How to Find the Right Interior Design Style for You

If you had an unfurnished, unpainted room, what would you do with it? With a wide variety of interior design styles, the possibilities are endless. Do you want to live in the lap of luxury, with gleaming mirrors and glowing chandeliers? Or do you prefer the humble but cozy charms of a cottage reflecting the prodigious beauty of nature? There are home interior design styles to suit any taste.

But how to find the aesthetic that fits your sense of style? Our interior design styles list can help you narrow down the choices and guide you on cultivating a space that is a unique expression of your individuality, one that exudes a sense of warmth and welcoming that makes your home a sanctuary. You may even find a couple of different interior design styles that speak to you, and that’s OK. As you’ll see, many of them play off and influence each other—you may prefer a modern farmhouse ambiance or Mediterranean coastal. Stoneside’s diverse selection of window treatments can be adapted to any design style, so we also give you suggestions on appropriate blinds, shades, or drapery that will enhance each look.

If you like: Sleek and streamlined simplicity

• Choose: Modern. Generally, modern interior design styles originated in the early 20th century and continued growing into the 1930s. Throughout the following decades, modern design also encompassed elements of Scandinavian, mid-century modern, and postmodern design. The modern approach emphasizes streamlined design: clean lines, thoughtful compositions, powerful geometric shapes, and an unfussy color palette. Knick knacks are eschewed in favor of design elements that are functional or lend a pop of color.
• Ideal window treatments: Several window coverings translate well to a modern interior design. Roller shades offer great versatility with the simple, clean lines that are a trademark of this style. Transitional shades are also streamlined and structured, plus their signature banded look (created from dual layers of fabric) adds an interesting visual element to a room. To bring more light into a modern room, consider using sheer drapery; white is always a classic choice.

If you like: Bringing the great outdoors indoors

• Choose: Rustic. Rustic interior design harnesses the beauty of nature. From vaulted, wood-beam ceilings to floors of stone or reclaimed wood, the focus is on natural materials. While rustic can refer to unfinished wood in a cabin or sheepskin and cowhide accents in a ranch-style home, it also takes on a more elegant sheen in French country or farmhouse types of interior design styles. The rustic aesthetic lets the natural elements of the design take center stage, without any distraction from busy patterns or loud colors.
• Ideal window treatments: If your rustic home has an authentically rural location, such as near the mountains or a lake, try solar shades. They give your interiors protection from the sun’s UV rays while also letting your gorgeous view shine. Transitional shades also are a good fit, and you get terrific light and privacy control. For rooms that have an elevated take on rustic style, use pleated panels in a neutral color and subtle pattern.

If you like: The classics

• Choose: Traditional. Its roots may be hundreds of years old—dating back to the 18th and 19th centuries in Europe—but the traditional style still works today. This home interior design style has heavy English and French influences, as seen in the curved lines of furniture, polished dark woods, and floral, striped, and plaid fabric patterns. Matching furniture sets are often used in traditional homes, as are attractive color palettes and many home decor accessories.
• Ideal window treatments: Roman shades are a perfect match for traditional rooms that use luxe fabrics such as silk or velvet. These shades are also made from fabric, giving your window coverings an opulent feel. Traditional equals timeless, and one such choice in window treatments are blinds. Real wood blinds can be stained or painted to match your decor; if you want blinds that are a little easier to clean and care for, opt for the faux wood variety. Create a unique look by adding on custom drapery in a coordinating fabric as well as valances for a final bit of polish.

If you like: The “less is more” philosophy of interior design

• Choose: Minimalism. When minimalism is done right, you should feel a sense of serenity when entering a room. With a nod to Japanese Zen-like design, minimalism prizes white and neutral colors, clean lines, and empty space that creates a room full of light and airiness. Furniture is also sleek, but often has a dual functional purpose, such as a bench with a storage area built into it. Visual interest is created through the thoughtful use of textures, with minimal or no reliance on patterns.
• Ideal window treatments: Many shades—roller, solar, or cellular (also called pleated)—mesh well with minimalism because of their simple yet elegant design. You can use shades on their own or pair them with custom drapery panels. Any window covering for a minimalist room should be in a light, neutral color.

If you like: An eclectic mix of vibrant colors and patterns

• Choose: Bohemian. You could sum up this interior design style in two words: anything goes. Bohemian rooms are a well-curated mix of lively colors, bold patterns, and natural elements such as rattan or wicker furniture, or an abundance of green houseplants. There’s definitely a funky vibe to Bohemian style, which encourages a free-spirit approach to interior design. Vintage treasures unearthed at flea markets sit side by side with trinkets gathered from international travels and collections of heirloom antiques. It’s playful yet comfortable—this is a space where you want to sit and stay awhile to take it all in.
• Ideal window treatments: Textured roller shades bring a lovely natural element into your Bohemian design when they are crafted in a neutral weave that bathes a room in a diffuse, glowing light.

If you like: Staying current with the latest trends

• Choose: Contemporary. Unlike the similar-sounding modern design, contemporary isn’t based on a past era—it’s all about living in the here and now. Today’s trends may include detailed wall moldings, open, flowing floor plans, and light-reflecting metal and glass accessories. An easy way to stay on top of the latest and greatest in interior design is to incorporate some of these always-changing ideas in decorative items that can be switched out easily, such as throw pillows and blankets, and objects such as vases, frames, and wall hangings.
• Ideal window treatments: Windows can be covered with blinds, shades, or drapes, but don’t forget about your doors. If you’ve got a glass front door or sliding doors to a back patio, look for blinds with thin slats or, for sliders, vertical blinds.

If you like: The idea of living in a decommissioned factory or firehouse

• Choose: Industrial. In movies, an expansive, glossy loft apartment is a signifier for urban chic. It’s also typical of industrial design, which gained a foothold as one of the most popular types of interior design styles over the past few decades. People moving into major cities found a foothold in the competitive real estate markets by converting old warehouses and other industrial buildings into living quarters, and that aesthetic has made its way to apartments, condos, and homes everywhere. Exposed brick, high ceilings, neutral colors, and heavy use of metals, leather, and wood are prominent features.
• Ideal window treatments: To prevent your industrial design from looking dark and gloomy, use roller or solar shades that can easily let in natural light. These window coverings are also a great place to bring in complementary natural colors such as brown, gray, and cream.

If you like: A big, warm hygge

• Choose: Scandinavian. The Nordic climate may be cold, but its interior design emanates warmth. The Danish hygge trend that promotes coziness and comfort is one example of Scandinavian design. Other trademarks: natural wood, lots of white, sculptural lines, natural fibers in rugs, pillows, and other accessories, and furniture that has a sculptural quality.
• Ideal window treatments: Drapery softens a room and creates a relaxing environment. Choose modern drapery with an interesting pleated texture in a light color to illuminate a space.

If you like: Anything Magnolia-related

• Choose: Farmhouse. The popularity of this interior design style exploded thanks to Chip and Joanna Gaines, and now shiplap is a part of the design vernacular. Farmhouse is more than that, however—think wide-plank flooring, barn-style doors, a palette of neutrals mixed with colors including sage and navy, oversized sofas, and metals such as black wrought-iron, nickel silver, and gold.
• Ideal window treatments: Wood blinds add warmth to a room, and they can be custom stained to match any other wood elements.

If you like: The Rat Pack, Palm Springs, or “Mad Men” (or all three)

• Choose: Mid-century modern. There are many types of interior design styles, but perhaps none is so closely associated with a particular moment in time as mid-century modern. Its glory days were the 1950s and ‘60s, though a new generation has rediscovered it and fallen in love with its Eames chairs and chartreuse and orange accent colors. Like minimalism and modern design, mid-century modern favors clean, simple lines and clear, uncluttered spaces. Teak, walnut, and rosewood were popular materials, and the eye-popping palettes could also include avocado green, velvety brown, and golden yellow.
• Ideal window treatments: You want a pared-down look to match the mid-century aesthetic? Good options would be transitional shades or Roman shades without a lot of ornamental accessories.

If you like: An interior with a little je ne sais quoi

• Choose: French countryside. You may not have a Provencal lavender field outside your door, but you can feel transported to France with the right interior design. French countryside is a European cousin of rustic design, with a soupçon of farmhouse style thrown in. Warm colors such as gold, brick red, peach and blue are combined with wood furniture, stone or brick floors, and linens in traditional French patterns such as florals and toile.
• Ideal window treatment: Incorporate those patterns in drapery that can create an elegant environment.

If you like: Looking at the world through rose-colored glasses

• Choose: Shabby Chic. Shabby Chic is reminiscent of the Baroque and Rococo periods, but it got its name, and became a huge design trend, in the 1980s and ‘90s, thanks to designer Rachel Ashwell. Her signature aesthetic took antiques (or pieces that looked like antiques) and gave them a soft, feminine feel with pastel paint and judicious distressing for a well-worn patina. White and cream walls, elaborate chandeliers, and delicate floral prints complete the look.
• Ideal window treatments: You don’t want your Shabby Chic to tip over into fussiness, so cover your windows with composite wood blinds. They have a classic flair, but their sleek lines lend an air of modernity.

If you like: Mixing it up

• Choose: Transitional. Like peanut butter and chocolate, transitional is a dream team—in this case, combining traditional and modern design choices. That gives you a lot of latitude in styling a room. Use plush furnishings from traditional design against a modern neutral color palette, or set decorative objects made of modern materials of steel or glass in a traditional roomscape.
• Ideal window treatments: Roller shades bridge the divide between traditional and modern design by offering a unifying neutrality to a room; you can also spice things up with a metal valance. And if you’ve got a transitional design style, why not use transitional shades?

If you like: The beach (even if you don’t have a beach house)

• Choose: Coastal. You may live miles from the ocean, but you can still embrace its essence with coastal design. Your color palette should reference the beach, with colors mimicking the sand and sea: tans, blues, greens. Wood is light or painted white, furniture can be wicker or jute, and large windows create a breeziness and afford lots of natural light. Decorative bowl of seashells optional.
• Ideal window treatments: If you are fortunate enough to live by the coast, solar shades are your best bet for reducing glare and UV exposure. To create an airy feeling in a room, sheer or white drapes lend an ethereal touch—you can practically smell the salt in the air.

If you like: Having your cake and eating it, too

• Choose: Eclectic. Can’t decide between two different interior design styles? Eclecticism allows you to use them at the same time, giving you the best of both worlds. The idea is to balance the combination of contrasting styles to create cohesion instead of chaos. That means finding similarities in scale, colors, textures and shapes to create a design through line in the room.
• Ideal window treatments: Cellular shades can help tie two disparate design styles together. Their Top Down/Bottom Up functionality also gives you a range of options for light control and privacy.

If you like: Being the star of your own life

• Choose: Hollywood. glam/Hollywood Regency The 1930s were the golden age of Hollywood with classics such as “Citizen Kane” and “The Wizard of Oz”—and it was a golden age for design, too. Hollywood glam, as its name implies, focuses on glamour. Furnishings are plush and over the top, color schemes are bold (black and white, or brilliant hues such as peacock blue or lipstick red). Accessories are extravagant, such as wall-length mirrors and crystal-bedecked chandeliers.
• Ideal window treatments: Luxurious design calls for luxurious drapery. Look for custom, floor-to-ceiling panels in a beautiful pleat or pattern to give your window coverings a starring role in your home.

If you like: Vacationing in Italy or Spain

• Choose: Mediterranean. Recreate the majestic feeling of a villa in your home with this interior design style. Paint rooms with a wash of warm terra cotta, light gold, or sky blue. Add furniture with ornamental flourishes. Fold in architectural details such as arched doorways and windows, add a dash of metal hardware with heft, and layer on luxurious, textured fabrics—you’ve got the recipe for a picture-perfect Mediterranean room design.
• Ideal window treatments: Cellular shades are very customizable and have a distinctive honeycomb pattern that helps block light: a 2” cell size is good. Solar shades in a light color and with a textured finish are also a wonderful complement to Mediterranean interior design.

If you like: The serene vibe of a feng shui interior

• Choose: Asian. Actually, Asian design is broader than the Chinese principle of feng shui—it encompasses different interior design styles from China, Japan, Vietnam, and other countries from that continent. But Asian interior design is like feng shui in that both place great importance on creating harmonious balance in a home. Natural elements are accented throughout, such as the use of bamboo and other fibers or the placement of animal statues. Furniture pieces may be lacquered and have sleek lines, and small rooms are carved out of a large space with the help of dividers.
• Ideal window treatments: Wood blinds can be stained for a natural look, or they can be painted to match furniture or the room’s color palette. Roller shades blend seamlessly into a room’s decor, but you can add an unexpected dash of design by pairing them with a bold valance in a contrasting color—think white shades with a black valance.

Now that you’ve gotten some ideas from our interior design styles list, it’s time to start choosing your window treatments. Contact the Stoneside office near you to schedule a free consultation with our team.

Want to learn how automated blinds or shades can modernize your home? Contact us today for a free design consultation.