Reading a design style: what actually defines it

Design styles are easier to understand when you look at four things: lines (shapes of furniture and architecture), materials, colour, and ornament (how much decoration, and what kind). Change one of these and the style changes.

A quick way to read any room

• Lines: straight and clean (modern, minimal), curved and carved (classic), geometric and glamorous (Art Deco), low and organic (Japandi).
• Materials: raw metal and brick (industrial), light wood and wool (Scandinavian), rattan and layered textiles (bohemian).
• Colour: neutral and restrained (minimal, Japandi), rich and contrasting (Art Deco), warm and mixed (bohemian).
• Ornament: almost none (minimal), crafted and meaningful (Japandi, Persian traditional), abundant and eclectic (bohemian).

Styles are families

Real homes mix styles. A room can be mostly Scandinavian with a Persian carpet and a classic mirror. The mix works when one style clearly leads and the others add accents.

See the styles reference for the defining features of nine styles, including Persian traditional.

Tools for this

• Style guide