7 Interior Design Styles Every Adult Should Know
Oftentimes, when meeting with clients, they tell me they want a certain design style. After observing their inspiration images and understanding the psychology of what they gravitate towards, we discover the style they have seen all over the internet, is not the style they thought they knew.
I want to break down the 7 most popular classic design styles from the last century and how they influence our design culture today.
Art Deco
Making the top of the list, Art Deco is naturally one of my favorites. The lettering in my logo was inspired by forms from the era. Embodying trapezoid shapes, chevrons, sweeping curves, stylized wildlife, and jagged edges, this modern yet classic style is a showstopper.
Art deco was popular in the US and Europe between the 1920s up until the 1950s. More minimalist in nature than art nouveau, but bold, symmetrical, and full of patterns and themes, this style transformed architecture and fashion in its time and is inching its way into design today.
This style is so fabulous, I think it deserves its own blog post, don’t you?
Arts and Crafts
The Arts and Crafts style emerged as a movement after the industrial revolution made its way with factory-produced duplicates. This style was a way to preserve the quality and craftsmanship of home décor and furniture. Keeping the materials simple, with attention to fine detail and handmade.
Modern vs. Contemporary
Can you spot the difference between modern and contemporary design? Mixing up these fabulous styles is a rookie mistake, but not to fret, I am here to show you the ropes.
Simply put, modern is a design style referring to the modernism of the 19th and 20th centuries. It is characterized by a clean, uncluttered, unfussy lifestyle.
With the advancement of technology, contemporary is a catch-all phrase that could refer to minimalism, scandinavian, and a mix of design styles that have a current, up-to-date approach. This new design style cannot be pinned to one specific aesthetic as new design trends are still emerging.
Bauhaus
Another favorite style of mine, Bauhaus, follows the holistic principle of “Form follows function.” One of the most notable characteristics of its time was the inventions and revolutionary use of materials such as steel and metal, and playing with plastic and plywood.
Today we are seeing Bauhaus-inspired designs all over with lightweight furniture, thin and slender with block patterns, bright colors, and geometric shapes.
Art Nouveau
Art Nouveau, is coined for being embellished, rebellious, and more whimsical than its younger sister Art Deco. It is characterized by its use of long organic, sinuous, curved lines paired with ornamental features. This style was a deliberate attempt to create a new style, free from the history that dominated the 19th century.
Mid-Century Modern
One can’t go online and not discover a Mid-Century Modern inspired piece. Mid-Century Modern was a design movement during the 1950s. The style is modern in style and construction and is characterized by clean, simple lines with honest use of materials, integrity, and little to no ornamentation.
I see these classic design styles as a movement of their time, and we gravitate towards those that fit our lifestyle and identity. Discovering your favorite style is fun and can be a timely process. Referring to the classics is a great way to gain inspiration for a project pulling from its roots. My style is constantly evolving, but if I could have it my way, I would mix Contemporary and Art Deco any day.
Cheers,
Eden