February 20, 2025
7 Types of Interior Design Styles for Your Home
Moving into a new home or updating your current one can be both exciting and daunting, especially if you don’t know what types of interior design styles you love. With endless Pinterest boards and magazines, it’s natural to feel a bit overwhelmed when choosing the perfect interior design style for your space.
Traditional elegance or sleek contemporary? Bohemian charm or efficient modern minimalism? You may find yourself torn between styles. Should you pick one or try to blend a few?
If you’re still on the hunt for the right style for your home, start by exploring these seven interior design styles.
1: Traditional Style
Traditional interior design is a timeless and classic style known for elegance, symmetry, and comfort. This style embraces a rich color palette, with warm and deep hues like reds, greens, blues, and gold. Ornate details like intricate molding, wainscoting, and moldings add depth and texture to the rooms.
Key characteristics of traditional style include:
- Symmetry: A key characteristic of a traditional style used in the arrangement of furniture and decor, so you may see a pair of matching chairs or lamps flanking a fireplace to create a sense of balance. Classic patterns like stripes, plaids, florals, and damasks are also used.
- Formal and Elegant Furniture: Furniture in traditional style is formal and elegant. You’ll see curved lines, tufted upholstery, and intricately carved details. Antiques or vintage pieces add character and charm while layered textures of silk, velvet, and wool create depth and warmth.
- Large Statement Pieces: Statement pieces are a popular way to create drama and interest in traditional interior design. A grand chandelier or large oil painting may be used as a focal point. Traditional homes also feature details like crown molding, a central fireplace, and high-quality woodwork.
The traditional interior design style is valued for its timeless elegance and charm. It’s a perfect way to create a space that’s inviting and sophisticated. It also has a widespread appeal so it’s an excellent choice if you’re looking to sell your home.
2: ContemporaryStyle
Contemporary design emphasizes form and function, but brings in current trends with a mix of materials and textures.
This interior design style includes:
- Clean and Comfortable Aesthetics: Contemporary design embraces simplicity and clean lines, but balances comfort and function. Uncluttered spaces with minimal decoration create an open and airy environment.
- Warm, Neutral Color Palette: Colors are often warm earth tones in shades of white, gray, beige, and black accented with bold pops of color. These hues allow other design elements to take center stage.
- Integration of Modern Materials and Technology: Contemporary design incorporates modern materials like glass, metal, and concrete. It incorporates technology with hidden wiring, smart home features, and integrated electronics.
This design shares some similarities with traditional design. Both styles aim to create spaces that are visually appealing and highly functional. If you like less ornate elements they can be blended into a transitional style for a simple, elegant room.
This design shares some similarities with traditional design. Both styles aim to create spaces that are visually appealing and highly functional. If you like less ornate elements they can be blended into a transitional style for a simple, elegant room.
3: MinimalistStyle
When you envision minimalist design you likely picture clean lines and open spaces. This type of interior design style emphasizes simplicity and strips away unnecessary elements. It doesn’t mean you have to live in an empty white room, but this style embraces the “less is more” concept, with a pared-down and clutter-free look.
Key characteristics of minimalist interior design include:
- Clean Lines and Geometric Shapes: Furniture, architecture, and decor have straight lines and simple forms for a sleek and simple space.
- Functionality: Minimalist design focuses on the function of the space. Furniture and decor are chosen with utility in mind and each item serves a specific purpose. Furniture is often multi-functional to maximize space and you’ll likely find hidden storage to keep clutter out of sight.
- Natural color palette and materials: Colors in a minimalist space are kept neutral with white, beige, and gray. Accent colors are used to create a calm and serene atmosphere. Natural materials like wood, stone, and metal are used throughout the space with an emphasis on their raw and unpolished textures.
Minimalist interior design relies on negative space for visual impact. To bring personality and interest to your space, add a large statement piece like a large single painting or an eye-catching pendant light.
4: ModernStyle
Modern design prioritizes function, simplicity, and the integration of technology into design. Modern interiors feature clean lines and geometric shapes with more organic and curved forms compared to minimalist designs.
Some characteristics of modern interior design include:
- Functionality and Open Floor Plans: Open floor plans create flow and spaciousness for a seamless transition between areas of the home. Functional pieces like modular furniture and integrated storage are key features of modern design.
- Neutral Color Palette with Pops of Color: Modern design uses a neutral color palette with whites, grays, and blacks. Unlike minimalist design, modern interiors may incorporate bold pops of color as accents. Abstract paintings or sculptures add visual interest and vibrancy to a room.
- Integration of Modern Materials and Technology: Modern materials like glass, metal, concrete, and synthetics are common in modern design. These materials have a sleek and polished finish, adding a touch of sophistication and industrial edge to the space. Technology is often incorporated into the design, with hidden wiring and smart home features.
Modern design is often infused with other types of interior design styles to make a space stand out. For example:
- Organic modern design uses natural materials to infuse modern spaces with warmth and organic textures.
- European modern design adds a touch of elegance with influences from European architecture and design principles.
- Mid-century modern design emphasizes clean lines, organic forms, and a retro-inspired aesthetic.
Bringing in these different design influences allows you to create a space that fully reflects your style.
5: IndustrialStyle
Industrial interior design emphasizes the use of raw, unfinished, and often recycled materials to create a functional and edgy space. You’re more likely to find this style in urban areas which inspires industrial design.
Homes with an industrial style tend to have:
- Raw and Exposed Materials: Industrial design embraces the raw and unfinished look of materials used in factories and industrial settings. Exposed brick walls, concrete floors, metal beams, and pipes bring authenticity and ruggedness to the space.
- Utilitarian Aesthetic: Functional, practical furniture and fixtures inspired by industrial equipment are used. You’ll find metal chairs, reclaimed wood tables, and vintage lighting fixtures. Industrial design often uses utilitarian objects for decor, like exposed light bulbs, gears, and pulleys.
- Open and Spacious Layouts: Industrial spaces usually have open and spacious layouts. The design maximizes the use of space, with high ceilings, large windows, and minimal partitions. This is a common style in loft apartments or converted warehouses. to create a sense of openness and allow for the flow of natural light.
Industrial design is a unique and appealing type of interior design style. Statement lighting and vintage accents like old signs, machinery, and industrial lamps add character to the space and highlight the beauty of simple, authentic materials.
6: BohemianStyle
For those that love a more colorful and eclectic style, bohemian interior design is a perfect choice. Bohemian style is an interior design type that emphasizes eclectic and colorful decor to create a relaxed and carefree space.
Characteristics of bohemian interior design style include:
- Eclectic Mix of Color and Decor: Bohemian design mixes different patterns, textures, and cultural influences from around the world. The style encourages a sense of freedom and self-expression, allowing for a diverse range of colors, fabrics, and decorative elements.
- Rich Colors and Textures: Vibrant jewel tones, earthy hues, and bold pops of color and texture plays a crucial role in Bohemian design. Layered tapestries, rugs, and cushions in eclectic patterns like paisley, ikat, and floral prints add warmth and visual interest to the space.
- Global and Artistic Accents: Handmade and artisanal objects like macrame, woven baskets, and ethnic prints are often incorporated into these spaces. Vintage and flea market finds add history and personality while plants and natural elements bring a sense of life indoors.
Most bohemian-style homes will also have statement lighting like a large chandelier or colorful pendant as a focal point. They’re often filled with personal touches like artwork, photos, and souvenirs to add a sense of individuality. Bohemian design allows for self-expression leading to a relaxed and creative space.
7: CoastalStyle
Coastal style is an interior design type that emphasizes natural light and airy elements to create a relaxed and beachy atmosphere. Rooms are bright and furniture is often light, with clean lines and simple shapes.
A few key characteristics of a coastal interior design style include:
- Light and Airy Color Palette: Coastal design embraces colors inspired by the beach and ocean. Soft shades of white, cream, beige, and pale blues dominate the color scheme. These colors create a sense of tranquility and mimic the coastal environment, bringing a feeling of relaxation and serenity.
- Natural Elements and Textures: Natural elements and textures found in beachside environments are also used. Weathered wood, rattan, jute, sisal, and other organic textures add warmth and authenticity to the space.
- Nautical and Beach-inspired Accents: Nautical and beach-inspired accents create a seaside atmosphere in coastal design. This includes seashells, coral, ropes, and maritime-inspired artwork. Stripes, anchors, and sailboat motifs are also common patterns for fabrics and accessories. Personal touches like artwork, photos, and souvenirs add a touch of individuality to the space.
Coastal design can be used even if you don’t live near the coast. It creates a relaxing atmosphere, connects with nature, and reflects personal style and preferences. If you’re drawn to the coastal aesthetic you can incorporate it into your home no matter where you live.
Other Types of Interior Design Styles to Consider
While this is not a comprehensive list, here are some of the most popular interior design styles to explore if none of the ones listed above appeal to you.
- Transitional Interior Design
- Scandinavian Interior Design
- 20th Century Interior Design
- Eclectic Interior Design
- French Country Interior Design
- Modern Farmhouse Interior Design
- Asian Zen Interior Design
- Japandi Interior Design
- Cottage Interior Design
How to Blend Different Styles
It is possible to blend your two favorite design styles if you find the similarities in the style and balance the differences. Follow these best practices if there are two two types of interior design styles you’d like to blend.
- Identify Common Elements: Look for common elements or themes between the two styles you want to blend. It could be a color palette, a specific material, or a similar design principle. Find points of connection that can act as a bridge between the two styles. For example, minimalist and bohemian designs both incorporate nature. Coastal and contemporary designs both rely on lighter color palettes and organic shapes.
- Balance and Contrast: Pick a color palette that compliments both styles. Consider using neutral colors as a base and incorporating pops of color from each style to create a cohesive and balanced look. Combine textures and patterns like wood, metal, and fabric to add depth and visual interest to the space.
- Edit and Simplify: Keep in mind that blending styles doesn’t mean incorporating every element from both. Trying too hard to represent both styles equally can leave you without a defined style. Edit and simplify your choices to maintain a cohesive look. Choose key pieces that best represent each style (and you!) and let them shine in the space.
Find the Perfect Type of Interior Design Styles for Your Home
With so many types of interior design styles (these are just a few!) and the ability to blend them means you have endless possibilities to design the perfect space for you.
Whether you have a distinct style you love or you want to bring two together, working with an interior designer can make things much easier. At Spark Interiors we can guide you in choosing the right furniture and finishes to create a space that brings in the best elements of all your favorite styles in a welcoming and cohesive design.