. The look has either straight lines or beautifully curved. Literally this style relates to what is current, happening now and is reflected in today's design and in fashion design. Contemporary interior design works with most, if not all interior design styles.

COUNTRY STYLE : Country Style or Rural style is elegant furniture style with influences from English, French or Scandinavian classic pure style can be called rural chic. Furniture finishes are nice, bright colors-white, pastel colors and forms were taking over traditional furniture but not abundant decorations. Surfaces are painted or sometimes have a slight patina.

ECLECTIC: As the term conveys, the Eclectic decorating style is varied and can develop into a room that resembles any number of the other decorating styles. Colours are strictly up to the taste of the person who will live with the interior décor. Most people who choose this style do so because they enjoy certain aspects of all the other styles.

FRENCH: typical French Interior design is fairly classical. It can be both sophisticated and elegant or over opulent and dramatic.

FUNKY: Bulky, comfortable chairs set against the stark lines of tables with metal legs. The visitor is invited to investigate the cubbies and sit for a spell. Every element is clean and visibly interesting. Colours are in the chairs while the rest of the room creates a palette to be accented for visual interest.

GARDEN: Most homes decorated in the Garden style will have a sun room full of plants built onto an exterior wall. The use of live plants inside the house is accompanied by landscape pictures. Large windows allow for sweeping views of the exterior landscape. Interior and outdoor furniture are used inside the home and patio doors are in more than one room. Colours are vibrant and natural to bring the outdoors into each living space.

GOTHIC: When I think about Gothic Interior Design, I am transported fully into another world, of another time. Life in the Middle Ages was very different to our modern world and therefore the blend of this period with some modern influences can be extremely interesting.  1150-c.1500 and revived again in the late 18th and early 19th century.

HIGHTECH STYLE: Hightech style is an innovative modern style, the emphasis being on furniture structure where every detail of combination is not random and it is part of that structure. Screws, rivets, wheels apparent booms, rough metal finishes, appearances bulbs are specific to this style. The finishes used are often of metal, glass and plastic and wood in small proportions and for parts we find fabric-upholstered as simple as we can, leather. The colors are often dull-gray, white, small black scale.

INDIAN: Indian Interior design styles are warm and earthy. They have an exotic appeal and hold a magical look with the use of harmonized colors.

INDUSTRIAL: Industrial Interior design is the combination of art and engineering to make life 'easier'. Lots of high tech gadgets!

ITALIAN: Italian Interior design is modern and has a look of luxury about it. When I think of this style I think of all the great Italian designers like Scarpa, Sottsass or the much loved fashion designer Armani. Italy has produced and continues to produce world trendsetting designers so it is near impossible to go wrong choosing this style as your concept.

JAPANESE: Japanese Interior design is simplistic and pretty streamlined in both layout and finishes. This style is the defining influence on all modern day minimalism.

MAVERICK STYLE: It is part of modern style, his approach is very inventive, unusual and unconventional. Young, explosive, inventive not respect the rules. Structure can be obtained by joining pieces, overlapping volumes and volumes twisting colors can be randomly chosen even for the same room, seemingly nothing happens, only part of the excentrity of this style.

MEDIEVAL: Medieval Interior Design comes from the period in European history 1000 - c.1550. This concept is basic and not too far away from Rustic interior design.

MINIMALISM: Minimalistic Interior Design is certainly chic when put together well. The clean lines and open spaces allow you to enjoy simplicity at its very best.

MODERN MINIMALIST STYLE: This style is a form of extreme accuracy, nothing is too much, without heavy backgrounds. The emphasis is on simplicity, the colors may be dull or bright, in any case flashy colors. Pieces are either geometric shapes – square, rectangular, round, but the surfaces are clean, no scenery, no details. Minimalist modern style by its name, illustrates the simplified forms.

MOROCCAN: the Moroccan look is rich in spice colors and is influenced by Spanish, French and Arabic interior design. Beautiful patterns fill the spaces along with textures and aromas.

NAUTICAL: the look of nautical Interior design is very much that of the seaside and beach front. Think New Hampshire and you would be on the right track.

NEW YORK: Wide open rooms are accented with neutral paint colours accented by contrasting furniture. Edges of the room are lined with furniture that allows for easy traffic flow through the main corridors. Eye-catching accents are used as light fixtures, and storage is hidden in beautiful pieces of furniture made of intriguing materials.

RETRO: retro interior design covers 3 decades; 50's, 60's and 70's. The look is varied, from plastic fantastic, disposable and low maintenance to psychedelia. The influences were the boom of advertising, flower power, pop music and pop art.

RUSTIC: to achieve a rustic home interior design that looks great you can mix elements of it in with a contemporary interior design so your home does not become too much like a log cabin. This mix can be very striking and interesting. Rustic design emphasizes on natural, unrefined elements and objects.

SCANDINAVIAN: there are two interior design styles that are Scandinavian design. The first is modern and the other is country.

1. Scandinavian Modern began in 1930 and is present today. It is born from the basic principles of modernism fused with traditional materials and can have the look of contemporary interior design. IKEA is the worldwide phenomenon of this style.

2. Scandinavian Country style originated in the 17th Century and lasted until the late 19th Century. The look is that of a farmhouse and the main material is light colored wood.

SPANISH: touches of Arabic design are mixed with bold, beautiful colors and shapes are found within Spanish Interior design styles. Rustic walls of plaster or stucco finish look fantastic.

SWEDISH STYLE: An eclectic look is created through a trendy approach called maximalism, which means to make the most of a small space. What may appear to be a hodgepodge of colour is actually a collection of interesting objects arranged for maximum visual appeal. Vibrant colours are used to create focal points throughout the room that beg the visitor to examine each piece more closely.

TRADITIONAL: A formal home setting is the most appropriate choice for this style. Choices between many time periods create a sense of timeless tradition in a home that is decorated in the traditional sense. Colours include the jewel tones in coordinating hues. Silks, brocades and satin are the prevalent fabrics used in this style of decorating.

TUSCAN: the Tuscan style originates from Tuscany, Italy and embodies the calm, serene nature of the Italian countryside. It is simple, elegant and has a sense of luxury.

VICTORIAN: the Victorian era from 1837 to 1901 saw many great changes within homes since mass production meant that goods became more affordable. People began to take great pride in the look of their homes which they saw as a reflection of status. Plump cushions and excessive ornamentation lead the way for this style.

VINTAGE: Vintage Interior design refers to the 1940's and early 50's. It is an era that most people remember either from their own childhood, or from the homes of grandparents. Therefore vintage is wonderfully nostalgic and feels comforting in a family home.

ZEN: Zen Interior design is based on zen principles of light, space and function and when applied to the home can give you a more relaxed and peaceful state of mind. The approach is minimalistic and uses the bare essentials within a home and each item has its own purpose. The best colors to build your look upon are earth tones that are warm and uplifting.

Reference Link: http://www.interiordesignipedia.com/interior-design-styles.html