10 Different Types of Furniture Styles and Guides

The well-known phrase “a home is a safe place” rings true to many people and homeowners worldwide. As such, how someone chooses to decorate their home says a lot about their personality and style. The way homeowners decorate their interiors reveals their values, aspirations, and tastes. 

With the launch of Kenneth Cobonpue’s new Star Wars collection, it’s become increasingly evident that home décor has significantly improved and innovative in recent years. The collection features four pieces of seating furniture styled in the image of various characters from the movie franchise, such as Darth Vader and Chewbacca. 

Several furniture styles have stood the test of time, and many are still being used today. Whether someone’s style in house décor is eccentric, minimalist, or vintage, there is an interior style suitable for everyone.  

10 Different Types of Furniture Styles

Naturally, more than 10 furniture styles exist. But this list is a compilation of different furniture styles that cater to different tastes. From furniture inspired by periods to countries and regions, find the right fit here to ensure that your home reflects your style and well-being. 

One of the more popular house decorating styles is the minimalist, which, as the name suggests, uses little to no extravagant or eye-catching furniture pieces or colors. It involves the stripping down of furniture to its simplest and most basic form. In many ways, the minimalist style is closely associated with the modern style because both take advantage of simple and unassuming furniture pieces to create a clean and uncluttered space.

As designer Sharon Blaustein noted, “Minimalism is about keeping a space simple, uncluttered, and accentuating the attractive architectural features of a space.”

People who opt for this style embody the phrase “less is more,” and they embrace this mentality in their interior decorating. Monochromatic colors like whites, blacks, and grays make up the primary colors of this style, while subdued and muted oranges, browns, and greens act as accents.

Additionally, minimalist homes tend to capitalize on furniture with high functionality since the whole idea is to keep the house clean and simple. 

This style, characterized by rich colors, luxe fabrics, and metallic finishes, is reminiscent of the glitz and glamor of the 1920s and 1930s. Art deco is notable for its eccentric flair, with geometric, linearity, and angular forms making up most of its identity. 

Owner of Studio London Co., Travis London, notes that art deco “is furniture characterized by geometric detailing and shapes, exotic woods (think zebra woods and mahogany), jewel-tone colors, lacquer, mirrored finishes, and shiny metal accents.” In terms of color schemes, this style is nothing short of extravagant. Eye-catching blues, golds, reds, and greens are favorite combinations for this style. 

Potentially a sub-category of the minimalist style, Scandinavian interiors use textures and soft hues to make spaces look clean, simple, and feel inviting to live in. The use of natural lighting, contrast, and pops of color in a predominantly monochromatic space are hallmark traits of this interior style.Like minimalism, Scandinavian interiors are uncluttered, simple, and neat. Furniture pieces are usually crafted from wood, adding rich, neutral tones to the room. 

This style of interiors is an eclectic mix of old meeting new. The retro style is often closely associated with the 1960s but takes inspiration from the 1950s and 1970s. It is similar to art deco in that it is an explosion of contrasting design features, colors, and patterns. Retro favors bold colors with muted hues like oranges, greens, browns, yellows, and reds. Ultimately, this style showcases the whimsical and fun ideals of the 1960s—designs and décor with lots of colors, patterns, and textures. 

Another style identical to minimalism, the modern interior style takes several elements from both minimalism and Scandinavian. Originating during the turn of the 20th century, modern style was conceptualized through abstract thinking and human innovation. Characterized by monochromatic color, clean lines, natural wood, and natural light, the modern style celebrates simplicity, much like its minimalist and Scandinavian counterparts. 

Notable traits of the modern style also include a preference for lines rather than curves, natural lighting, natural materials for furnishings, and a neutral color palette.

As its name suggests, the Victorian style originated during the reign of Queen Victoria of England. Bulky, extravagant, and ornamental, furniture for this style is often lavish and represents the upper class and high society of the Victorian era. These pieces had an excess when it came to minute details and craftsmanship and usually exhibited carvings on wooden parts of armchairs, tables, and beds. Most are crafted from wood, leather, and velvet materials. In terms of color palettes, the Victorian interior leans toward dark but muted color variants of red, green, blue, and brown.  

The country style represents a casual and simple take on interior spaces to reflect the quiet and slow life in the countryside. General colors are light and bright, with the presence of wooden furniture, natural fabrics, and metals providing contrast to the space. This style commonly uses different hues of red, orange, yellow, brown, and green. 

Identified through its simplicity and minimalism, contemporary is an ever-changing interior style. Often mistaken for the modern style, contemporary stands out as it grows with the current trends; hence, it is more dynamic than modern, which is usually locked behind the 19th to 20th century. 

Despite being associated heavily with minimalism, Scandinavian, and modern interior styles, the transient nature and dynamic style inherent to contemporary make it very special.

It values multifunctional pieces that don’t ruin the room’s clean aesthetic and incorporates sustainable and vintage items into its design. Whites, creams, and other neutral tones encompass most of the colors in this style, while contrast in color can be found through wood, brass, steel, and glass components. As it derives inspiration from both old and new, contemporary is both versatile and diverse.

The Asian style, known alternatively as the Oriental interior design, combines the different cultures of Asia, with China and Japan being the most recognized. Colors are frequently in the realm of reds, oranges, and yellows, as those are popular in most countries in the region, symbolizing good luck and prosperity.

Furniture pieces usually are ornate, hand-painted, and either feature various animals and beasts (if leaning more toward Chinese-inspired style) or tranquil spaces filled with natural furniture (if inclined more towards Japanese style). 

Traditional interior designs are principally recognized for their intricately designed furniture pieces exuding an elegant, timeless, and unique look to any living space. As a style formed and influenced by a collection of different periods, it consequently possesses ornate and dramatic pieces of furniture. It is known for plush cushioning, metal accents, and dark wood.

Styles for Everyone

While more styles and interior themes exist outside of the 10 listed, it doesn’t take away the fact that the possibilities are virtually endless. As trends and styles continue to be dynamic and develop, it can be expected that more will be created in the future. Whatever you think your style is, may it be the eclectic retro or the chic minimalist, there is always an interior design right up your alley!

A mother and lover of all things practical. My blogs will help you learn about everything from creating a designer kitchen to making the most of a spare bedroom, choosing the best double glazing to the best indoor gardening tips.

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