It would be easy to take a picture found online, a theme from a TV show or movie, or something you’ve seen in a magazine and decide, “I want my house to look like that!” However, an Interior Design theme needs to fit your lifestyle and personality as well as look good in your home. Certain designs just don’t mix well together. You aren’t going to put a white floor rug in the living room of your farmhouse, it would just get filthy and muddy.



This article is here to help you determine which design fits your desires and lifestyle. While it isn’t supposed to shoe box you into choosing a single style, it should help clarify which styles are acceptable together. We will go over the four most popular Interior Design styles and help you choose which of these are most in line with your lifestyle and desires.





Rustic and Farmhouse Interior Style



Rustic and Farmhouse design as this "Interior Design Styles" post by Decorami pointed out contains multiple design theories all wrapped up into one central theme. The main idea here is that it is a practically comfortable living space that combines both heirloom furniture and modern upgrades. Comfort is the number one priority of a Rustic/Farmhouse style. It should bring out an inner connection to nature but also to a homeliness that is enforced by the idea that it can be clean and cosy.



Organic materials are a very important aspect of the Rustic Farmhouse style. Using stone or natural wood in as many pieces of furniture as possible to give it that old-time style look is central to the visual theme. Most farmhouses utilise as many whites and light colours for walls to keep the impression of spaciousness.



It’s not just the stone or natural wood that make a home rustic. It also takes into account the level of comfort that a wool rug or a leather sofa can add to the overall aesthetic of the room in question. A classic example of storage in a rustic designed home might include wicker baskets or wooden barrels to not only serve a function but also to serve as a design element.





Antique French Style Drinks Cabinet









https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/antique-french-style-drinks-cabinet-p29





Shabby Chic Wall Cabinet









https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/shabby-chic-wall-cabinet-p40815





Bergere Antique French Style Grandma Clock









https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/bergere-antique-french-style-grandma-clock-p1641





Churchill Shabby Chic Display Cabinet









https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/churchill-shabby-chic-display-cabinet-p40628





Churchill Shabby Chic Dining Chair









https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/churchill-shabby-chic-dining-chair-p40626





Shabby Chic Interior Style



The idea of a Shabby Chic or Urban Chic layout is the desire to have open spaces but also to decorate in a hip yet retro style. While incorporating styles from modern design, it also allows for a unique approach to chaos. It is a classic mix or antiques and Ikea, of thrift shops and designer pieces. This is very much the idea of a big city apartment or house using some recycled furniture alongside some suave new additions.



Pillows and Blankets are some of the most important pieces to a collection in the chic style. Pastels and whites are generally the colours most connected with this theme. Bright colours are generally not found. One of the best things about the style is the ability to mix different eras of furniture and decor and not have them be out of place.



This is the perfect style for someone who wants to enjoy the new era of design but also keep some favourites from the past. The collaboration between antique and modern are supposed to connect the eras by utilising a central focus piece such as a table or chair. Chic style is mostly concerned with being utilitarian and comfortable at the same time. A random art showpiece might be shown proudly on the wall alongside a bright yellow couch. This design style in a quote by Dean Signori can be summed up like this, “Messy yet clean”.





Grey Shabby Chic Wall Cabinet



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/grey-shabby-chic-wall-cabinet-p42797





Estelle Four Poster Antique French Style Bed



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/estelle-four-poster-antique-french-style-bed-p40334





Barley Twist Four Poster Antique French Style Bed



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/barley-twist-four-poster-antique-french-style-bed-p38343





Bordeaux Ivory Shabby Chic Wardrobe



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/bordeaux-ivory-shabby-chic-wardrobe-p13167



Shabby Chic Chest Of Drawers



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/shabby-chic-chest-of-drawers-p34650



French Style Interior Design



The main design aspiration for a French Styled house is to be timelessly elegant. French designers envision placing a modern chair beside a dresser from the 18th Century or having ultra-modern lighting against an ornate background. It’s all about the dynamic tension that exists between different periods and styles.



Large ornate mirrors or fancy kitchen sets connect with the possibility of a crystal chandelier and make everything flow together nicely. The style works well with sleek modern pieces such as chairs or tables, alongside the artsy and grandiose style of the French.



A person would choose the French Style because it is historic, elegant and timeless. It brings someone back to a time where craftsmanship was more important than the price. The designs are more luxurious and the items included in these designs are often pieces of history themselves. Whereas Rustic uses natural looking antique pieces to connect to a modern era, the French Style uses their elegant antique pieces to connect to a time before today.





Bergere Antique French Style TV Cabinet



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/bergere-antique-french-style-tv-cabinet-p7476





Antique French Style Vanity Unit



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/antique-french-style-vanity-unit-p168





La Rochelle Antique French Style Cheval Mirror



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/la-rochelle-antique-french-style-cheval-mirror-p16634





Coastal Interior Design



The Coastal style is an easy-breezy design philosophy that connects the light of the outside with the light on the inside. It often includes rustic look in many whites, greens, and blues in order to mimic the ocean and to make you feel like you’re always on vacation. Coastal designs often include a super comfy couch and a beach style side chair.



Open design and large windows set this style out from the others in the fact that it is more welcoming and comforting in a more accepting way. It is less about the items in the room and more about the feel of the room as a whole. Light rays and natural light are key factors in making a coastal design feel like a vacation. This post "48 Living Rooms with Coastal Style" by Coastal Living has some beautiful coastal themes.



The connection with the sea and the connection with the beach can be seen in the use of sandy coloured furniture and the coloured glass that is often included in a Coastal Style House. Pops of blues and greens represent the ocean and allow for a more comfortable style of home living.





Bombe Antique French Style Chest



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/bombe-antique-french-style-chest-p13771





Green Rococo Antique French Style Mirror







https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/green-rococo-antique-french-style-mirror-p41364





Bombay Shabby Chic Chest Of Drawers



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/bombay-shabby-chic-chest-of-drawers-p38228



Conclusion



A lot of design features overlap in regards to specific aesthetic features. Finding the right collaboration of these unique yet in many ways very similar styles can lead to a personal take on any of these main themes. Having aspects of a shabby chic setup along with a coastal design can make for a hip new coastal theme that maybe takes you from sitting on a beach to sitting in a surf shop in the 80’s. The Rustic Farmhouse appeal has many similar features of the French style. They both want to use old well built antique furnishings to keep an authentic perspective.



It is easy to be overwhelmed with options and opinions, but remember to choose something that represents you. When considering a design option make sure that it runs in line with your lifestyle and what the design will say about you. Whether you decide to go with an antique style or a modern style, you now have a little bit more information to take with you on your journey to deciding which design style is right for you.





Be sure to check out some of out other ranges



Homes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Cheval Mirrors



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/bedroom-c2130/cheval-mirrors-c2177



Homes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Chest Of Drawers



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/bedroom-c2130/chest-of-drawers-c2150



Homes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Console Tables



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/bedroom-c2130/console-tables-c2175



Homes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Screens



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/bedroom-c2130/screens-c2178



Homes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Manequins



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/bedroom-c2130/mannequins-c2179



Homes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Bedside Tables



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/bedroom-c2130/bedside-tables-c2142



Homes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Bathroom Furniture



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/bathroom-c2162



Homes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Dining Furniture



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/dining-c2163



Homes Direct 365 Shabby Chic Seating



https://www.homesdirect365.co.uk/french-furniture-c487/shabby-chic-furniture-c2128/seating-c2165



The Definitive Guide to Interior Design Styles by Dean Signori is republished from Homes Direct 365 Limited







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