Interior Design Style Guide
Industrial, minimalist, scandi… Do you really know what these are? Whether you are looking for a room update or a complete refurbishment, it can be daunting to decipher your mid-century from your classic furniture, and even harder to define your personal interior design style.
In this guide you will get an understanding about the different decor styles, the most distinctive pieces, its colours palettes and great brands that sell the look.
By the end, you will have a much clearer idea of what your likes and dislikes are, on top of great ideas for your space. Enjoy!
Order, symmetry, balance and proportion are all essential for a classic look. It often portrays a focal point, usually an original fireplace or beautiful art, around which visual balance is achieved.
A love for original features, always elegant and refined, the personification of chic in interior design.
Classic design is characterised by natural complementary colours, elegant fabrics, and natural flooring in wood, stone or marble.
Main adjectives:
- Balanced
- Elegant
- Harmonious
- Understated
Materials:
- Wood
- Marble flooring
- Original Fireplaces
- Period Details
Colours palettes:
- Complementary neutrals
- Black & White Chess
- Regencial Pastels
Sometimes defined as a perfect combination between function and aesthetics, Scandinavian design pays homage to the way of life of Nordic countries, it is functional, natural and understated, but uncompromising on its level of craftsmanship.
Main adjectives:
- Crafted
- Functional
- Natural
- Clean
Materials:
- Natural elements like form-pressed wood
- Natural fibre throws or furs
- Bespoke hand crafted pieces of furniture.
Colours palettes:
- Most often seen on a pale and subtle colours
- Cold blues & off-whites
- Pops of colour it often comes from the use of art, or a single piece of furniture.
Pays homage to the industrial revolution, where machinery, engineered clocks and warehouse lighting take centre stage.
Dangling metal light fixtures in a neutral colour scheme derived from unfinished ’rough’ materials like concrete, reclaimed wood, exposed bricks and unpolished steel.
Main adjectives:
- Rough
- Energetic
- Masculine
- Unfinished
Materials:
- Concrete
- All kinds of Metals
- Scaffolding Planks
- Steel Meshes
Colours Palettes:
- Greys and Blacks
- Muted browns
Offers a highly purified form of beauty, defined by a sense of functionality and ultra-clean lines.
Colour palettes are neutral and most often cold, furnishings are simple and streamlined, nothing is excessive or flamboyant in furniture or even accessories.
Main adjectives:
- Pure
- Understated
- Masculine
- Cold
- Clean
Materials:
- Glossy and shine surfaces
- Unpatterned titles and flooring
Colours palettes:
- Most often monochromatic
- Usually all white or all black
- Greys & neutrals
- Super plain colours
Inspired by nature, uses earthy primitive materials, like stone, lime render and terracotta.
Ideal for a farmhouse or a barn, vaulted ceilings adorned with wood beams and reclaimed wood floors.
The colour palette is warm with an off-white backdrop, soft rusty tones and stone tiles, accessorised with natural fabrics, leather or fur.
Main characteristics:
- Natural
- Organic
- Warm
- Comfortable
- Country
Materials:
- Wood in all finishes and colours
- Brick walls and stone flooring
- Terracotta Tiles
Colours palettes:
- Off white and beiges
- Mediterranean colours
- Neutral and complimentary
Reflects a more relaxed attitude and lifestyle, preferably in the middle of a tropical forest.
Bohemian interiors uses a mismatched array of items found in widely varied sources including flea markets international travels.
Most often seen with an excessive amount of plants and globally inspired textiles and rugs.
Main characteristics:
- Exotic
- Jovial
- Adventurous
Materials:
- Rag-rugs
- Travel mementos
- African and Moroccan fabrics and ornaments
- Indoor plants
Colours Palettes:
- Multi-colour
- Everything goes
- Often includes pattern clashing
Know Brands & Retailers:
________ ❧ ________
More is more, opulent and extravagant, full of drama and excess, uses highly contrasting palettes, very often in darker colours. Ambiance lighting, sumptuous rich fabrics in velvet and silk.
Shiny metallics and mirrors create a dramatic and stylish interior that’s sure to impress.
It’s a dramatic design style, perfect for a homeowner who enjoys making a statement.
Main adjectives:
- Over the top
- Glamorous
- Extravagant
- Luxurious
Materials:
- Gloss and mirrored finishes
- Silk & Satin Fabrics
- Brass & copper fixtures
Colours palettes:
- Dark on dark
- Highly contrasting colour schemes
- Use of strong accent colours
- Brass and copper
Pop Art
Pop Art as an art movement was first created to emphasise the banal or kitschy elements of everyday culture. Joyful and ironic, uses primary colours and the reduction of complex forms to simpler geometrics to represent a caricature of the world.
Its final intention is to connect with the younger self and make them rethink life with a smile.
Main characteristics:
- Ironic
- Jovial
- Playful
Materials:
- Plastics
- Man-made shine materials
- Any material that does not look natural
Colours palettes:
- Colour block patterns
- Neons & super bright colours
- Primary colours