Your furniture choices influence the vibe of your room. You may find yourself drawn to a certain look and wonder what furniture style to use to create your desired look. Room styles can vary from formal to cozy and inviting. Adding furniture pieces can enhance the atmosphere you’d like to create in your room. Read on to learn about various furniture styles and find the style that resonates with you.
General Decorating Styles
Styles of decorating can fall into different categories. Matching your furniture to your decor creates a cohesive look for your home. These are the three main styles you should know.
Traditional
Traditional styles are calm and comfortable. You won’t find shocking colors or odd shapes in a traditionally styled room. Furniture in a traditionally styled room will be classic looking and not overly decorative. The colors most often found in this style are warm. Picture dark woods with straight and symmetrical lines as part of a traditionally styled room.
Transitional
The transitional style combines contemporary with traditional. Furniture is simple yet also sophisticated. The decor lends to a timeless and classic design. Transitional styles will borrow some traditional elements but overall give a more relaxed and less formal vibe. Color schemes balance both warm and cool colors.
Contemporary
Contemporary styling showcases the space rather than the items contained within the space. Decorating is simple and sophisticated. Color schemes that are neutral, black, and white are hallmarks of the contemporary style. Less is more in contemporary styling, and architectural details are capitalized upon as a decor feature.
Furniture Styles
Being aware of the above three overall styles can help you choose furniture to place in your room. Let’s explore each style to determine what makes it unique and if it fits your vision for your space.
1. Amish/Shaker/Mission Furniture Style
Amish style furniture is traditionally styled, uncomplicated, and timeless. It is made completely out of wood using traditional woodworking techniques. Amish furniture is functional rather than decorative. The beauty of each piece comes from the high-quality craftsmanship of its construction.
The wood used for Amish furniture construction is primarily oak which is a lighter colored wood. Occasionally you will find Amish furniture constructed from cherry or maple. This style of furniture consists of straight lines and square shapes.
2. Art Deco Furniture Style
The art decor style originated in France in the 1920s and spread to Europe and the United States in the 1930s. The style is characterized by muted colors, shiny accents, polished finish, and unique shapes. Art deco styles contain dark woods with light upholstery. Everything about art deco exudes a sexy glamour. Mirrors are featured heavily in the art deco style.
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3. Baroque Furniture Style
The baroque style originated in Italy during the baroque period, for which it is named. This timeframe spanned from the early 17th to the mid 18th century. The style is highly decorative, featuring an ornate and luxurious look. Intricate inlaid wood or marquetry is found in some furniture pieces. Baroque furniture pieces are heavy and imposing and instill a sense of drama. Furniture is richly upholstered and may also feature gilt work of gold.
4. Bauhaus Furniture Style
Bauhaus, which is German for building house, is a style of the 1920s featuring clean lines, smooth surfaces, and geometric shapes. Materials previously not thought of for furniture, such as steel, glass, plywood, and plastic, are incorporated into the pieces. The style features designs that showcase simple functionality with geometric forms. The simplicity of the designs is meant to be easily replicated to allow for mass reproduction.
5. Beach Furniture Style
Beach-style furniture features calming colors and relaxed seating. Natural wood and white are the primary colors. The light tones are meant to inspire thoughts of the waterfront and the feeling of summertime. Natural textures, such as jute and wicker, are found in beach furniture designs. Everything should feel light and airy.
6. Bohemian Furniture Style
Bohemian style breaks all the rules. Eclectic pieces are styled together to present a relaxed and carefree atmosphere. Warm earthy colors and jewel tones are featured in the bohemian style. Mixing patterns and textures is common. Furniture styles may vary in the bohemian style, but overall, plush and inviting for comfortable relaxation is the goal. Mismatched and vintage antiques piled high with colorful pillows for comfort will fit your bohemian-styled room well.
7. Coastal Furniture Style
Coastal style is influenced by the beach, using weathered driftwood and nautical accents. This furniture features light weathered woods, nautical themes, and colors. Crisp white, browns, and blues are often featured colors.
8. Colonial Furniture Style
European styles heavily influenced furniture created in the American colonies before the end of the revolution. However, colonial-style furniture is more conservative and less ornate than European furniture created during the same time period. The colonial period ranges from 1700to 1780. Colonial furniture styles can range from casual country style to more formal pieces.
9. Contemporary Furniture Style
The contemporary style became popular in the latter 20th century. Furniture pieces began to feature soft rounded elements rather than straight stark lines. While tones can vary from light to dark, contemporary furniture lacks intricate details and carvings.
10. Cottage Furniture Style
The cottage style features comfort. Furniture will feature weathered finishes or may be painted. Colors have a botanical influence. Mismatched furniture is acceptable, giving a feel of charm and comfort to the space. Upcycled and recycled furniture pieces are commonly blended into the cottage style.
11. Eclectic Furniture Style
Eclectic styling brings together a mish-mash of all the periods and styles. When choosing eclectic furniture, anything goes. To keep the look cohesive, stick to a base of neutral colors. Mixing textures with a common color hue is a good way to keep eclectic from becoming chaotic.
12. Empire Furniture Style
The empire style originated in France during the reign of Napoleon Bonaparte from 1804 to 1814. Furniture pieces are large and imposing with a grand design. The Roman empire inspired embellishments on furniture pieces. Walnut, maple, and beech were the woods of choice in empire furniture, and tables often featured marble.
13. French Country Furniture Style
The French country style demonstrates rustic elegance. French country styles’ furniture lines are curved and designed to create a flowing feel in the room. Fabrics such as toile and tapestry are featured with a touch of gold and muted colors. This furniture is graceful and simple in design.
14. Hamptons Furniture Style
The Hamptons style is another relaxed and beachy style. This is the American version of French interior design styles. Hamptons style differs from the coastal style by incorporating deep blue, paisley, and geometric prints while avoiding the coastal style’s bright accents. Plush furniture, oversized chairs with natural materials characterize the Hamptons style.
15. Industrial Furniture Style
Industrial style takes its inspiration from old factories and industrial spaces. This furniture features wood and metal with clean, simple lines. Rustic colors are the mainstay of this style. Furniture may showcase pipe legs and blocky shapes. Wrought iron is another featured metal in industrial furniture.
16. Key West Furniture Style
Key West style is inspired by the Florida destination, after which it is named. Furniture is lightweight and features natural materials such as bamboo. A beachside theme with colorful, playful elements like palms fit into this style. Wood finishes are light-colored.
17. Mediterranean Furniture Style
Mediterranean style recreates the simple romantic feelings inspired by Southern Europe. Color schemes showcase a balance of light and warm colors. Furniture features natural materials such as wood, wrought iron, and cotton. Furniture can vary from simple to formal. Pieces are typically short and feature ornate legs and feet. Natural colors are used to echo the sea and sky.
18. Mid-Century/Modern Furniture Style
Mid-century furniture describes furniture designed in the middle of the twentieth century (1933-1965). The German Bauhaus style influenced this design. Functional pieces with clean lines and a lack of clutter characterize the style.
As with the Bauhaus style, non-traditional materials are incorporated into furniture design. Materials found in mid-century furniture include wood, metal, glass, vinyl, plywood, plexiglass, and Lucite. Colors vary from neutral to bold to the graphic use of black and white.
19. New England Furniture Style
New England furniture style heavily features wood. Styles can blend into either coastal or woodland areas and feature blues as the predominant color choice, although plaid is a close second.
20. Plantation Furniture Style
The plantation-style is clean and uncluttered. Rich dark woods contrasting with light fabrics are featured in plantation furniture. Upholstery is overstuffed and cozy. Carved wood furniture is sophisticated yet at the same time invites relaxation.
21. Retro Furniture Style
Retro furniture refers to styles that were popular in the 1950s through the 1970s. The retro furniture style leans toward a whimsical vibe. You’ll find influences from pop culture, fashion, and graphic design. Fabrics feature bright colors and bold graphics.
22. Rococo Furniture Style
Rococo furniture was popular in France from 1735 to 1765. This style is highly decorative, featuring curves and a gold finish. Intricate carvings are showcased on rococo furniture pieces. Woods were primarily rosewood and mahogany. Walnut was sometimes used as a less expensive option.
23. Rustic/Farmhouse/Country Furniture Style
Rustic furniture aims for a natural look. Twigs, sticks, and logs are used to fashion the furniture pieces. Furniture is oversized and designed for comfort. Shapes and designs are simple, letting the material stand out as the piece’s main design element.
24. Scandinavian/Nordic Furniture Style
Scandinavian style furniture features simples designs using light woods such as birch, spruce, or pine. The style invokes simple minimalism. Lines are clean and simple to avoid clutter.
25. Shabby Chic Furniture Style
Shabby chick tends toward a worn and well-lived-in style. The colors are soft, and the style embraces a feminine feeling. Furniture features pastel and floral upholstery. Painted and distressed furniture features heavily in the shabby chic style.
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26. Southwest Furniture Style
Southwestern style showcases earth tones and rough textures. Leather-covered furnishings are very popular. Wood furniture often features knotty pine with burnished metal accents.
27. Traditional Furniture Style
Traditionally styled furniture is calm and soothing with a stately elegance. Formal-looking dark woods invoke the Victorian period. This style fits well into formal settings. Wood features are carved and stained a dark shade. Ball or claw feet are common on traditional furniture pieces. Old-world craftsmanship is featured in the design of traditional furniture. This style was featured from 1643 to 1715 in Europe.
28. Tuscan Furniture Style
Tuscan style features earth tones and shades of terracotta. Furnishings are simple and sturdy with iron accents. The Italian region of Tuscany influences the style. Furniture pieces may incorporate tile, wrought iron, and marble into their design.
Create Your Desired Look
Furniture heavily influences the overall feeling of your home. Your style choices can range from traditional and formal to cozy and comfortable. Using our guide to find furniture that matches the atmosphere you’d like to create, you can design the perfect match. Think about how you will use your room. Are you looking for an inviting space to entertain guests or a formal dining room for holiday dinners? With attention to furniture styling, you’ll easily create a cohesive overall style that embodies your personality.