Whether you’re a home-owner who’s dabbled a bit in décor, or you’re a beginner to pro level Interior Designer, the design process can become overwhelming. Look no further though, we are always here to help you through.
Just Like How The Clothes You Wear Make You Feel A Certain Way...
....so does the type of space you’re in.
Remember though, our style is ever evolving as the design industry grows and we’re influenced by trends and even what’s going on in our personal lives. Once again, think of fashion. The clothes you wore 5 years ago is probably so not your style now, and that’s okay. When it comes to your interior style, it will go through the seasons of life just like you are. However, once you are able to identify which style you are currently loving, trust me, the power is in your hands.
How are we going to help you find your style though?
STEP ONE
Create a Pinterest Board.
STEP TWO
Evaluate your Pinterest Board.
STEP THREE
A Design Learning Session about 10 popular styles!
STEP FOUR
Clarity. You have knowledge and understanding moving forward.
Are you excited? Let's jump into it!
Create A Pinterest Board
If you don't already have a Pinterest account, I advise you go make one right now. Pinterest is the ideal visual platform for Interior Design. This is where I get 90% of my inspiration from!
Here's what I want you to do:
Make a Pinterest Account.
Create a board.
Name your board. "My Design Style"
Invite me to your board! (Don't be shy) @MellaDesignLtd
Now, I want you to search Interior Design related terms. A few examples are:
- Living Room, Table Design, Interior Design, Bedroom
Whatever comes to your mind, get creative!
With each search, start saving images you LOVE into your board. When I'm sitting with a Client, I don't want them to "like" something, I want them to LOVE it.
Feel free to go a bit sideways from Interior Design and pin images of Artwork, things in nature, hobbies you enjoy etc.
If you're confused with these steps about creating an account and saving items to your board, send me a message or a simple google search can help.
Just have a carefree creative session!
Evaluate your Pinterest Board
When you feel as though you've got plenty of content on your board, let's move closer to finding your style. Take a step back and look at your board.
Do you see clean lines, large glass windows, smooth surfaces and a layering of materials? You may be a Contemporary person! Or do you see a layering of eclectic pieces, handmade accessories, planters and woven fabrics? Then the Bohemian style may suit you!
But wait, there are SO many more styles out there.
A Design Learning Session about 10 popular styles!
Knowledge is power and when you learn about various topics, you're able to make better decisions moving forward. That said, we want to educate you on the various Interior Design styles out there and make this a fun learning experience for us both.
Are you ready for a Mella Design learning session? Snuggle up with a cup of tea and let's get to scrolling. Let's go through 10 popular interior design styles and I'm sure you'll be able to define your style further.
DESIGN STYLES
CONTEMPORARY INTERIOR DESIGN
Now, we're starting you off with an interesting style, which many persons confuse with the Modern style. Contemporary and Modern are actually different from each other. We'll break this down for you. Don't worry, by the end of this post, you'll leave filled with lots of new knowledge you didn't expect to learn about Interiors!
Contemporary design began around 1970 when Post Modernism became popular. The Contemporary style has since grown influenced by several artistic movements such as Futurism, Art Deco, Deconstructivism, etc.
This style is generally referred to as the here and now of design, meaning that as designs evolve, the current style will be identified as contemporary.
I know that sounds tricky, so lets look at some examples.
As you can see from the above examples, the Contemporary style consists of:
Smooth surfaces
Clean lines / linear forms - A more architectural approach.
Strong curved lines can also be seen.
Neutral color palettes.
A layering method of various materials.
Large glass windows.
Metals are often incorporated, as well as natural stones.
Wood finishes tend to be smooth.
An open space feel.
MODERN INTERIOR DESIGN
Here's where we shake things up for you. Again, Contemporary Design is not Modern Design. The Modern era has passed. In fact, a good way to always remember this is instead of saying, "This is a very Modern space", you can say "This is a very Modernist space". Sounds more like a thing of the past, right?
The Modern Design era actually began in the early 1900's through the 1950's. Of course, like all design styles, they don't just cease to influence the industry. Instead, traces of their characteristics bleed into the next couple decades.
The Modern Style began with influences of Scandinavian design, morphed into Mid-Century Modern (the most popular Modernist style) and then stretched into the 1970's as post-modernism. This is where we just highlighted the birth of the Contemporary Style.
Is it all starting to make sense now? Do you see why we confuse the two because of their similarities?
Modern Design was meant to be much simpler than Traditional Designs. It was time to move away from the ornate elements and create spaces that breathe a little better.
Before looking at some examples, let's talk about some characteristics of Modern Design.
Lots of whites began to be incorporated, alongside with grays, black and rusty accent colors.
Warm Wood Tones.
Surfaces Tend To Be Smooth & Clean.
Natural stone accents.
Clean Lines, Strict Forms. Mostly Linear, Architectural Elements.
Slight Minimalist Approach.
Functional Pieces Of Furniture.
Connecting Interiors With Outdoors.
MID-CENTURY MODERN INTERIOR DESIGN
During the Modernist era, Mid-Century Modern was born around the 1930's. This style is more of a product of the Modern movement. Both styles are very similar, but Mid-Century Modern often speaks a more 'masculine' appeal.
This style followed characteristics of the Modern style as we just mentioned, but defined colors and finishes differently.
Let's look at some examples of Mid-century Modern Design.
Let's discuss some characteristics of the Mid-century Modern Style.
White continued to be used on walls, allowing furniture and decor to pop.
Pops of color created interest and contrast. These colors often had a dull or pastel tint, creating a retro vibe.
Lots of warm woods were used.
Clean Lines were consistent.
Furniture legs were usually wooden or metal, but had very angular forms.
Continued to incorporate natural lighting by blending the outdoors with the indoors.
TRADITIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN
Traditional Interior Design is all about extravagance and detail. This style originated in the 1800's into the 1900's.
This style has borrowed designs from many eras, being rich in history and heavily reflects the sophistication of European decor.
Let's look at some examples of Traditional Interiors.
Traditional Design Characteristics:
Classical Art is used.
Very ornate moldings and picture / art frames.
Ornate details in furniture pieces.
Tufted Upholstery.
Layered drapes are seen on windows.
Lots of gold is incorporated.
Color is used to add to the vibrant gold and ornate details.
Unique antique decor pieces.
Dark wood furniture pieces.
Extravagant crystal chandeliers and table lamps with shades are popular.
TRANSITIONAL INTERIOR DESIGN
Transitional Interior Design is the happy medium between Traditional and Modern or Contemporary. Some may feel as though traditional style is too cluttered and ornate for them, while the modern style may be too bare and cold.
<