Whether you’re refreshing a room or revamping an entire property, one of the first things to determine is the interior style you’re going for.
Which begs the question, what’s your interior style? And for many of us that can be a bit of a tricky question to answer.
After all, you know you love something when you see it, but it can be hard to put into words exactly what that style is.
Don’t worry we’ve got you covered with some of the common style definitions, and how you can determine which one suits you…
The most common design styles, demystified
Truth is there are an array of interior design styles to choose from and each one elicits a feeling, so let’s delve into some of the most common and how that look is attained.
Natural
Ah, the natural look where every aspect of a room is earthy and calming. This style involves the use of natural textures and fibres to create a welcoming, relaxed feel.
Pieces found in a natural interior style include artisan crafted items such as bamboo and rattan furniture, rugs made of natural fibres and additions like indoor plants, and earthy decorator pieces.
Boho and eclectic
The eclectic and bohemian styles are closely related and have been around for a while now.
Both involve embracing your own design flair. Combining natural textures with patterns and pieces that delight you, they are often layered and slightly irreverent, with eclectic falling in the curated end of the spectrum, while boho is a little more wild.
Traditional
The traditional look has a nod to history, and likely includes heritage-style or antique furniture. It’s more formal than its contemporary counterparts but that doesn’t mean you have to stick to one period in time.
You can still juxtapose pieces from different eras to attain the traditional look.
Country
The country interior style is one of the most enduring and encompasses everything from French Provincial to an English cottage feel. The thing about country is it’s casual and cozy, eliciting that homely country living vibe.
Industrial
Industrial emerged as a major trend a few years ago and its legacy continues to linger on. In this case think factory-like and embrace a warehouse vibe, using elements like leather, recycled wood, and metal.
Beachy
There’s a lot to love about coastal living and this passion is brought to life in a beachy style home. When it comes to embracing this design style, it’s all about incorporating the colours and textures of the coast.
Whitewashed wood, pale walls, splashes of blues and nautical decorator pieces all help create that beachy vibe.
Glam
The glam interior design style takes things to a whole new level of sumptuous living, using a lot of luxe and a bit of glitz.
Leather, velvet, and suede are among the textiles often seen in a glam interior along with dramatic feature lighting and carefully curated decorator pieces that elicit a sense of opulence and the Hollywood lifestyle.
Minimalist
In a minimalist interior, less is definitely more. This style is closely associated with Scandi where every piece you add should serve a function yet be beautiful in its simplistic design.
Defining your style
Chances are a couple of those design styles resonated with you as you read the description, but truth is interior decorating doesn’t have to be cut and dried where it’s all about adhering to hard and fast rules.
There is potential for styles to overlap and complement each other.
When it comes to determining which style you want to employ in a room, first consider how you want that room to feel.
Are you after a formal look, a calming space, something elegant, a space that evokes a sense of relaxation or will it be playful and fun?
That feel will underpin the style you seek to implement.
To assist, find areas or pieces in your home that you really like and consider what it is that appeals to you about that item?
It also pays to seek design inspiration elsewhere using magazines, interior design websites and more. When you find a look you like, use it as a starting point to create a mood board, scrapbook, or digital folder of the feel that you’re going for.
Meanwhile, don’t be afraid to ask for expert advice. At Eclectic Style we offer in-store and home personal shopping and styling services to help you define your design style and implement it.
