What is your Soul Design Style
How would you like to find a design style that evokes the 'Wow” in your emotional response? In this guide, I will cover 10 well-known interior design styles, discussing their key features and the emotions and sensations they may evoke within us when we encounter them.
Explore these design styles and discover which ones inspire you. I have provided a general list of elements defining each style and the thoughts and feelings they may evoke, depending upon who you are as a unique and unscripted individual. It’s very important that you continue your process by doing some pinterest or google research on these styles and follow your intuition. Links have been provided to facilitate this process.
Make lots of notes of individual elements that you like and dislike about each inspirational image. Hone in on the elements that speak to you. Trust your instincts as you make notes. Remember, design is a matter of personal taste. Don’t hesitate to bend the "rules" and surround yourself with what brings you the most joy! The truth is, while there may be guidelines and standards in design, there are no rules! So have fun and pursue this from the inside out. The point is to marry your inner and outer worlds to create a design that is not only aesthetically pleasing, but gives others a window into your soul.
We are all wonderfully complex; thus, most of us will not fall into a single style category but enjoy elements of different styles.
Everything you learn here will guide your choices in designing a new space that genuinely reflects the essence of you. Let these elements resonate with your innermost desires, harmonizing mind, body, and spirit, and lending a design that feels like living in your own skin.
MINIMALISM
- Image credit: saatva.com
- Understated
- Natural
- Crisps
- Subtle
- Monochromatic
- Simple
- Thoughts and feelings:
- Peaceful
- Spacious
- Tranquil
- Meditative
- Spa-like
- Uninterrupted
- Boring
- Not enough personality or individuality
MODERN FARMHOUSE
- Image credit: One Kind Design
- Soft earth tones
- Wood
- Shiplap
- Industrial lighting
- Functional
- Exposed beams
- Vintage or antique touches
- Some iron
- Cozy patterns and textures
- Farm themed art
- Smooth combined with rough textures
- Thoughts and feelings
- Homeliness
- Family friendly
- Security
- Practical
- Nostalgia
- Cozy contentment
- Too neutral
- Too country
- Too trendy
- Too calculated
BOHEMIAN | ECLECTIC
- Free-spirited Aesthetic
- Rich Textures and Patterns
- Global Influence
- Layered Look
- Vintage and Handmade Items
- Bold Colors
- Unexpected Combinations
- Eclectic Art
- Many purely decorative pieces
- Natural Elements
- Thoughts and emotions
- Freedom
- Creativity
- Nostalgia
- Layered comfort
- Adventure
- Surprise
- Joy
- Excitement
- Overwhelm
- Disorganization
- Lacking a unified theme
TRANSITIONAL
- Image credit: Decorilla
- Neutral color palette
- Clean lines and simple forms
- Subtle patterns and textures
- Classic materials with a modern twist
- Elegant but comfortable furnishings
- Comtemporary statement lighting
- Simple, stylish accessories,
- Minimalist window treatments
- Thoughts and feelings
- Sophisticated
- Refined
- Harmonious
- Balanced
- Adaptable
- Elegant without being too formal
- Versatile
- Basic
- Unimaginative
- Generic
TRADITIONAL
- Image credit: Dengarden
- Classic furniture styles
- Rich color palette
- Luxurious Fabrics
- Detailed Woodwork
- Formal Layouts
- Ornate chandeliers
- Traditional Patterns and Textures
- Decorative Accessories
- Thoughts and Feelings
- Classic
- Stable
- Comfortable
- Grounded
- Cozy
- European
- Warmth
- Elegance
- Symmetry
- Predictable
- Disconnected from modernity
NEW TRADITIONAL
- Image Credit: Decor Aid
- Classic furniture with modernized upholstery
- Updated color palette
- Less ornate woodwork
- Modern lighting
- Refined art
- Elegant but practical accessories
- Comfort and practicality
- Clear mix of old and new
- Thoughts and feelings
- Uniqueness
- Timeless
- Creative
- Classic without feeling old
- Elegant yet cozy
- Sophisticated
- Freshness
- Contrived Authenticity
- Confusing
- Too colorful
- Complex
RUSTIC
- Image credit: Lord Decor
- Natural Materials: wood, stone, leather, metal
- Exposed wooden beams
- Stone and brick accents (on fireplaces, etc.)
- Raw, unfinished surfaces
- Earthy colors
- Weathered and reclaimed furniture
- Natural light
- Antlers, vintage tools, old fashioned lanterns
- Organic shapes vs. sleek modern lines
- Thoughts and Feelings
- Warmth and Comfort
- Nostalgia: Reminiscent of country homes or cabins.
- Harkens to a slower pace of life
- Brings one closer to nature
- Tranquility and Relaxation: Retreat from the busy, modern world.
- Groundedness:
- Authenticity, imperfection
- Contentment
- Too outdoorsy
- Old fashioned
- Too masculine
- Dusty perception
INDUSTRIAL
- Image credit: Maisons du Mond
- Visible infrastructure such as duct work, steel beams, and columns)
- Raw and reclaimed materials such as exposed brick, concrete or weathered wood
- Industrial lighting
- Minimalist and functional furnishings
- Neutral color palette
- Open floor plans
- Upcycled elements
- Large windows and natural light
- Practical and functional decor
- Thoughts and Feelings
- Raw authenticity
- Unpretentious
- Coolness, edge
- Spaciousness
- Innovative and forward thinking
- Functional and durable
- Coldness, sterility
- Overwhelming grit
- Austerity
- Hard to individualize
MODERN
- Image credit: Sheila Say
- Clean lines
- Neutral color palette
- Functional furniture and accessories
- Smooth Wood, metal, glass, acrylic
- Spacious
- Abstract Art
- Textural contrasts
- Geometric patterns
- Integrated technology
- Thoughts and Feelings
- Clarity
- Innovation
- Non-fussy
- Trendy
- Simplicity
- Functionality
- Practical
- Coldness
- Rigidity
MID-CENTURY MODERN
- Image credit: LIVSPACE
- Clean lines and minimalism
- Organic geometric shapes
- Every piece tends to have a clear function
- Multipurpose pieces
- Bold colors and neutrals
- Color blocking (solid colors used in large blocks rather than in intricate patterns)
- Innovative and futuristic designs for their time
- Unconventional Shapes:
- Curved and Angular Forms:
- Thin Tapered Legs
- Off-the-Floor furnishings
- Minimal Ornamentation (no excessive decoration)
- Thoughts and Feelings
- Nostalgia and timelessness
- Simplicity and clarity
- Organized
- Creativity
- Optimism and progress
- Fun
- Iconic
- Innovative
- Bold and sharp
- Form over comfort
- Overused, cliche
- Predictable character
- Lacking personal touches
We hope this exercise has been enlightening and rewarding. Go over your results with your Interior Designer and work together to achieve a design style that feels like living in your own skin!
Liz Gabriel Interiors LLC is a design firm based in McKinney, Texas that specializes in versatile personality-driven design. Each design is uniquely different based upon the vibe of each person. We use tools such as the above to hone in on your style and produce a completely different result than any other project. Reach out today for a consult by filling out the contact form on LizGabrielInteriors.com.