9 of the Most Popular Interior Design Styles and How to Choose One

Are you building your dream home...or remodeling your current home to become your dream home?

There's no denying that building a home comes with a lot of huge design decisions and remodeling is just as much work, if not more. It can be overwhelming to decide which interior design style is best suited for your home and your family's needs, especially if you don't know much about interior design in general.

In this post, we're going to help you out by going over 9 of the most popular interior design styles and why they're so popular. Then, we'll give you a few pointers on how to make this big decision.

Don't let yourself get bogged down by designing every room in your home. Just enjoy the process and start by learning more about the endless options ahead of you.

1. Contemporary

We're starting with contemporary interior design because it's the style that's most confusing to people. In fairness, it's hard to pin down because it changes with the times and doesn't actually adhere to a particular style. At various points, mid-century modern, industrial, or farmhouse could all be considered "contemporary".

Contemporary is whatever is popular in the here and now. We understand that it's still a bit vague, so the best thing to do if you want the most current trends in your home is to discuss them with an interior designer. They always know what's hot right now and what style is likely to be the next big thing.

2. Industrial

Industrial style takes inspiration from warehouse lofts that you'd find in bigger cities like New York or Chicago. It typically features high ceilings and an open concept with exposed brick, wood beams, ducts, and pipes. 

The idea is to give your room an unfinished-yet-cool look and vibe. You might add a few art canvases on the walls to contrast with a fairly neutral color scheme, with brick and wood being the most common surfaces. Add a few functional pieces of furniture and you're all set.

3. Mid-Century Modern

If you're into the style of the 1950s and 60s, then mid-century modern is probably the way to go. Perpetually one of the most popular styles, mid-century modern features almost minimalist designs, with functionality being the key idea behind it all. 

Bentwood frames and teak are often found in mid-century modern rooms, along with simple fabric that complements any room.

4. Modern Farmhouse

You might have guessed that modern farmhouse design incorporates more rustic elements than you might find in a farmhouse and pairs them with more modern elements. It's a fun one because you get to blend two disparate styles, using lots of wood, adding black metal window frames, then having solid white countertops and modern appliances.

Basically, you can take an element of your room and blend the styles to create something unique. For instance, if you've got a big solid wood table, you can put some modern metal stools around it.

5. Scandinavian

The success of Scandi home outfitters like Ikea, Lassen, and others would suggest that Scandinavian interior design is extremely popular right now. We'll discuss minimalism in more detail in the next section, but the Scandinavians clearly have a great appreciation for keeping it simple and useful.

Most of the decor stays within a small color scheme, mainly white, and the furniture is always functional. That being said, there's a pop art side of Scandi design that keeps it more interesting than it sounds.

6. Minimalism

There's been a minimalist boom as of late. It's become more of a lifestyle than an interior design style and if you're someone that likes to embrace the minimalist philosophies, then you're likely to enjoy the design as well.

Minimalism interior design takes the Scandi and modern approaches one level further. Usually, you'll only find one or two colors in a room, really good natural light (or lamps, if the room lacks windows), and the rest of the decor is all about the "less is more" philosophy. It's about living a clutter-free life, so you'll only implement what you think is absolutely necessary, whether it's furniture or art.

7. Art Deco

Art deco design started as a nod to European luxury in the 1920s and quickly made it overseas to America in the 30s. It's all about gold and jewels, so if you like dark greens, blues, and reds on your walls and textiles, then you'll probably love this style. 

There's also a lot of drama involved in art deco. Big chandeliers and antique furniture with gold and silver accents are prominent and work really well with the tones we discussed above.

8. Traditional

If you go with traditional, like art deco, you'll be using a lot of European-inspired lines and textures. Furniture and trim usually incorporate dark wood, rich colors, and lots of interesting accessories. It all combines to give off a really classic (and classy) vibe that visitors will undoubtedly be impressed by.

One of the perks of traditional design is that it gives the designer a lot of freedom to work. There are many different motifs and accessories under the "traditional" umbrella, so you've got endless combination options.

9. Transitional

Transitional basically takes traditional design concepts and smashes them together with modern and contemporary elements to create a unique and personal design style. Often, people that choose one or the other style get overwhelmed by everything taking on one look, so by combining the two styles, you can find the perfect balance.

You can find lots of examples of the transitional style on the web. If you're someone that likes both the old and the new, this one is for you.

Which Interior Design Styles Should You Go With

Now that you know a bit more about the different interior design styles, you can start to figure out which ones are best for your new home or remodel project. Choosing just one style can feel overwhelming, especially if you're doing more than one room. But it's important to remember that you can match different styles in different rooms and make it work.

For instance, Scandinavian, modern, and industrial can all compliment each other well. Transitional is essentially a combination of modern and traditional. If you follow your gut, you'll find something that works.

When you involve a great interior designer, you can unlock your creativity. MK2 is one of Florida's top builders and design agencies.

Every one of our projects is a custom design, so you can follow your gut and we'll help you incorporate whichever design styles suit your fancy. Visit our site to learn more about what we do, find examples of our work, and request a quote for your home design.