The great basics of furnishing styles
When it comes to designing your own four walls, good advice is expensive. After all, your home gives information about who you are, what and whom you love. Do you prefer minimalist-inspired furnishings in a Skandi look, romantically playful rooms in a shabby-chic style, or do you prefer the colors of the sea? We’ll show you how to decide on a living style and take a closer look at 11 of the most popular living trends. Let our interior design dreams inspire you!
How do I find the living style that suits me best?
After moving into your new home, do you want to furnish all the rooms in one and the same style? But how do you find out which living style it should be in the end? We can help with this important decision!
Look through your closet and take a closer look at the decorative items and furniture you already have. Ask yourself: What do I like? Which patterns, colors and shapes appeal to me? Is my dream home rather simple or striking? Both clothing and various favorite pieces provide information about your own style.
In search of ideas
In this step, anything that appeals is allowed. Use fashion, art and interior magazines as well as the Internet as a source of inspiration. Also helpful: a mind map! Using the keyword cloud from “This is how I live,” it’s easy to derive a common thread for your living style. Circle the words that appeal to you and bring your ideas to the point.
Let your creativity run free
Now gather your ideas and put everything down on paper. Whether in analog or digital form is up to you. After completing the mood board, it should become clear which interior design style you are leaning towards.
Do not rush
Allow yourself some time for the final decision and sleep on it. If you are still convinced after a few days that you have found the perfect living style, there is nothing standing in the way of implementing your dream interior!
11 interior design styles you should definitely know!
Living styles are a dime a dozen. It is often difficult to keep track of them all. But don’t worry: We shed light on the darkness and present popular furnishing styles and their characteristics.
Scandi: the love of nature
The living style from Scandinavia has been one of the most popular interior design styles for many years, and for good reason. The focus is primarily on natural materials such as wood, fur and wool, as well as subtle colors. Bells and whistles and ornate shapes have no place in a Skandi-look apartment. Living like the Swedes means: it must be simple, homely, individual and natural!
By using light wall and living colors, you give your rooms a cozy and inviting character. Also, make sure you have enough sources of lighting. In this way, you create beautiful accents and skillfully set your favorite pieces in scene. When choosing furniture, look for clear and straightforward designs.
Modern: timeless and minimalist
If you want to furnish your apartment modern, you have countless options. The furnishing style lives on muted tones as well as subtle colors such as white, gray, black and beige. Gaudy colors as well as pastel colors are rather not in demand in this style of living. Leather, woven fabric, concrete and chrome perfectly round off the overall impression of the rooms.
You should also keep the decoration of the rooms modern and always adapt it to dominant room colors. Put your focus in the living room design on functionality, timeless designs, reduced shapes and decorative elements that provide coziness. A sleek coffee table with a glass top, open shelving systems and translucent curtains are just a few must-haves for the modern living style! Keep in mind when decorating: less is more.
Industrial: casual big city atmosphere
If you like it rough and imperfect, you will love the industrial interior style! Dark wood tones with patina as well as unpainted steel remind of past times in old factory halls and workshops. With interior in industrial look you provide urban loft character, which provides with its charm for coziness. The interior style is characterized, among other things, by its open room structure, which creates a feeling of space.
Materials such as wood, metal and leather should not be missing in an industrial apartment. Muted colors such as dark blue, dark red, khaki, gray, black and wood tones are perfect as a basis for the design. With colorful accent colors you provide atmospheric highlights. Robust furniture made of solid wood as well as minimalist designed shelves complete the look. Whether industrial lamps, sculptures made of metal or imperfect seating furniture – flea markets are a real goldmine if you are looking for beautiful favorite pieces.
Retro: revive the past
Time for nostalgia! Do you want to bring the shapes and colors of the 50s as well as 60s to life? Then the retro style is just right for you. Organic shapes, furniture made of teak and textiles with graphic patterns are just some of the features that make up this style of living. From simple pastel shades to gaudy color explosions, everything is represented. Also components of the retro style: natural tones, cream, white and black. With the furnishing style you create innovative and experimental living spaces!
In addition to natural materials, smoked glass, brass, steel, as well as synthetic and foam materials are also typical for the retro style. These allow a multifaceted variety in the choice of shapes and colors. The furniture is characterized by simple and at the same time strikingly elegant silhouettes.
Shabby Chic: imperfectly perfect
If you translate the living style literally, it means “shabby chic”. However, the style is anything but shabby! Originating in England, the interior style relies on a balanced mix of flea market bargains, heirlooms as well as new acquisitions. Characteristic of the Shabby Chic style are natural or artificially induced traces of use such as chipped varnish as well as unprocessed wood. Materials that can be found in Shabby Chic: Wood, leather, linen, cotton, silk, lace and knitwear.
Shabby Chic focuses on delicate pastel colors such as rosé, turquoise, sky blue, yellow and light green. In combination with light shades of gray, beige or even old white, the color world is complete. Silver shimmering vases, crystal chandeliers or sequined cushions provide a special touch. Fresh flowers may not be missing in the feminine style of living. Whether peonies, hydrangeas or lilacs – delicate floral dreams round off the overall picture perfectly.
Country house: romantic-rural
The country house style convinces above all by its versatility. Whether colonial with dark tropical woods, playful in Shabby Chic, maritime with white cabinets or English charm through Chesterfield sofas – the living style knows how to inspire in many ways! With a lot of attention to detail, the country house style with warm, friendly colors and natural materials provides an idyllic feel-good atmosphere.
To reflect the closeness to nature, use only natural or white stained or lacquered furniture pieces, if possible. The perfect complement to wood are natural fibers such as wool, linen, rattan and felt. Characteristic are above all discreet decorations and furnishings that radiate coziness. Comfortable upholstered sets, cozy textiles with floral patterns and a rocking chair are true must-haves for the authentic country house look.
Hygge: Now it’s getting homey!
According to the UN’s World Happiness Report, the Danes are among the happiest people in the world. But how do they manage that? The Hygge living principle has the answer! “Hygge” stands for warmth, safety and security. The living style is characterized by its cozy and warm room atmosphere, which you create, among other things, by atmospheric light. Whether several candles on a tray, fairy lights or a flickering fire in the fireplace – this creates a hyggeliges feeling!
Warm beige, cream and brown tones form the basis of your interior. With these, neutral colors such as white, black and gray can be combined perfectly. You can set colorful accents with blue and green. With fluffy wool blankets, leather chairs, rustic wooden tables, linen textiles, ceramic tableware and a variety of pillows you bring the Hygge style to your home.
Boho: mix and match allowed
Bohemian style is an interior design style that is making hearts beat faster all over the world. From playful accessories, to gorgeous furniture pieces, to warm colors, the popular boho style has it all. The living style is characterized by a number of contrasts. Boho is unconventional, dazzling and yet natural. If you like your home wild, colorful and unusual, you will love the interior design for free spirits. Permitted is what pleases!
The interior trend is determined by colorful textiles in petrol or mustard yellow, unusual patterns and a mix of old and new furniture. The furniture should be made of natural materials such as wood, rattan and raffia. For a contemplative touch, combine a couch made of velvet or mohair with it. Patchwork blankets, floral patterns, lanterns, linen curtains and colorful pillows complete the overall look.
Maritime: ahoy, landlubbers!
You want your summer and vacation feelings to move in with you all year round? No problem! With the help of the maritime interior style, you can bring sun, beach and sea into your home. By using the colors of the sea, natural materials and home accessories that remind you of beautiful days at the beach, you can implement this style of living in no time at all. The maritime look not only evokes beautiful vacation memories, but also exudes a calming and serene atmosphere.
Dominating colors are clearly blue and white, but also subtle natural tones such as beige, sand and cream have their raison d’être. These can be perfectly combined with red, green and golden accents. In combination with pastel shades, the maritime look looks dreamy and romantic. Popular motifs are lighthouses, seagulls, ships, fish, shells, anchors and beach chairs. Vacation photos from the beach, which you attach to a cord, add a personal touch to your home and complete the decor.
Minimalism: the art of omission
The living style relies on reduced furnishings and reflects on the essentials in living. This means that you can be happy and content even with little material. Everything that is no longer needed has no place in a minimalist furnished apartment. The focus is on clean lines, graphic shapes, muted colors and selected decorative elements. If you want to bring certain areas to the fore, work with different fabrics and textures rather than colors.
Minimalist does not mean that you have to completely do without decoration. However, the magic word is: in moderation. Arrange selected decorative pieces in groups of three. This makes the room look more tidy. The walls of the room should remain as free as possible. Bare surfaces create a harmonious atmosphere and make the room look larger. Of course, nothing speaks against your favorite picture on the wall! Set it in a special place with the appropriate lighting skillfully in the limelight.
Japandi : Japan meets Scandinavia
You don’t believe that the Scandinavian interior style harmonizes with the Japanese one? We’ll prove you wrong! While the Skandi look thrives on its love for nature, the Japanese style focuses on reduced aesthetics as well as a positive living feeling. Together, Japandi results in a simple and homely interior style that focuses on the essentials as well as convinces with warmth and coziness.
The new Japandi trend is characterized by functionality, light as well as dark shades, untreated wood, selected decoration and simple shapes. The color palette is subtle and at the same time strong. The light colors of the North meet the dark shades of the East. In addition to brown, beige and terracotta, gray and black are also very popular. To set colorful highlights, resort to green, blue or eggplant. Furniture in dark wood tones is a must in the interior. In combination with bamboo, paper and stoneware you perfect the style. Blankets, pillows and rugs should be made of high-quality materials such as cotton, linen, jute or wool.