A Guide to the Top 8 Interior Design Styles for 2023

Interior design is a vast and dynamic field that blends aesthetics and practicality to create a harmonious living space. From minimalist to maximalist, traditional to contemporary, and every style in between, each design category has its unique signature elements and historical underpinnings.

The following article offers a comprehensive overview of the top types of interior design styles. We explore their defining features, cultural significance, and practical applications. Read on and discover how to integrate these styles into your home for maximum impact.

Modern Interior Design Styles

Modern interior design is a broad term that encompasses a range of different styles and aesthetics. At its core, modern home décor style is characterized by clean lines, simple shapes, and a focus on function over form.

Related: Contemporary vs. Modern Style

Bauhaus Interior Design Style

A modern living room with a dark gray wall featuring a large abstract painting in red, black, and blue. An orange sofa with blue cushions, stylish pendant lights, a small coffee table, and a green potted plant complete the scene. — Credit: Jamila

The Bauhaus movement was a revolutionary art and design movement that emerged in Germany in the early 20th century. Founded by architect Walter Gropius in 1919, Bauhaus aimed to create a new aesthetic that would merge art, design, and technology. This movement had a profound impact on interior design, influencing the development of modern design styles.

Bauhaus Décor Insights

A stylish modern lounge area with blue walls, a grey sofa, and red accent chairs around a coffee table, with abstract art hanging on the wall. — Credit: Hdi

Bauhaus designers seek to create practical and streamlined objects and spaces that are free from unnecessary decoration. They embrace industrial materials and manufacturing techniques, and focus on simplicity, functionality, and clean lines.

Mid-Century Modern Interior Design Style

A modern bathroom interior with a wooden vanity cabinet, a tall wooden shelving unit filled with towels and decor, and a unique mirror on a pink wall.

Heavily influenced by the Bauhaus movement, mid-century modern design emerged in the mid-20th century and is characterized by its use of natural materials, such as wood and leather, as well as by its bright colors, graphic patterns, and playful shapes.

Organic and Experimental

A modern bathroom featuring a double vanity with wooden cabinetry and two mirrors, wall sconces, a tiled wall, and a potted plant, with a small stool and decorative items.

For a mid-century modern luxury bathroom, use bright colors and graphic patterns to create a playful, retro-inspired atmosphere. Choose furniture with clean lines and organic shapes, such as a wooden bathroom vanity with decorative reeding or a sleek medicine cabinet.

Scandinavian Interior Design Style

A modern kitchen interior with white cabinets, wood countertops, and a dining table with chairs. A refrigerator and oven are integrated into the design, with shelves holding kitchenware and plants. — By Prostock-studio

Scandinavian interior design is known for its simplicity, functionality, and minimalism. It emerged in the early 20th century and is characterized by its use of natural materials, such as wood and stone, as well as its emphasis on light and space.

Focus on Functionality: Scandinavian Décor

A modern bathroom interior with double vanity sinks, wooden cabinets, mirrors against a brick wall, and a tall wooden shelf with towels and decorations.

To incorporate Scandinavian design into your home décor, start by choosing a neutral color palette, such as white, gray, or beige bathroom, to create a clean, calming backdrop. Utilize wood furniture and plants to offer comforting warmth.

Wabi Sabi Interior Design Style

A minimalist living room with two textured armchairs, a wooden coffee table with decorative items, a vase with branches on the side, and a textured wall finish under soft lighting. — Credit: Василь Чейпеш

Wabi-sabi is a Japanese philosophy that celebrates imperfection, simplicity, and the beauty of natural materials.

Beautiful Imperfection

Three minimalist vases of various shapes and sizes on a wooden shelf against a textured dark background. — Credit: Svetlana Lukienko

Wabi-sabi interiors are characterized by a sense of minimalism, with natural materials and simple, unadorned forms taking center stage. They often feature rustic or handmade elements, such as rough-hewn wood, earthenware pottery, and woven baskets.

Minimalist Interior Design Style

A minimalist bathroom with marble flooring, featuring a glass-walled shower, a modern vanity with sink, a wall-mounted mirror, and a wooden stool.

Minimalism is a design philosophy that emphasizes simplicity, purity, and functionality. With elements of minimalism found across many styles, such as Scandinavian and Wabi Sabi, the goal of minimalism is to strip away excess and focus the essentials

Simple Décor Tips for a Minimalist Home

A modern vanity setup with a mirror and storage shelves, flanked by wall sconces, against a textured wall. A sleek stool is placed in front of it.

One important principle of minimalism is to declutter and simplify your space. Keep accessories to a minimum, focusing on a few well-chosen pieces that serve a practical purpose.

Traditional Interior Design Styles

Traditional decorating styles draw inspiration from the past and often incorporate rich, warm colors, ornate details, and luxurious fabrics.

Art Deco

A symmetrical and elegant bathroom vanity setup with twin arched mirrors above two green cabinets, accompanied by a matching tall storage unit in the center. The scene is lit by natural sunlight casting soft shadows on the herringbone patterned wood floor.

Originating in France in the 1920s, the Art Deco interior design style originated in France in the 1920s and quickly spread throughout Europe and the United States. Art Deco is characterized by its use of geometric shapes, bold colors, and luxurious materials like gold, chrome, and glass. It was a style that celebrated modernity, glamour, and excess.

Incorporating Art Deco Into Your Home Décor: Tips and Examples

A modern bathroom with herringbone tile flooring, marble walls, and blue patterned tiles. There is a vanity with a sink and mirror flanked by shelving units, and a glass-enclosed shower area to the right.

To incorporate Art Deco into your home décor, start by choosing a color scheme that's bold and vibrant. Then, include geometric shapes within your furnishings, accessories, or surfaces. Don't be afraid to mix and match different textures and patterns, such as the contrasting accent tiles shown here.

Maximalist Interior Design Style

A cozy living room with a vibrant orange sectional sofa, a gallery wall of various framed artworks, a round black coffee table, and an assortment of chairs and plants, creating a modern and artistic interior space.

As the opposite of minimalism, maximalist design is an interior design style that embraces excess, abundance, and boldness.

Vibrant and Daring Décor

To create a maximalist interior, look for vibrant wallpapers, richly patterned fabrics, and statement-making furnishings. Mix and match patterns and textures to create a sense of richness and depth.

Industrial Interior Design Style

A contemporary bathroom with a double vanity against an exposed brick wall, flanked by vintage-style pendant lights. Two framed mirrors hang above the sinks and a tall wooden storage cabinet stands to the right.

Celebrate the beauty of industrial materials and processes with an industrial design. Industrial rooms often feature vintage or salvaged elements, such as factory lighting or antique machinery.

Metal and Brick

To create an industrial design, start by selecting materials and finishes that reflect the beauty of industry, such as exposed brick, concrete, and metal. Use a muted color palette, with shades of gray, black, and brown, to create a sense of industrial sophistication.