The history of interiors is best told in terms of the interior design styles which have dominated.
From the influential cabriole legs and fauteuil chairs of 17th century French design to the shallow button tufting and iconic pieces of Mid-century modern furniture, the many different types of interior design styles are diverse and fascinating.
What constitutes a country sofa? How does traditional differ from classical? Which accessories are most at home in a decidedly Hollywood Regency interior?
Discover our rundown of what you need to know about the world’s most popular interior design styles.
A twentieth century interior design style known for simple forms, clean lines and uncomplicated finishes, Minimalism considers the importance of negative space as much as positive space.
Accessorising is consciously sparse and sculptural pieces take precedence over ornamental designs. Built-in storage, behind seamless doors, and careful furniture arrangements create a cool, composed vibe.
Typically sans colour and pattern, texture plays a key role in minimalist interiors.
Scandinavian interior style is underpinned by three main focuses – easy living, functionality and a penchant for all things natural.
Woods (usually pale to medium and typically ashy) are the most universal element of Scandinavian interiors, used in conjunction with whitewashed walls and breezy furniture arrangements.
Seating is slim-lined in comparison to other styles with full upholstery usually being limited to sofas. Armchairs tend to be partially upholstered, wooden or wireframe and stools and benches are common.
Occasional furniture is also wooden, low-profile and very straightforward with little ornamentation or decorative woodwork.
Traditional interior style is best represented by quintessential English furniture design and, in particular, the country’s impressive manufacturing history.
Handsome, rich and inherently formal are the style’s underpinning elements and important pieces, such as the button-tufted Chesterfield sofa or wingback chair, characterise its penchant for well-constructed, robust designs.
Large casegood pieces often incorporate prominent cornicing, seemingly inspired by architectural mouldings, and upholstery is most commonly rendered in supple dark leathers (although designs are often modernised with neutral fabrics).
A contemporary interior style is the interior design aesthetic which is presently popular at any given time. The current look is best described as luxury modern.
Furniture lines are clean and uncomplicated but finishes are integral, innovative and luxurious, creating a nonchalant and stylish dialogue.
Sofas and armchairs well-designed but comfortable, being upholstered in lustrous velvets and chenilles. Coffee tables and casegoods are understated and simplified or monolithic and sculptural.
Installation lighting is an important element of a room’s overall design as is specialist wall cladding and flooring.
Hollywood Regency is a high-glamour interior design style which originated and was most popular in California since the mid-twentieth century.
The design is inspired predominantly by the glamorous residences of the cinema’s Golden Era movie stars.
High-contrast colour combinations – hot pink and kelly green, black and white, turquoise and lemon yellow – are one of the style’s most notable features.
Grand chandeliers, high gloss black or mirrored casegoods and skirted boudoir upholstery are main characteristics of the style.
Rococo remained an influential inspiration and Chinoiserie elements such as bamboo frame metal furniture and mirrors were also used.
Recognised by its use of heavy timbers, animal hides and generously proportioned furniture, chalet style is the almost universal interior design style choice for mountain chalets and lakeside lodges.
It suitably balances the natural characteristics of its locales by incorporating appropriate natural materials and colour palettes.
Exposed beams, timber-clad walls and stone elements characterise the style’s context. Typical chalet furniture often incorporates natural elements. Dining tabletops rest on raw wood bases and side tables of petrified wood are popular. Cast iron or antler chandeliers are the most traditional lighting choices.
