18 Home Decor Styles And Why They Work (2024)

Let’s begin with the style with the most robust pedigree. When many people say the word “traditional” what they mean is “of the aesthetic traditions of 18th and 19th-century European interiors,” especially French and English interiors. This style is all about formality and, when executed properly, the spaces feel elegant and refined. Traditional interiors prioritize symmetry and layering, leaning heavily on architectural detailing. Think crowned molding, wainscoting, dark wood finishes, creamy neutrals, richly colored accents and furniture sets that match.

The traditional aesthetic can sometimes feel a bit stuffy in open floor plan modern homes, but that doesn’t mean you have to give up the aesthetic altogether. There are quite a few styles that pull from the traditional aesthetic to create timeless and modern approaches for today’s homes. One such style is up next.

In many ways, the transitional aesthetic is a sentimental one, tapping into the nostalgia of your grandparent’s antiques and adapting them into the modern world. Think earthy tones paired with traditional molding or dark wood antiques alongside more organic and subdued furniture pieces. Typically, this style favors rich accents on a neutral backdrop with an emphasis on texture rather than pattern.

Transitional is inherently a mutable style. It’s capable of taking on a variety of flavors, making it a great option for anyone who wants to ease into the style-verse or who is looking to build a more curated eclectic style.

The key word with eclecticism is curated. The goal is to create a space that is robust and rich, but not overwhelming. This is a great style if you like antiques of different periods, or have a home with more traditional detailing as it lends itself to a less matchy-matchy execution than traditional design. Modern lighting will also go a long way to bring in the eclectic touch, as will adding in furniture and decor pieces with more modern textures and patterns.

That being said, eclecticism doesn’t have any set rules. Its layered nature makes it well-suited to combining with many other styles, but it requires a good bit of patience to build up a good collection.

Maximalism turns up the volume, emphasizing bold and unexpected design choices. Pattern is paramount here, as are rich colors and layers of visual texture. It’s easy to overdo it with this style, so starting small is important. A great place to start is by adding one or two bold elements to your space such as a patterned wallpaper with matching patterned pillows.

Creating rules for yourself can help you hold the reins of this style. For example, if you like the curated clutter look, choose a theme for your gallery wall like oceanscapes. By narrowing down the theme of the pieces, you also will narrow down your palette, which allows you to keep your space cohesive. Focusing on saturation, rather than scattered elements, will help keep your space from feeling chaotic.

The bohemian look is the more approachable sibling of eclecticism. With a long tradition, the bohemian style is relaxed and lush, drawing from the colors and lifestyles of cultures from all over the world. If you are something of a traveler or collector, this style will suit you well. Similar to eclecticism, there aren’t really any set rules to this style. A few key elements, however, would be natural textures like rattan and jute, warm mixed metals, bold patterns and colors and layered lighting.

Handmade goods are also a common feature, particularly block prints, macrame and other woven or printed pieces. While color palettes can vary greatly, warm neutrals are a good place to start, especially with wood finishes. The bohemian style is inherently playful, so it’s well suited to those who enjoy a casual and relaxed environment.

The contemporary moniker often leads to some confusion. By definition, contemporary aesthetics are of the moment and are therefore constantly shifting and evolving. Contemporary design in 2022 is subtle, warm and neutral. At its heart this style takes the visual diversity of transitional design and sends it into the future, with an emphasis on more modern textures and shapes.

Color palettes are generally subdued, contrasting textures is common and striking visual forms are a must. While many key tenants of this style mirror the transitional look, contemporary style looks to more modern elements for its personality and funk, employing reflective materials like glass and polished metals to bring a glamorous, and sometimes even industrial, finish.

The glam style has its roots in classic art deco style with an emphasis on curved furniture, lush textures, jewel tones and reflective surfaces. The style evolved overtime to what has become known as glam or Hollywood glam, tying back to the golden age of Hollywood. These days, this style is most popular as a way to elevate the otherwise neutral elements of contemporary and modern styles.

To tap into this style, look for bold accessories and furniture pieces in luxe fabrics like satin, suede and velvet. Window treatments are a great place to start. Mirrored surfaces, lacquered millwork and glass will also add some of that classic art deco gleam. And for the bold, nothing says Hollywood glam quite like animal print or a bold all-over tone.

Modernism as an aesthetic evolved from the belief that design should be simple, functional and accessible. New forms and textures were born in the wake of technological and material advances at the start of the twentieth century, bringing us the sleek and minimal spaces we now think of as modern. Sinuous shapes, curved chrome chair legs, simple machine-precise detailing and minimal decor defines this style.

This style is an excellent foundation for people who are looking to create clean and minimal spaces. While modern spaces can sometimes be a bit stark, adding contemporary elements like earthy tones and varied textures can go a long way to soften things up and integrate this style into more traditional spaces.

Like its predecessor, mid-century modern is a style defined by an era. In particular, the American postwar era of the 1950s and 60s. The design staples of this style are hairpin legs, warm wood tones like teak and rosewood and vibrant earthy color palettes. Curving shapes and intentional detailing also define a lot of the furniture and lighting. This style is really versatile, but it looks particularly excellent in craftsman bungalows and postwar apartment buildings of the same era.

Mixing in a few midcentury pieces is also a great way to simultaneously modernize your space and give it a retro warmth. It’s ideal for those who don’t want to have a fussy space, but still want a bit of personality. Mix in boho elements for a more casual look, or go full blast with an Eames’ lounge chair for the full retro effect.

The Scandinavian aesthetic is clean and serene. Its nordic roots lead to an emphasis on using natural materials in understated ways to create spaces that are both sophisticated and relaxed. Unlike many of the palettes from this era, the Scandinavian palette favors pale, unsaturated tones that emphasize the organic character of natural elements. Think simple wax finishes on wood floors, pale or gray wood tones like ash and walnut, natural undyed wool and linen.

The key to this style is to create a space that feels welcoming, warm and bright. Aim for adding rich textures like sheepskin and linen. The detailing of this style is thoughtful, but minimal, with many furniture pieces having an emphasis on construction. A great example of this is the bentwood design of the wishbone chair. This is the style that birthed Ikea, so simple sophistication rules the day.

The Southwestern style takes its cues from mid-century modern design, but with a warmer and weightier finish. Instead of hairpin legs and classic boucle, furniture pieces have chunkier wooden legs and plushier upholstery in canvas and leather. The neutral backdrop remains, but is more saturated and textured to reflect the soft warmth of the adobe material, so terracotta and rust are foundational colors.

This style also tends to feature softer woven elements and heavy ironwork, either as architectural elements or in the accents and decor, bringing a visual balance to the space. In general, the style is very structural and distinct, including the vibrant patterned pillows and throws that really bring the southwestern style home.

With its foundations in modernism, the minimalist style takes the clean lines and paired down style to even more uncomplicated depths. Much of the minimalist ethos stems from Japanese design of the modern era, emphasizing functional and subtly-detailed furniture pieces and little to no extraneous decor. The key is to allow for lots of negative space so that everything you see serves a purpose.

Devoting your space to the minimalist ethos is not for the faint hearted, but that doesn’t mean you can’t achieve some of the benefits of a paired down style. Curate furniture pieces that can double as hidden storage spots, keep you color palettes neutral and avoid a lot of texture and pattern. Just remember: restraint is key to minimalism, so don’t go overboard.

The industrial style takes on many of the tenants of modernism as both a lifestyle and aesthetic but with a distinctly well-worn twist. Think dark rough-hewn steel in lieu of shiny chrome, exposed infrastructure and brick instead of carefully concealed elements. Polished concrete, sculptural lighting and structural-looking furniture elements tie the two styles together.

Generally, the industrial style is best-suited to lofty spaces with exposed brick and big factory windows, but that doesn’t mean you can’t also include elements of the style in your own home. The industrial style works particularly well as a sort of aesthetic foil to many of the softer and more subdued styles. Mix in a steel-framed coffee table with your soft Scandi sofa or pair a slouchy leather lounge chair with your more traditional upholstered loveseat. The contrasting textures and colors will go a long way in helping your space feel unique and cohesive.

The modern farmhouse style is a contemporary style that has become so ever present it now has its very own moniker. Modern farmhouse is all about taking the well-worn and artless elements of classic farmhouse styles, such as shiplap, barn doors and raw plank flooring, and elevating them to make something that is more couture than country. This style has also become ubiquitous enough to be easily adapted in a variety of homes, but it favors the suburban open concept space. The goal is to have a space that feels elevated but comfortable.

Found objects and upcycled items are a great place to start. The color palette is generally neutral, favoring earth tones like greens and blues. High-contrast black and white also comes into play, particularly with black metal finishes and more traditional lighting. Plush pieces and lots of layers that incorporate farmhouse textures like old-school plaids and stripes will also go a long way in bringing in that welcoming farmhouse feel.

Imagine if the modern farmhouse style and the industrial style merged into one style and then went a few rounds with a belt sander. That is the best way to imagine the rustic style. Rustic design leans on the weathered look of old farmhouses, with less white-washing than the modern take and even more raw wood. Weathered pieces, found objects and vintage elements, including more rough-hewn industrial touches, are also a great fit. A neutral earthy palette works well here, but adding more patterned touches, like gingham, or textures, like canvas and flannel, will help emphasize the more rustic feel.

This is not your grandmother’s seashells-and-wicker beach house style. The coastal aesthetic, sometimes called modern coastal, aims to create a contemporary oasis. As expected, the color palette leans on sea blues, nautical stripes, sandy tones and lots of crisp, bright whites to create an atmosphere that is relaxed and, well, beachy. Natural light is imperative with this style, as is an emphasis on large windows, so window treatments are often minimal and gauzy.

Utilizing natural materials and elements also adds an earthy touch to the style but with a softer touch. Think of the visual softness of sandblasted sea glass and sun-bleached driftwood. Layers of light textures, like linen and cotton, will keep the space welcoming. For a more mediterranean twist on the style, lean on darker wood finishes, warmer earth tones and textured wall finishes like lime plaster.

The English country aesthetic is a hodgepodge of styles, with traditional elements, shabby chic references and even a bit of pastel maximalism. At its core, however, the English country style is pastoral and delicate. The hallmarks of this style are floral prints, meticulously detailed upholstery and pastels. Similar to eclecticism, this style works well with a combination of vintage pieces ranging from distressed farmhouse elements to more refined antiques. A crystal chandelier wouldn’t be out of place and neither would a few touches of cane or rattan.

This style is best known for its femme refined aesthetic and it works best in spaces with more traditional architectural detailing that can either contrast or complement the soft hues. The great thing is that many of the elements of this style can be easily co-opted to add a bit of saccharine sophistication to any space. If you’re looking for a place to start, consider a damask wallpaper or decorative pillows and lampshades complete with tassels.

This style has a plethora of names, but we’ll go with desert modern as it best encapsulates the elements that make it unique. At the foundation is a modern simplicity, with touches of Scandinavian and mid-century forms. The detailing, however, is what sets this style apart. The desert modern palette is warm and earthy with sandy browns and rusty terracottas making up the base layer. Orange-toned leather and wood elements bring in a bit of southwestern flair, while an accentuation of earthen textures, like plaster and stone, give the entire style a more subdued finish.

Similar to other modern styles, geometric designs and high-contrast artwork will feel right at home. They’ll also pair particularly well with the other natural elements and handspun textures this style favors. If you like the simplicity of modern styles, but crave a touch more pizzazz, then this style is a great fit.

Every design style leans on others for its defining features, creating an ever-evolving catalog of styles that speak to one another. We hope having a better understanding of these connections will help you to play with these styles and find a balance that is wholly unique and tailored to you.