What are the main interior design styles? The most popular interior design styles today are modern, contemporary, minimalist, mid-century modern, Scandinavian, Japandi, wabi-sabi, organic modern, industrial, farmhouse, rustic, traditional, transitional, coastal, bohemian, Art Deco, Hollywood Regency, French country, Mediterranean, eclectic and maximalist. Each has its own colors, materials, furniture shapes and mood. Most homes mix two or three, and the easiest way to find your style is to collect images you love and look for what they have in common.
This guide gives you a quick overview of 21 home decor styles, a comparison table, how to find your interior design style, and how to mix styles so a room feels cohesive. Where we have an in-depth guide to a style, you'll find a link to it.
Interior Design Styles at a Glance
| Style | Mood | Colors | Signature materials and shapes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Modern | Clean, uncluttered | Neutrals, black, white | Straight lines, steel, glass, low profiles |
| Contemporary | Current, fluid | Neutrals with on-trend accents | Curves, mixed materials, statement lighting |
| Minimalist | Calm, spare | White, gray, black | Few objects, hidden storage, simple forms |
| Mid-century modern | Retro, warm | Walnut, teak, mustard, teal, orange | Tapered legs, organic curves, wood and molded plastic |
| Scandinavian | Bright, cozy | White, pale wood, soft gray | Light woods, wool, linen, functional furniture |
| Japandi | Calm, refined | Warm neutrals, charcoal | Low furniture, light and dark woods, negative space |
| Wabi-sabi | Earthy, imperfect | Clay, putty, ochre, moss | Handmade ceramics, raw wood, plaster, linen |
| Organic modern | Warm, soft | Cream, beige, earthy accents | Curves, stone, plaster, bouclé, natural wood |
| Industrial | Raw, urban | Gray, black, brown, rust | Exposed brick, metal, reclaimed wood, concrete |
| Farmhouse | Homey, relaxed | White, cream, black accents | Shiplap, distressed wood, apron sinks, barn doors |
| Rustic | Natural, rugged | Browns, greens, earth tones | Rough-hewn wood, stone, leather, wrought iron |
| Traditional | Classic, formal | Rich wood tones, deep colors | Symmetry, carved wood, moldings, damask |
| Transitional | Balanced, timeless | Warm neutrals | Traditional shapes with clean, modern lines |
| Coastal | Breezy, light | White, sand, soft blue | Rattan, linen, light wood, slipcovers |
| Bohemian | Free-spirited, layered | Warm earth tones, jewel accents | Global textiles, macramé, rattan, plants |
| Art Deco | Glamorous, geometric | Black, gold, jewel tones | Lacquer, brass, mirror, velvet, sunburst motifs |
| Hollywood Regency | Opulent, playful | Bold colors, white, gold | High gloss, velvet, mirrored furniture |
| French country | Elegant, rustic | Cream, soft blue, lavender | Curved, carved wood, toile, linen |
| Mediterranean | Sunny, warm | White, terracotta, deep blue | Plaster walls, arches, tile, wrought iron |
| Eclectic | Collected, personal | Varied, tied by a palette | Mixed eras and styles with a common thread |
| Maximalist | Bold, abundant | Saturated colors | Layered patterns, collections, gallery walls |
Modern and Minimal Styles
Modern
Modern interior design refers to the early to mid-20th-century movement that rejected ornament in favor of function: clean, straight lines, neutral colors, open floor plans and materials such as steel, glass and polished wood. Rooms feel uncluttered and architectural. Browse our modern furniture.
Contemporary
Contemporary design is "of the moment," so it changes over time. Today it means neutral backgrounds with curved furniture, mixed materials, statement lighting and touches of current colors. Read modern vs contemporary style for the difference.
Minimalist
Minimalism keeps only what's needed: a restrained palette, simple forms, hidden storage and plenty of empty space. Its warmer cousins, Japandi and wabi-sabi, add natural materials and texture.
Mid-century modern
Mid-century modern design (about 1945 to 1970) combines clean lines with organic curves, tapered legs, warm woods like walnut and teak, and pops of mustard, teal and orange. See our mid-century modern living room furniture guide.
Nature-Inspired and Calm Styles
Scandinavian
Bright, simple and cozy, Scandinavian style uses white walls, light woods, wool and linen, and functional furniture, with a focus on hygge. Read our Scandinavian interior design guide.
Japandi
Japandi blends Japanese minimalism and Scandinavian warmth: low furniture, light and dark woods, muted neutrals and lots of negative space. Read our Japandi style guide.
Wabi-sabi
Wabi-sabi finds beauty in imperfection and age: handmade ceramics, raw wood, limewashed walls and earthy colors. Read our wabi-sabi interior design guide.
Organic modern
Organic modern combines modern lines with natural materials, soft curves and a warm neutral palette: bouclé, travertine, plaster and white oak. Read our organic modern style guide.
Coastal
Light, breezy and relaxed, coastal style uses white and sand neutrals, soft blues, rattan, linen and light wood. Read our coastal interior design guide.
Classic and Timeless Styles
Traditional
Traditional style draws on 18th- and 19th-century European design: symmetry, rich wood tones, carved details, crown molding, and fabrics such as damask, chintz and velvet.
Transitional
Transitional design balances traditional comfort with modern simplicity: classic silhouettes, clean lines and a calm, warm neutral palette. It's one of the most popular styles in American homes. Read our transitional interior design guide and traditional vs transitional style, or browse transitional furniture.
French country
French country mixes rustic charm with elegance: curved, carved wood furniture, distressed paint, toile and linen, and soft colors like cream, blue and lavender. Read our French country decor guide.
Mediterranean
Inspired by Spain, Italy and Greece, Mediterranean style uses plaster walls, arches, terracotta and patterned tile, wrought iron and deep blue accents. Read our Mediterranean interior design guide.
Rustic and Relaxed Styles
Farmhouse and modern farmhouse
Farmhouse style is homey and practical: shiplap, distressed and reclaimed wood, open shelving, apron sinks and black hardware. Modern farmhouse keeps the warmth with cleaner lines and a lighter palette. Read our modern farmhouse decor guide or browse farmhouse furniture.
Rustic
Rustic design celebrates rugged natural materials: rough-hewn wood beams, stone, leather and wrought iron in earthy colors. See our rustic kitchen island ideas for one way to use it.
Industrial
Inspired by lofts and factories, industrial style shows off exposed brick, ductwork and concrete, with metal-and-wood furniture, Edison bulbs and a gray, black and brown palette. Read our industrial interior design guide or browse industrial furniture.
Bohemian
Boho style is layered and free-spirited: global textiles, rattan and macramé, vintage finds, floor cushions and lots of plants, in warm earth tones with jewel accents. Read our boho decor guide.
Bold and Glamorous Styles
Art Deco
Art Deco (1920s and 1930s) is geometric and glamorous: sunbursts and chevrons, symmetry, lacquer, brass, mirror and velvet, in black, gold and jewel tones. Read our Art Deco interior design guide.
Hollywood Regency
Hollywood Regency, popular from the 1930s to the 1950s, takes glamour further with high-gloss lacquer, mirrored furniture, velvet, bold color and playful accents.
Eclectic
Eclectic style mixes eras, cultures and styles, held together by a shared color palette, repeated shapes or materials, and careful balance.
Maximalist
Maximalism is "more is more": saturated color, layered pattern, collections and gallery walls, edited so they feel curated rather than cluttered. Read our maximalist decor guide.
How to Find Your Interior Design Style
- Collect images you love on Pinterest, Instagram or in a folder, from homes, hotels, restaurants and shops, without overthinking.
- Look for patterns: repeated colors, woods, shapes (straight or curved), amount of decor, and mood (calm, cozy, bold, formal).
- Look at what you already own and love; your favorite pieces often point to your style.
- Consider your home's architecture: a 1960s ranch suits mid-century; a beach cottage suits coastal; a loft suits industrial; but any style can be adapted.
- Think about how you live: kids and pets need durable, washable materials; minimalists need lots of closed storage.
- Name a primary style and one or two secondary ones, such as "transitional with coastal touches" or "Japandi with a mid-century accent."
How to Mix Interior Design Styles
- Use the 80/20 rule: about 80% of the room in your main style and 20% in an accent style.
- Keep a consistent color palette across both styles.
- Repeat materials: the same wood tone or metal finish in different pieces ties the room together.
- Balance shapes: mix straight-lined pieces with a few curves.
- Choose compatible pairs: Scandinavian with Japandi, transitional with coastal, mid-century with industrial, organic modern with wabi-sabi, Art Deco with modern.
- Let one piece lead: a vintage cabinet or a statement sofa can carry the second style.
Interior Design Styles FAQ
What are the most popular interior design styles?
Transitional, modern farmhouse, modern, mid-century modern, Scandinavian, Japandi, organic modern and coastal are among the most popular styles in homes today.
How many interior design styles are there?
There's no fixed number. Designers commonly describe about 15 to 25 main styles, plus many sub-styles and blends.
What is the most timeless interior design style?
Transitional and traditional styles, along with mid-century modern classics, tend to age the best because they avoid short-lived trends.
What is the difference between modern and contemporary design?
Modern refers to a specific 20th-century movement; contemporary describes whatever is current, so it keeps changing.
Can you mix two interior design styles?
Yes. Choose one main style, add a secondary one at about 20%, and connect them with a shared palette and repeated materials.
How do I know what my decorating style is?
Save images you love, look for common colors, materials and shapes, and compare them with the style descriptions above. Most people are a blend of two or three styles.
Interior design styles are a starting point, not a rulebook. Use this guide to name what you love, explore our in-depth guides to each style, and mix them with a consistent palette until your home feels like you.