Interior design styles, explained with photographs
Style names are a shorthand, and not everyone means the same thing by them. Here is what each one looks like and who it tends to suit. Every style below can be applied to a photo of your own room in Room AI.
Japandi
Low wooden furniture, paper lanterns, linen and muted earth tones. Japanese calm meets Scandinavian function.
Scandinavian
Pale oak, white walls, soft wool and a lot of daylight. The style most people mean when they say minimal but warm.
Mid-Century Modern
Walnut, tapered legs, a 1960s palette and a little geometry. Familiar, sociable and hard to get wrong.
Boho
Layered textiles, rattan, plants everywhere and a warm, collected feel. The opposite of a showroom.
Modern Farmhouse
Shiplap, matte black fixtures, reclaimed wood and cosy textiles. Rustic bones with a clean finish.
Coastal
Whites, sand and sea blues, light woods and linen. Bright rooms that feel like the window is always open.
Modern
Clean lines, a neutral palette, uncluttered surfaces and contemporary furniture. The safe, good-looking default.
Minimalist
Very few objects, generous empty space and precise geometry. Everything that stays has to earn its place.
Organic Modern
Curved furniture, natural stone and wood, cream on cream. Soft where modern is usually hard.
Wabi-Sabi
Imperfect textures, aged wood, plaster walls and handmade objects. Quiet, and comfortable with age.
Mediterranean
Terracotta, whitewashed walls, arches and warm light. Sun-baked rooms, indoors.
Industrial
Exposed brick, black steel, raw concrete and reclaimed wood. Loft character in any room.
French Country
Soft florals, distressed wood, stone floors and gentle colour. Rustic and refined at once.
Traditional
Symmetry, rich wood, classic upholstery and timeless proportions. Rooms that will not date.
Contemporary
Sculptural statement furniture, curated art and refined finishes. A gallery you can live in.
Rustic Cabin
Timber, stone, wool and firelight. A room that feels like the weekend.
Dark Academia
Deep colours, full bookshelves, leather and lamplight. Moody, bookish and warm.
Which interior design style should you choose?
Start from the room, not the trend. Dark rooms suit styles that use lamplight and depth, such as Dark Academia and Industrial. Small rooms suit disciplined, pale styles: Scandinavian, Minimalist, Japandi. Rooms with strong period features suit Traditional, French Country or Modern Farmhouse, which work with the architecture instead of against it. If you are not sure, Room AI's Surprise Me option picks a style that suits the photo, and you can always try another on the same room.
Garden and outdoor styles
Outdoor spaces have their own catalogue: Modern, Cottage, Mediterranean, Japanese, Tropical, Wild and Natural, Coastal and Formal. See patio, garden and balcony design.