Most living rooms are a jumbled mess of different styles. While such living rooms can have their own personality, they can also run the risk of looking ugly if certain ideas and colors clash.
Choosing a specific decor style to decorate your living room around can help to bring a sense of harmony to the room. But which decor style should you choose? There are many different decor styles to consider from art deco to western. This post gives a brief overview of 12 fun and popular styles.
Art Deco
Art deco originated in Paris and would become one of the most defining decor styles of the 1920s and 1930s (especially in US cities like New York and Miami). Many people are still in love with the geometric shapes and sophisticated color palettes of art deco, and it can be a great style to incorporate into an early 20th century home. Consider features like geometric mirrors, bronze-legged tables and velvet upholstery. When it comes to colors, consider the likes of teal, emerald green, black and gold.
Bohemian
The Boho style can be traced back to the 19th century, but was truly popularized by hippies in the 60s and 70s. This decor style heavily uses furniture made from natural materials like wood, rattan and jute. Layers of fabric are a big part of this style too – think rugs, throws, cushions and drapes. This style also features global influences from around the world such as Moroccan style lanterns, Indian bajot tables and African baskets. It’s also a great decor style for houseplant lovers – go crazy and create your own mini-jungle for a truly exotic feel.
Chinoiserie
Chinoiserie is a European decor style inspired by Chinese art dating back to the 1700s and 1800s. It can be a playful way of decorating a period home and includes bold use of floral patterns and animals like birds on wallpaper, cushions and vases. Blue and white is probably the most popular Chinoiserie color scheme. Other colors like deep greens, vibrant reds and imperial yellows.
Farmhouse
The perfect decor style for a rural country cottage, farmhouse decor consists of natural materials, emphasising a rugged connection with the natural world. Wood is a particularly popular material in this style – it can be painted or it can be left unfinished for a rustic look, and can take the form of everything from furniture to wood panelling on the walls. Natural fireplaces and beams on the ceiling are also associated with farmhouse decor. Couches are typically made from natural textiles like cotton or leather and use earthy colors.
French country
Another popular rural decor style is French country. This similarly incorporates heavy use of natural materials like wood and stone, but with a focus on antique and vintage pieces of furniture. A palette of soft colors like beiges, creams and greys complements these wooden antiques. Strategically placed flowers in vases and pots can meanwhile add pops of color to provide a cheerful feel.
Industrial
Industrial decor is rustic style that works great in city properties. It involves stripping back the building to its basic form – exposed brick walls, visible pipework and exposed hardwood floors are all popular features. Colors like grey, brown and black are popular in this style. Industrial decor may also include quirky features like oversized vintage lightbulbs, giant anglepoise lamps, concrete coffee tables and large clocks – sometimes softened with features like warm rugs and houseplants.
Japandi
What on earth is Japandi? This chic style is a hybrid of Scandinavian and Japanese influences that has become very popular in recent years. It’s designed to be minimalistic and calming with heavy use of white contrasted with bamboo or light wood furniture. Furniture is typically very low to the floor and may have more of an asymmetrical look than Scandinavian decor – a way of embracing the Japanese wabi-sabi philosophy of finding beauty in imperfection. Japanese art and Japanese houseplants can also complement this style.
Mediterranean
Mediterranean decor takes inspiration from homes in Spain and Southern Italy. It embraces pastel colors and earthy hues. Features like terracotta tile flooring are designed to add visual warmth while keeping the home cool in summer. Exposed plaster (sometimes known as Venetian plaster) and unfinished wooden furniture are other rustic touches that can add a Mediterranean feel.
Nautical
This decor style is great for living rooms in canal boats or homes by the sea (but can also be great for those that just want to feel as if they’re living by the coast). It incorporates nautical imagery like ship wheels, fish and shells. Blue and white is a popular color scheme that helps evoke the feeling of the sky and sea. Rustic wooden textures can go well with theme – this can include unfinished timber or wooden furniture with a paint wash effect.
Regency
Regency takes inspiration from historic stately homes. Think period dramas like Downton Abbey and Bridgerton. It’s extravagant and opulent – incorporating white tones contrasted with deep colors, decorative molding, antique furniture and chandeliers. It’s a decor style that’s hard to pull off on a budget and may not look as impressive in a smaller room. However, it can be done – check out this guide to regency-inspired decor.
Scandinavian
If you’ve ever shopped at Ikea, you’ll know a bit about Scandinavian decor. This decor style is minimalist and embraces heavy use of bright neutral tones like white, light grey and unfinished pine. Nailing this decor style involves getting a perfect balance of squares and curves to create a cozy but practical feel. This style looks most effective without too much clutter – stick to a few accessories like sofa throws, deep pile rugs and the occasional houseplant.
Western
Western home decor takes inspiration from the wild west. It’s a fun decor style for rural properties that incorporates features like cowhide rugs, leather sofas, unfinished wood tables and wooden wall panels. This decor style aims to be rustic and warm with heavy use of browns and whites. It could look particularly great in a living room with a natural log fireplace.
Conclusion
This is just a small selection of decor styles to take inspiration from – there are countless other weird and wonderful ones for those with niche interested. Make sure to choose a decor style that matches your property and fits your lifestyle. Certain decor styles like Art Deco and Regency are harder to maintain and may not be suitable for homes with pets and kids.
