5 Different Interior Design Styles To Get Inspired By

While the interior design profession and industry have existed for just over 100 years, its process has existed for as long as humans have been creating homes and decorating them, which is essentially since the dawn of time. 

It can be exciting when you decide to redesign and decorate your home. It can also be overwhelming. With so many styles available for us to explore with the click of a button, how do we decide what is right for us?

While there is no set answer, knowing what inspires and excites you can really help. Let’s take a look at some design styles that are popular at the moment to help inspire you for your future design endeavors.

Biophilic Design

​Biophilic design seeks to connect our inherent need to affiliate with nature in the modern built environment. A lot of design ideas that focus on regaining our connection to the natural world through the use of biophilic design principles are being seen and loved by designers.

But, what is it really? 

According to Stephen R. Kellert, since today’s “natural habitat” is largely the built environment, where we now spend 90% of our time, biophilic design seeks to satisfy our innate need to affiliate with nature in modern buildings and cities. Essentially re-connecting us back to our original connection with nature before the modern age took over.

Using natural materials such as wood, and spaces that include natural geometries, for example, fractals and curves, can be classified as biophilic design. In today's world there is a need, and desire, to bring the natural world into our homes, in more ways than one. Creating calming environments, with natural ventilation, surrounded by plants and natural light is not only a ‘want’ for many but a need. 

It has been proven time and time again that a person who is connected to nature, experiences less stress and overwhelm, and it’s time to start incorporating this ethos into the way we design and decorate our homes. 

Bohemian Design

Originating in Paris, a hub for artists, writers, and performers, this design style was commonly seen in their homes. Consisting of bright, relaxed, and creative interiors, a bohemian style has a lack of structure that gives an easy-breezy and carefree feel to a space. It adds a certain ‘Joie de Vivre’ to a room. 

Throw out the rule book and combine multiple patterns, textures, and colors. Essentially this design style is a great way to combine everything that you love. Common color palettes are found to range from traditional metallics such as gold, silver, brass, and chrome, to typical ‘boho’ colors and materials such as wicker and wood. Typically, in this interior design style, original or handmade art pieces work very well, and there is an emphasis on accessories such as rugs, throws, cushions, and lamps. 

This style is perfect for creatives and free spirits. If your main need is creative expression, and you love color, this could be the style for you. 

Mindful and Sustainable Styles

More and more people are wanting to bring a deeper awareness of their home space and the impact it has on our emotions and wellbeing. More spaces will be connected more to homeowners' interests, hobbies, and pleasures. 

Sustainability has been a bit of a buzzword lately, and for great reason. It has become a major issue for everyone. Looking into incorporating sustainable choices into your design? It’s important to create awareness surrounding what is a ‘need’, and what is ‘want’. Investing in resources that you truly need and cutting back on what you don’t. 

Some elements to consider include energy-efficient design, waste reduction management, reducing environmental impact, and creating a healthy ecosystem indoors through connecting the outside world with indoor spaces. ‘Go Green’ doesn’t necessarily reflect products from our homes, like the installation of solar panels, conserving water, or reducing electricity usage. Whilst these do play a vital role in ensuring a sustainable lifestyle, other decor elements play a substantial role too. For example, the materials you use for your furnishings and floor coverings would help you create a healthier environment.

Many designers are beginning to truly learn what the best materials are to use for the long-term health of our ecosystem. Not only that, but many sustainable materials are also significantly better for our health too.

Mid-Century Design

Looking for a design style that never goes out of fashion? This is it.

Think fresh, with minimal fuss, and high functionality. Using a vast range of colors, from black and white bold graphics to more neutral tones, there is a lot to play with. Many fabrics and materials can be utilized to achieve this look, from traditional woods, metals, and glass, to plastics. Include organic geometric forms with sleek, smooth, clean lines and textures. Keeping the number of ornaments low is key. Vintage or classic furniture or statement art pieces are all you need.

Just because you don’t have a Mid-century property, it doesn’t mean you can’t embrace retro style either, with the right materials you can transform any home into a sleek and stylish space.

Curved Furnishings

A major trend is popping up in design. Curves! Curves are popping up everywhere in contemporary architecture, interior design, and furniture. The straight lines endorsed by 20th century-modernism are no longer the norm. Curves are appealingly easy on the eye, playful, and fun. 

Think curved corners within walls and cabinets, curved backs of sofas, dining chairs, and softening the angular line of traditional furnishings.