9 Expert Interior Decorating Styles

Have you ever come into someone’s apartment and thought, “Wow, this apartment is so them?” This is because your apartment, beyond being a place to live and relax, is also a reflection of yourself. Your choices of couch color, table centerpiece, or how you have arranged your bookshelves say way more about you than you think.

But what if you’re unsure how to reflect your personality inside your home? Don’t fret, because in this blog, we will go over nine different interior design styles, especially perfect if you are looking for quiet luxury interior design. Start making your apartment truly yours today!

1. Eclectic Interior Design

When going for aneclectic style home, you should approach the decor with a blend of funky, visually appealing elements. Choose decorations from different periods and styles to create a truly unique space. To achieve the eclectic look, you must be meticulous about how you mix everything since it is not easy to make certain elements look good together.

Some key features to have in your eclectic house include bold, contrasting patterns with neutral tones, layered textures, like velvet cushions or woven baskets, and curated statement pieces with a story behind them for even a little bit more personality!

Tips for Eclectic Decoration

• Choose a base color palette. Ground the look with two or three colors, then add pops of accent tones. You can choose complementary colors, use anagalous colors, or even implement some color psychology.
• Layer textures for depth. For example, pair a neutral textured rug with smooth leather seating or a glass coffee table with a fun centerpiece
• Mix eras thoughtfully. Vintage wood pieces can live harmoniously with sleek, modern lighting when tied together by a shared color or finish.

2. Modern Interior Design

This style arrived in the 1920s and remains one of the most sought-after styles to have inside your apartment, adding elegance and chicness, and the best part, it never goes out of style. Many interior designers draw inspiration from modern style interiors, creating functional spaces with a pleasant aesthetic that highlights clean lines and geometric forms made from natural materials.

Key features of this style also include minimal decoration, focusing entirely on form and function, with layouts and plenty of natural light, and monochrome or neutral color schemes accented with bold art.

Tips For A Modern Style Apartment

• Choose elegant furniture. Low-profile sofas and streamlined dining tables keep the look cohesive
• Use color drenching. Apply a single hue to walls, trim, and even furniture to create an immersive effect and reduce visual noise
• Highlight architectural features. Large windows, expansive ceilings, or unique angles can become statements of their own!
• Let art speak. Incorporate modern art pieces to add visual appeal and more personality.

3. Minimalist Style

A minimalist styleis all about intentional living. Keeping the space simple, uncluttered, and fully embracing the “less is more” architect Lues van der Rohe once said. If you are looking to have an apartment that exudes serenity and quiet beauty, but still maintains that cozy, lived-in feeling, this might be the perfect style for you.

Contrary to what many people say, minimalism is not about living with the bare minimum. You just have to be intentional with every choice you make. When stepping into a minimalist apartment, you will find clean lines and uncluttered layouts, neutral color palettes, and clever storage to keep visual clutter away.

Tips for Styling a Minimalist Apartment

• Focus on quality over quantity. Instead of filling every corner, select a few standout pieces. A sculptural armchair or an artisan-crafted dining table can carry the entire room.
• Play with textures instead of color. This will keep things visually interesting and add depth without losing the serenity of it all.
• Let the light be the protagonist.  Maximize natural light where possible and use soft, layered artificial lighting to create warmth in the evenings.
• Make storage part of the design. Look for furniture wth built-in organization, like a bed frame with drawers or a table with hidden compartments.

4. European Interior Style

If you’re looking to bring elegance, craftsmanship, and history into your apartment home, or if you have European roots and want to reflect them in your house, a European-inspired style can be ideal. Exotic, beautiful, and full of history and personality!

Some ways to get an European styled home are to play with different colors, seek pastel and neutral hues, get European furniture, infuse natural elements, and use natural materials like terracotta tile, marble, stone, brick, stucco, and hardwood materials are some of the ways you can incorporate European appeal to your space. But since not every house in Europe looks the same, here are some specifics:

5. French Country Interior Style

This aesthetic tends to feel more lived-in than most, with rustic and vintage pieces and warm pops of color, but everything is perfectly blended in an effortless way. Popular elements in this style include distressed wood finishes paired with ornate details, soft muted palettes like cream, sage, and dusty blue, and vintage-inspired lighting like wrought iron chandeliers.

To achieve this style, try adding a neutral textured rug under a wood table for layers, choosing an antique style mirror to reflect light and add depth to your space, and incorporating floral or canvas fabrics for subtle pattern play.

6. Scandinavian Style

When you enter a Scandinavian-inspired style apartment, it feels like a masterclass in balance and hues. They are experts in merging minimalism and warmth. It is the epitome of simplicity with a twist. It combines minimalism with coziness and functionality. In these styled homes, you will often see natural wood tones, crisp bedding, no visual clutter, and high pile rugs.

People with a Scandinavian taste like clean lines softened by natural textures, a lot of emphasis on natural light, keeping the accessories minimal but intentional, introducing greenery to bring life to airy spaces, and using layered lighting with floor lamps or pendant lights.

7. Mediterranean Style

Who doesn’t dream of a Mediterranean summer, being sun-kissed on the coast of Italy, Spain, or Greece, and letting the beautiful landscapes soak you in? Mediterranean people are experts in translating the landscapes of the Mediterranean coast to mirror the aesthetic of their home. Here’s how they do it:

• Mix vibrant and warm colors, like terracotta, rich blues, and creamy whites.
• Texture on the walls and natural stone accents are key; use stone, clay, and even linen.
• Mosaic tilework with unique designs is a hallmark of Mediterranean-style interiors, adding personality to your space.
• Embrace rustic furniture from natural materials like wood and marble.

8. Rustic Interior Style

Do you love life on the farm, or dream of having a cottage in the countryside?Maybe a rustic interior style is for you. This style stands out for its coziness, earthy and welcoming atmosphere, and it is represented by natural and organic elements. Natural beauty in all its splendor!

The key characteristics of rustic design include monochromatic and muted colors inspired by nature, handcrafted or artisanal furniture made from natural materials like wood or stone, the use of wood on walls or ceilings, textures such as canvas in rugs, and natural fabrics like linen, cotton, or wool.

Tips for a Rustic Style Home.

• Choose simple furniture. Streamlined tables and chairs make it easier for you to focus on the beauty the material of the furniture has to offer rather than focusing on the piece entirely.
• Embrace exposed elements. Could be beams, columns, wood, or stone, but they will make it seem like your house is one with nature, fitting perfectly with a rustic home aesthetic.
• Choose handmade. Imperfect materials and items from reclaimed wood or other natural elements will feel more welcoming and rustic.
• Add warmth. Layered rugs and soft throw blankets can soften the vibe.
• Keep lighting warm. This will enhance an organic atmosphere.

9. Southwestern Interior Design

If you are in love with southwestern aesthetics, including Native American, Mexican, and Spanish artistry, this style blends earth warmth with bold artistic touches. This kind of interior style tries to reflect the colors of desert sunsets, the textures of natural materials found in deserts, and the craftsmanship of regional artisans.

To achieve a more southwestern style, consider incorporating elements like rich earthy tones, such as terracotta, adobe red, and clay, balanced with warm and sandy hues. Additionally, incorporate accent colors like turquoise, coral, and mustard, which are common in this style. Geometric and tribal inspired patterns in rugs, pillows, and wall art are also a must.

Tips for A Southwestern Home

• Use a statement rug as a focal point. Choose a large patterned rug with warm tones and geometric shapes. A piece like this can define an entire space and be almost the key point of the entire aesthetic
• Add an elegant firepit feature if you can. Use it as a visual and social anchor to extend the aesthetic of your house.
• Balance bold patterns. Too many patterns can overwhelm the space. If your rug or wall hanging is patterned, keep larger furniture in neutral tones like camel, sand, or cream to create harmony.
• Incorporating artisanal accessories. In this kind of styled apartments or houses, you will often see handmade pottery, woven baskets, and carved wooden items.
• Natural light. Try to maximize natural light as much as possible to make the space come alive.

Tips for an Industrial Style Apartment

●     Mix hard and soft textures. Balance the rawness of concrete floors or brick walls with plush seating, a neutral textured rug, and layered throw blankets to keep the space inviting.

●     Highlight architectural detail. If your apartment has visible beams or steel columns, let them stand out. Use minimalist lighting to draw attention without overpowering the space.

• Focus on open spaces. Keep spaces open for an airy atmosphere, and make sure natural light is your protagonist.
• Keep the color palette grounded. Stick to neutral, darker tones and metallic details, as industrial apartments are often bathed in natural sunlight.

Honorable Mentions

While the styles discussed above are beautiful and each has its unique personality and approach to design, there are many more styles to explore if none of those caught your attention enough:

• Traditional. Classic symmetry, polished wood. And timeless textures create an appeal that never goes out of style.
• Bohemian. With layered colors, patterns, and textures, and the mixing of different cultures and artistic movements, it brings an artistic, free-spirited vibe.
• Coastal. For ocean lovers, use soft blues, sandy neutrals, and breezy fabrics to capture the essence of the summer shoreline.
• Art Deco. If you are passionate about the 1920s, Art Deco is heavily influenced by that period of time. Bold geometry, metallic accents, and dramatic contrast for a glamorous apartment.
• Hollywood Glam. This style has risen to popularity very recently, but that doesn’t mean that it’s less beautiful. This is a style characterized by high contrasts, over-the-top chandeliers, and mirrored furniture.

Decorate Your Apartment Your Way With HILLS Properties

With HILLS properties, you have the space to decorate your apartment the way you want it. From a minimalist style to Hollywood glam, it’s important to make your apartment feel like home. Our spacious 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom apartments and townhomes allow you to customize your living experience, and provide limitless opportunities for you to add your own personal touch to your space. With apartments inIndiana, Kentucky, and Ohio, HILLS properties is the go-to provider for apartments and townhomes in several Midwest cities.

Tour an apartment today, and try one of these types of interior decorating styles in your new home!

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