Best Interior Design Styles for You

For those who have no urge to overindulge, look to Scandinavian or minimalist design. While they are still different, they have similar traits that work for those that like to keep their space pared down and simple, or don’t see themselves living in their Finding the Best Interior Design for You

If you don’t have a natural knack for design, diving in and starting the design process from scratch can be intimidating. Inspiration doesn’t always come knocking, and pairing different themes, textures, and shapes can be challenging.

We’ve created a short guide to help you discover the right feel, type of decor, and design style for your space based on what you have and what you need. As design is always evolving, many professional interior designers find themselves finding new ways to merge design styles, so don’t feel as though you are limited to one style.

The first order of business is to consider the budget you’re working with for your design project, and what the scope will entail. A single room refresh requires a vastly different budget from that of a complete home re-furnishing, so consider how big your project is, and determine an appropriate budget from there. A smaller project means you may be able to splurge on some more luxury items, while a larger project means you may have to make some sacrifices in order to keep your design within budget.

If your budget is on the smaller side, you might consider sourcing your furniture from stores that have thousands of options instead of a more concise, boutique brand. Stores and e-commerce shops like Ikea, Wayfair, and Houzz all feature thousands of options in every type of piece, so you’ll never be short on selection, and many of the available options are preferable for a more cost-effective budget.

Mid-range stores like West Elm or Room & Board will provide a more high-end appearance that is more stylistic but will cost you a bit more, and don’t have nearly as many options available, meaning it could be hit or miss. If you have more wiggle room with your budget, try Crate and Barrel or Ethan Allen for investment pieces that you plan on keeping in your home for years to come.

Budget and timeframe tie into each other, because if you’re decorating your space to last, instead of what might be a temporary apartment or starter home, you’ll want to make sure your chosen furniture is high quality and long-lasting. An individual who finds themselves moving into a new apartment but are not planning on spending more than a few years there before moving on may find their best option is lower end, easily assembled and movable furniture like the options at Ikea.

For a home, you plan to settle down in, look to pieces with durable fabrics, longstanding high-quality woods, and style that is easily incorporated into other design schemes. Because of the complexity of this, you’ll want to look for something that is a bit more simplistic, with clean lines and no busy ornamentation.

Of course, taste and personal style are important too. This is the factor that is perhaps the most dependent upon each individual, but most can find a style they identify with among the most commonly accepted styles of design. For those that like a clean, polished look without extraneous features, look to mid-century modern, which relies heavily on functionality and simplicity.

The great thing about mid-century pieces is that they are easy to merge into another design scheme because they have a pure, uncompromised look about them. A full mid-century room offers a fully formed look, but the inclusion of subtle pieces into another design acts as something more supplementary.

If your space is privy to exposed hardware, dark metals and woods, or visible brick, industrial may be the best way to capitalize off of this. Industrial interior design has more of an edgy, darker feel due to the more durable and heavyweight materials involved, but also boasts warmer earthier tones for those that love leather or hardwood.

current space forever. Negative space takes center stage in these design styles, instead focusing on the space around the clean silhouettes of the furniture and neutral tones in the room to bring it to life.