Decor Styles – the four main types

The casual style room is comfy and inviting.

    

Here’s how to create a casual effect:

• Simplicity; no fussy details
• Restful horizontal lines with rectangular or softly curved elements
• Natural textures in fabrics and accessories
• Soft upholstery
• Low-lustre surfaces
• Arrangements not perfectly symmetrical

The casual style almost begs for you to add a few whimsical touches, such as an old birdcage or enamel teapot and stacks of books or old suitcases used as side tables. And well-worn pieces just add to that overall comfortable look.

Casual decorating is easily incorporated into rustic styles like French Provencal, cottage and Shabby Chic.

 

If you love the look of grand old hotels, you're probably a fan of the formal style of decorating.

 
 

This style works best in homes with large tall windows, high ceilings and strong architectural features such as a traditional and deep fireplace or beautifully panelled walls. Although homes today are not generally fitted with mouldings, hardwood floors, or elaborate carved plaster ceiling and wall decorations, these can be added later.
Decorated to attract attention these are the characteristics of the formal look:

• Paired furniture and accessories. Pair lamps by arranging them on either side of a sofa, picture window, or painting  
• Highly polished wood (usually dark), luxurious shiny fabrics and metals
• Elaborately dressed tall windows
• Antique (or good quality reproduction) furniture and accessories.  Furniture could feature leather trim or marble tops
• Central focal point such as a fireplace, period artwork or cabinet
• Mirrors and artworks elaborately framed in gilt frames  
• Persian carpets and Oriental rugs
• Chandeliers and light fittings of crystal or brass
• Decorative detailing such as button upholstery, tassels and fringe trims
• Decorative paint techniques
• Polished brass hardware

 

If you like living in a space that’s right on trend or even slightly edgy, then you might like the contemporary style of decorating

  

Far from being cold and soulless, today’s contemporary rooms often give one a sense of being in a calm cocoon, where you can escape from all the stress of modern life.
To achieve this look these are the basics:

• Simplicity; less is more.
• Interiors showcase space rather than things, so bare space is as important as space filled with objects - on walls and between pieces of furniture
• Each piece stands out as individual and unique
• Subtle sophistication and texture gives a sleek, fresh look
• Focus on colour, space, and shape,
• Neutral colours - sometimes with bright pops of colour. Black is often used. If walls feature bold colour, neutrals used everywhere else
• Clean lines – in art and architectural details
• Bold colour blocks, high ceilings, bare windows
• Exposed structural elements - Air ducts, raw bricks, utility pipes etc.
• Contemporary furniture - pieces simple and uncluttered, often with no decoration and in black, white, or other neutral tones
• Textured natural fibres such as wool, cotton, linen, silk and jute
• Cushions in clean geometric shapes
• This look is bare, bold, and structural so go for bold geometric shapes and lose any small or cute items.  
• Floors bare and smooth. Add colour and texture with plain or geometric-patterned area rugs. If you must use carpet, go for commercial grades

 

Never ostentatious, traditional style interiors are comforting and classic.

 

You may have grown up in a home that was decorated in the traditional style.
How to create a traditional style room

• Overall feeling is functional, understated, unfussy and orderly, with no surprises
• Furnishings are classic and might feel slightly outdated. Everything blends and upholstered pieces match.
• Furniture and accessories are placed in pairs and centred in the room.
• Often with that “furniture showroom” feeling - comfortable for any age group
• Mix of vertical and horizontal lines. Gentle curves seen in furniture, cushions and accessories.
• Fabrics neither too shiny nor too textured. Florals, plain colours, muted checks or stripes, geometrics, tone-on-tone and small all-over patterns are common.
• Colour is often in the mid-range, though very dark and very light shades may also be used. Multi-colour florals or patterns are often the room’s starting point for colour, with the lightest colour used for walls and deeper shades for upholstery and flooring. 
• Furniture usually arranged on a straight axis. For example the sofa will directly face or sit perpendicular to the fireplace
• Wood furniture will usually have a mix of straight and curved lines. While light and darker wood pieces may be used, lines will be classic
• Trims, tassels, and fringes seldom used
• Classic window treatments
• Pairs of objects arranged in balanced symmetry
• Accessories may include pairs of lamps, plants, mirrors, framed prints, china and collections of books.
• Classic light fixtures - lamps with silk shades, wall sconces, and floor lamps. Plain shades