INTERIOR DESIGN STYLES: WHAT ARE THEIR

ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES

Whether you realize it or not, you probably have a
preferred interior design style. Just as with clothing, there
are certain designs, materials and colours we gravitate
towards.
AMERICAN ARTS AND CRAFTS/AMERICAN
CRAFTSMAN
A common design style in western North America, it recalls the sensibility of the plain
but beautiful shaker style furniture and houses. Although minimal in detail, it is
distinguished from other styles with the use of oak and rectangular spindles
incorporated into armchair arms and sofa frames. Furniture is a blend of exposed
wood and upholstered cushions. Architecturally, peaked A-framed roofs are a
common design feature of an Arts and Crafts style house. Frank Lloyd Wright is one
of the most well-known architects who contributed to this interior design style.
COUNTRY
In and of itself the country interior design style
encompasses many sub categories influenced
by different cultures.
French Country includes cotton and linen
fabrics in hues of bright blues and yellows,
terracotta floors, natural and light
wood. English Country includes a variety of
floral patterns, stripes and plaids. Light wood
such as oak is also widely used. American
Country emphasizes earth tones, rustic furniture
sometimes mixed with red,white and blue and
plenty of light pine. In these sub-categories,
there is an abundance of fabric and the style
can include larger, cozier furniture pieces, triple
pleated, full length curtains and accessories to
indicate a warm and welcoming environment.
This style works best with more traditional
architecture.
INDUSTRIAL OR URBAN
A newer trend that has flourished with
the conversion of former factories in
downtown areas into condos. This interior
design style prefers the use of more
industrial materials such as concrete for
floors and walls, exposed beams or
stripped floors, stainless steel and metal.
Furniture materials include leather,
reclaimed wood, stainless steel. The style
emphasizes space, so furniture tends to
be sparser and can feel cooler. Black,
chrome and raw materials are dominant
materials in this theme.
CONTEMPORARY, MODERN AND
MINIMALIST: THREE INTERIOR DESIGN
STYLES WITH A COMMON THEME
Contemporary, Modern and Minimalist interior design styles have a lot in common
such as clean lines, lower sitting furniture and emphasizing negative space. Some
people find these styles to be cold and uncomfortable. However, if implemented
properly, they can be comfortable and help small spaces appear larger. There are,
however, distinct differences that define each style.
 MINIMALIST
This interior design style uses natural
light to highlight spaces and shapes.
Cool colours and cool white and blue
lighting are primary items in this
design style. Because the style focuses
on including the bare minimum of
furniture, hidden storage is key.
Minimalist kitchens, for instance, will
have cabinets that blend into the walls
and hide functional items.
 MODERN
This interior design style was
born from the Bauhaus
movement, a school out of
Germany founded in 1919. One
of its primary principals was
form follows function. This is one
of the first design styles that
fully integrated form and
function. Clean lines are a
central theme of this style.
Colours are neutral, black and
white. There are few accessories.
CONTEMPORARY
includes clean lines, geometric shapes
with little if any ornate work.
Emphasizing space within a room is
important. Furniture is low, upholstered in
solid, evenly woven fabric in neutral
colours. This style can also include was it
popular today from “in” colours to
furniture and technology. Twenty years in
the future the current contemporary style
may become “retro.”
ECLECTIC INTERIOR DESIGN STYLES

The interior design styles below are not quite as concerned with emphasizing
negative space but rather focus on the use of furniture, fabric, materials and colours
to create distinctive looks which are radically different from one another, but suitable
for the spaces they occupy.
ECLECTIC INTERIOR
DESIGN STYLES
Classic
This interior design style focuses on symmetry
and building the decor on a focal point in the
room. For instance, a fireplace flanked by
two identical sofas or armchairs is a common
use of the classic style. The colour palette is
drawn from nature; soft hues of earth tones,
blues, yellows, grays and pinks are common.
Fabrics are elegant without being ornate,
such as cotton, linen and velvet. Furniture is
comfortable yet still elegant and will include
showing off turned legs or using skirts to hide
plain legs.
RETRO
This style can draw from past decades
with an updated feel. Within this
category styles from art deco, arts and
crafts eras are recreated with a more
contemporary look. Eras such as the
psychedelic sixties or Scandinavian Cool
will be recreated to fit in with today’s
looks. Depending on the era, fabrics,
colour palettes and styles will differ
according to the design style it is
imitating. Done right, this style can
recreate an older dated look with
modern flare.
ROCOCO OR OPULENT
This interior design style derives its
characteristics from the days of palace living.
Therefore common themes are opulent fabrics
of silk, brocade and velvet. Gold painted
plaster work contrasts with pastel walls either
painted or in silk or silk like wallpaper.
Furniture pieces are as ornate as the walls
and often include curved arms, ovals and
spirals. The dominant colours used are pink,
gold, yellow, azure blue and cream. This style
can be expensive to create because of the
nature of the materials as well as the
workmanship necessary for creating or
refurbishing plaster work. It is not well-suited
to smaller spaces as it can be overpowering.