Current Interior Design Styles Explained
If you’ve ever felt like you were ordering an elaborate Starbucks drink when attempting to describe a design style, this post is for you. (“I’ll have a grand millennial organic japandi, extra bold please!”) Take a look at the Venn diagram below to see how the following styles overlap. No wonder it’s difficult to keep them straight!
Modern interior design is often synonymous with the Bauhaus design movement. In 2012 I had the privilege of touring the Bauhaus school in Dessau, Germany, where I took the two photos on the right. The style’s defining traits are open floor plans, minimal decor, and materials like leather and steel. The color palette is neutrals plus very pure and vibrant colors like red, yellow, and blue.
Contemporary design features hard surfaces without decorative historic details (like moulding and trim). The floor plans are usually open and expansive. Interior elements include a mix of crisp straight edges contrasted with curvy organic lines, and metals are prominent.
Scandinavian style is known for its white walls, light woods, and cozy textiles. If it were a piece of clothing, it would be a thick pair of woolly socks. Extra hygge points for adding candles, books, and a mug of coffee or tea. (If you’re curious, that’s pronounced WHO-guh.)
Mid-century modern design. This style is characterized by wooden furniture (usually walnut) with spindly legs, low horizontal lines, and an earthy color palette with bold sparks of color. It borrows many of its features from Japanese interior design. Initially popularized in the 1950s and 1960s, mid-century modern style has had a resurgence in the 2010s. My first house in Columbus was built in 1950, and I decked it out with vintage furniture from places like Grandview Mercantile and Eclectiques Antique Mall.
Minimalism doesn’t have to mean stark—”well-appointed” might be more accurate. You can think of it as having only what you need and use in a space and nothing more. The design elements can still have color and style, as long as they are also functional. And as you may have noticed from the Venn diagram, minimalism can borrow aspects of many different styles.
Organic Modern style is a softer version of minimalism that is grounded by textures like raw wood, plaster, stone, and linen. Plants are usually included or featured in this style. Furniture is often sculptural and even animalistic (check out these designs).
Hopefully this clears things up a bit when it comes to these trending (and also timeless!) design styles. Whatever you fancy, we’d love to make it happen for you.