Decoration styles: Which one to use and keys to interior design

Decorative styles for home

Throughout the centuries artistic movements have sparked different trends in all fields. In the architecture sector they have also had their impact, moving not only to the design of the building, but also to the world of ornamentation and decoration of houses. There are born, decoration styles that we know today.

The basic premises when decorating our home are the available space, the usefulness of the objects and the daily needs.

In addition to the available meters, it is also important to take into account elements that help to visually expand the space, such as light and color, and the optimal integration of decorative elements such as furniture, mirrors …

Once the possibilities that our house has are studied (At the end we provide an excellent video and scheme to know what style of decoration is best for home), we will work out the decorative idea and develop the decorative style that we like or that it identifies more with our personality.

But first, let's see the main decoration styles most representative …

1.- Classic Style

One of the trends that has endured in history is the classic style in decoration; choice of beauty and sophistication that lasts over time. Make no mistake, the classic style is more modern than many people think.

The environments are dressed in elegance and this style is often presented as synonymous with good taste by many decorators.

The use of noble woods is one of its main characteristics; beech, oak or cherry add warmth. The furniture is rather traditional, well worked; They are timeless pieces that can adapt to any environment, while being functional and beautiful.

Lighting is an essential aspect: it must be soft. The colors will be chosen in soft tones; cream will be a safe choice that will never clash with the warmth of wood or rich and sumptuous fabrics such as damasks, silks, velvets.

The elements used when decorating a dining room or living room must transmit warmth and comfort: floral prints, the Toile de jouy; plants, baseboards, wide curtains and delicate ornaments, green, maroon, dark red and brown colors.

2.- Rustic Style

We continue with decorative trends where the protagonists are the noble and natural materials. We talk about the rustic style decoration, functionality with evocative airs.

Traditionally the origin of this home ornamentation (which is also called farm style or chic farmhouse) is in the traditional decoration of rural country or village houses. With the increase of followers in caring for the interior decoration of houses in the city, many people are also using shades of this style.

Create a cozy environment, but with a casual and modern atmosphere. The most emblematic materials are wicker, mat or iron, they will appear little treated and will be applied in objects and utensils, many times handmade.

Look for noble and little worked materials; wood, wicker or mat

The fabrics, hard as linen, cotton, light colored canvases, are symbols of the rustic style. Within this style there are different trends, such as Mediterranean style, the Mexican style… etc, which are more decorative adaptations according to the customs of the region.

On the walls of the home, warm colors are chosen such as the earth range, browns, yellows, and, of course, white. Materials such as wood or stone. Everything must revolve around a simple functionality, fleeing from cluttered environments.

3.- Colonial Style

Another distinguished one in the field of interior design is the colonial style. An evocation of the past with hints of glamor for hot environments.

It is a rustic style with elements of the cultures of the lands conquered by the great powers of the 19th century such as France, England and Spain.

In this decorating style for a house, wood is the basic element. They are very resistant woods such as mahogany, teak, iroko. The quintessential colonial touch is given by the metal applications in the corners and sides of pieces such as trunks, chests of drawers.

Another key element is the folding chairs, legs in the form of blades, the leather. Fabrics such as raffia, linen, burlap, will help us to give more authenticity to this warm environment. Remember the article on how to decorate with fabrics where there are many useful tips.

4.- Minimalist Style

If you ask a decorator … What style of decoration is better? Or, rather, which environment is easier to harmonize, it will directly tell you that the minimalist style for homes it is the fastest option. The reduction of decorative elements to the minimum expression is the motto of this famous trend in interior design and exterior of houses.

The main premise of this style is to minimize the elements, volumes and shapes; dispense with color and seek beauty in the minimum expression, without artifice, with serenity and sobriety. A very suitable style for small spaces as we already discussed in the article on how to decorate a balcony with good ideas.

Pure shades in color and use noble materials mainly in their natural state

It was born in the 60s and artists like Mies Van Der Rohe will vindicate it in the reflection of simplicity and the concept of the search for original beauty.

The colors will be soft in the houses. Materials: steel, wood, glass. The minimalist design lines will be refined and refined, drawing clean spaces where light plays an essential role and only essential objects stand out.

We have two good articles on minimalism to learn more about:

  • How to decorate with minimalist style
  • Minimalist houses with perfect design

5.- Oriental Style

At interior decoration style, the East has always fascinated us in all its mystical aspects and that remoteness difficult to reach. Ambient a house with the oriental style and its most representative aspect: the Zen style, we are synonymous with tranquility and constant enjoyment.

East oriental style to decorate houses it is based on an exotic interpretation of a millenary culture: oriental culture. The Asian Zen spirit transforms our home into a serene place, with harmonious and well-distributed spaces, with open and spacious common areas and more intimate secluded areas.

The furniture in the Zen decoration the maximum simplicity in its lines

The color of the walls is white, lavender, lilac … The presence of nature is essential: stones, water, flowers. The tables, lower than in the West; Floor cushions and rugs are the key.

There is a certain minimalism in the oriental decor, with refined lines, where obstacles are avoided for the energy to flow with a significant incidence of Feng Shui in the aspects of harmonizing spaces. The candles will help us in achieving this style.

Relax, we have little left, there is still more decorating styles for houses

6.- Loft style

Post-industrialization allowed the rise of the loft style. It arose in the 70s in North America, in the decoration of studios that had previously been small factories, warehouses, workshops or warehouses.

The objects have displaced their original concept to decorate the habitat. Whenever possible, the structural elements are preserved, such as ducts, beams (if they are made of iron, the better), walls without plaster.

In decorating a Loft, natural light, straight lines and clean surfaces will be important. Brick, stone, iron, stainless steel, plastic or rubber finishes.

It is a geometric style in its forms that was born and settled in New York's Soho where the character of industrial design based on hard and straight lines is its maximum expression.

7.- Pop style

One of the most daring and daring home décor styles is Pop ornamentation. The main feature of which are those large-scale and highly colorful Pop Art portraits.

Joy, psychedelia and the decorative power of color come together to create the Pop style: the triumph of color at its finest from home art movements.

Cheerful and carefree style. The wallpapers with motifs from the 60s that are undoubtedly a clear identifying claim that adds character to the Pop decor. Vivid, almost strident colors, ergonomic furniture, recurring elements from the world of cinema, comics or advertising. Taste for "retro".

It is a style that mixes hedonism and nostalgia to create environments that "activate the mind" from a creative and artistic perspective.

8.- Kitsch style

Continuing with the decorative styles in decoration born within the middle class, from their need to express a taste for ostentation with a predominance of color and shapes.

It is a hodgepodge of disparate elements in a motley space. The colors are randomly combined, meaningless, and exaggerates Pop and urban trends. The kitsch decor It is a word of German origin that refers to the strident, to bad taste. Plastic objects proliferate and the preferred colors are garish tones, such as fuchsia.

9.- Vintage or retro style

The Vintage style decoration It was born in France and quickly spread into many areas of art - music, fashion and interior design. A design movement that hasn't been around for long, but has become a major rival in final decisions in interior design.

Also called retro style in the field of interior design. As a starting point is the elegance combined with the charm of antiquity.

The vintage style consists of mixing decorative styles from different periods whose objects are "old" but with utility

In the composition of the environment are classic items such as teak consoles, old school desks, antique fabrics or tableware, wooden surfaces with cracked paint, slightly greenish copper, leather combined with iron, the typical round globe for geography, etc.

In the vintage decorSecond-hand objects bought in flea markets are the most advisable option considering that, although manufacturers are selling artificially aged furniture, they are really expensive.

10.- Ethnic Style

Ethnicity is in fashion. It is shown in decoration magazines, in fashion shows and even in the best restaurants. Although fashion sets trends, it is clear that traditional elements must adapt at all times and the ethnic decor it has been integrated with other styles to create innovative blends.

The ethnic style It is basically introducing traditional objects from other cultures as elements of home decoration. The taste for bringing exotic objects and furniture from distant lands to our home is nothing new, but the trend of combining ethnic and Nordic styles, for example, is.

Wood is very important in interior design with ethnic nuances. Solid mahogany and teak furniture, wicker baskets, litter boxes with a dark wood frame, hand-carved stools or hand-crafted cushions that can give a warm air to a modern setting.

Natural fabrics such as velvet, linen or cotton can also be used; or carved wooden objects such as Kenyan masks.

11.- Nordic or Scandinavian style

Scandinavian interior design is characterized by simplicity, minimalism and functionality. Although Scandinavian design has been around since the 1950s, it is still a popular trend for creating quality interior spaces.

The nordic style is a design movement hailing from Sweden, Norway and Denmark. It is characterized by a focus on functionalism, straight and simple lines, and that simplicity both in use and in forms.

It is also characterized by the use of natural materials; leather, hemp and wood. In addition, it is influenced by a connection with nature, which combines natural forms and elements.

is characterized by the use of natural materials, light furniture and soft colors to provide warm and welcoming spaces

In the world of Scandinavian and Nordic furniture, the most recognized and representative company is IKEA. The iconic Swede offering an irresistible selection of Nordic-inspired furniture in natural materials for all budgets and styles.

In the scandinavian spaces, the focus is on keeping things bright, light and airy. Make sure that the colors you choose are soft. Pastel shades and go heavy with neutrals. If you want to add a little more color, icy blues and neutral pink are particularly popular shades.

There is a key difference between Nordic design and other minimalist spaces: the level of comfort. While many minimalist interiors may seem too stark or cold, Scandinavian spaces are intended to be warm and welcoming, which works well in decorating small homes.

12.- Nautical or navy style

In the world there are many followers of the sea, navigation and ships. The expression of that feeling has been transferred to the home in a lifestyle that many represent in a nautical-style ornamentation or navy (in English).

Color is very important in nautical ornament: deep blue tones in specific points and navy blue in more depth, flashes of red, elegant marine stripes and sharp whites, it will be our color palette for the living room.

And while blue and white is the most classic and popular nautical decorating style, there are some designer interiors that showcase examples of neutral nautical living room designs using pastel blue and sand beige.

Adding nautical themed accessories easily creates a maritime vibe. Wicker baskets, wooden drawers, fish figures, small anchors, accessories in coral and shells or pieces of furniture in beige are symbols of navy decoration.

The turning point is to use a round window or door with a rounded light eye and some touches with gold metallic materials.

13.- Eclectic style

Not all of us like to follow the guidelines that set trends and many people prefer to mix styles and combine novelties according to their tastes at all times. We can call it a thousand ways (In English, it is also called Mixin for the combination of ornaments), but eclecticism is what best defines the trend when we adopt the decoration we want, without breaking a harmony and taking care of the details.

In the mix of ornamentation, you just have to be daring and know how to combine elements of different origins, seeking balance and compensation.

We can combine avant-garde pieces with antiques; mix the eastern with the western; plastic with noble woods. All styles and materials are integrated, with a sense of humor and a certain aesthetic.

When a mixture of styles is used, the pieces of furniture are not too large so as not to stand out in terms of appearance and color, white and neutrals are sought with a small touch of strong colors, especially in the dining room.

How to define our decorative style

We could go on naming styles: the Avant-garde, the modernist, the contemporary, the Boho - Chic, the Mid - Century, etc. But, those that we have named, are the base of all the tendencies.

Really, there are many options to choose from. The important thing is to be consistent with our way of living our house, feel comfortable in it and not surround ourselves with a hodgepodge of useless objects, an excess of elements, or that our home is a sample book from a furniture store.

To be able to know how to choose a decorative style, the following video is very good …

As a complement, to know what is my decorating style and how to find it, we add the following scheme:

Be cautious when mixing. If done well, we can achieve very personal and successful results. A safe bet will be to seek unity and continuity in the colors, to follow a rhythm and an aesthetic harmony, and, if we are not very clear about it, asking an expert for advice will be a good idea, after all, our home constitutes the immediate universe that surrounds us.

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