How to Pick Your Interior Design Style

/ @designREMODEL/
Image by Monoar_CGI_Artist from Pixabay

Image by Monoar_CGI_Artist from Pixabay

By Ashley Zimmermann, Creative Content Director for @designREMODEL

Designing your dream home (as well as your current living space) should be a fun, creative experience, but often the hardest part is knowing where to start. Luckily, many great resources exist to help you narrow your options and begin the journey. 

A Basic Primer

I found Nick Lewis’s YouTube video “Most Popular Interior Design Styles Explained | How To Find Your Decorating Style in 2020” to be extremely helpful as a framework for understanding design options. His top ten styles and a few key descriptors are listed below:

  1. Traditional- formal 

  2. Classic Farmhouse and Modern Farmhouse- rustic 

  3. Boho/Bohemian- eclectic

  4. Industrial- unfinished

  5. Minimalist- “clean lines”

  6. Scandinavian- the warmth of home

  7. Mid-Century Modern- retro 

  8. Coastal/Hamptons- beachy

  9. Glam- luxurious 

  10. Zen/Japanese Zen- relaxation

Nick’s descriptions are detailed and precise and gave me a foundation for understanding “what is what” regarding design styles. I had heard of all these styles before, but not in any structured context. They were all just words before. This video gave me a mini 101 course.

Kristen McGowan’s video “10 Interior Design Styles Explained | Find Your Design Style 2021” is another very helpful resource. Her top ten are listed here, along with descriptors for the themes not already listed:

  1. Boho/Bohemian

  2. Mid-century Modern

  3. Farmhouse and Modern Farmhouse

  4. Scandinavian

  5. Modern- minimalism

  6. Traditional

  7. Transitional- a mix of old and new

  8. Industrial 

  9. French Country-soft rustic

  10. Contemporary- trending today

Kristen reiterates most of the styles Nick talks about, so that repetition allowed the design themes to really sink in for me. She also suggests stores you can visit to look for pieces from each style, such as IKEA and Pottery Barn.

Décor Aid’s “20 Classic Interior Design Styles Defined” from 2019 offers a more in-depth breakdown of styles and extra sub-styles, including Hollywood Regency and Shabby Chic. Consult this guide after you’ve learned the basics.

Quizzes Abound! 

Who doesn’t like a good quiz?

  • Check out this quiz from HGTV: Find Your Design Style + Toast Your Good Taste

    Here is one from the Designer Society of America: Interior design style quiz - Designer Society of America 

    Modsy.com’s quiz is found here: What's Your Home Design Style? Take The Modsy Style Quiz!

    Curbly.com suggests 8 Online Interior Style Quizzes That Are Actually Worth Your Time (the DSA quiz is included on their list)

More Inspo

As fashion-forward folks and makeup artists will tell you, your style is your own. You can do whatever you want when designing your home! However, the styles listed above are tried and true and can offer inspiration if you want it.

Homes & Gardens’s article Interior design trends 2021 – the 25 top looks for the New Year and beyond showcases some current trends; a few themes are country-inspired and warm-weather-inspired decoration and maximalism (bold, contrasting palettes, patterns, and pieces- ‘anti-minimalism,’ in other words). For more, Foyr.com suggests 17 Best Interior Design Magazines and Blogs You Must Read in 2021. 

Ideas and inspiration are everywhere; pick what you like and leave what you don’t. Make it your own.