What Is Your Decorating Style?
If someone asked you, “What is your decorating style”? what would you say…
Many would really not know and others might have a general idea, but not a good understanding of the style they are using. There are a variety of decorating styles to choose from. Everything from formal to informal, and everything in between.
When you are redecorating your home or simply trying to update your home you should have a good understanding and general knowledge of what your decorating style entails.
What Is Your Decorating Style?
Below I will go through a couple of styles that seem to always be used when it comes to your decorating style. You can also check out our 2021 report on home interiors and what is trending as well as home decor styles that never go away.
- Formal Traditional
Furnishings and designs from the Renaissance, Baroque, Early and Late Georgian, Federal, Greek Revival and Victorian eras. This style is shown with fine furnishings, elegant, refined and exquisite wall coverings, elaborate moldings, formal window treatments and Oriental rugs. - Informal Traditional
The same eras as above but this style has less refined versions of furnishings. There are more touchable elements, more earthy colors, and some urban archaeology without restoration is common. This style is comfortable and inviting. - American Country
This style holds furnishings from the 17th century through the present, all simple with the appearance of hand-crafted work. Two versions are popular today: Upscale Country with the use of more tactile, comfortable elements and very close to Informal Traditional but with a clearly country theme in all the furnishings; and Rustic Country, which sports a reused, recycled quality. The wall coverings and window treatments set the theme and the furnishings have a just-found-it-at-the-antique-market feel. - Country French
This style is exhibited in Classic Rococo, Neoclassic or Empire-inspired country furnishings. Wall coverings include florals, ticking, toile, and moirÈs depending on the level of formality. - Arts & Crafts
This simple style is also known as Early Modern or Organic Modern. The era focuses on hard, stained oak furniture with simple, straight lines. - International Modern
This is a look of ultra simplicity, hard lines, and smooth surfaces contrasted with abstract patterns and unusual textures. - Environmental
Designs in this theme contain colors, textures and very subtle patterns of the earth. - Romantic Victorian
This style still is a favored theme for rooms with lots of pattern featuring English garden florals in dreamy colors. Both fabric and wall coverings can be patterned, and clutter decorating ñ especially with accessories ñ is part of this look. - Ethnic and Primitive
This masculine approach has many faces from African to the American Southwest, from the lodge-look to the South Seas. Heavy or tactile textures coupled with patterns that are charming because of their lack of sophistication fit here. - Fabric and Wall Covering Themes
This is a wonderful way to decorate ñ by selecting a great fabric or wall covering that inherently features a theme. Some examples include sea and shore, sports, outdoor recreation, kitchen or domestic elements, juvenile elements, feminine floral themes, exotic designs from far away lands, and more.
I am sharing these with you as a jumping off point. You might not fit into one style, that is totally normal for everyone. Our home is a traditional (informal) as well as American Country. For me, my home bundles into a farmhouse style.
Understanding your decorating style can really help you to elevate your home decor and help you to maybe fine tune items in your home that might be a bit out of place.
