The Most Popular Furniture Styles of Today
Today, most furniture styles are a combination of historical styles and a modern take on these. These allow homeowners to reproduce ideas or to create their own interior spaces in a way that suits their budgets and lifestyle.
In India, most people prefer to purchase solid wood furniture with carvings and inlays in wood and other modern materials. Areas of the home are created with versatility and interaction in mind. Rich color and textures are included by using rugs, fabrics, and artwork that reflect the Indian arts the culture of this country and its diversity.
Which are the most popular furniture styles that people like to incorporate into their homes?
Traditional
Past European tastes form the backbone of the traditional decorating style and these interior spaces reflect this with finishes like crown molding and chair rails. Wooden furniture is usually preferred, made from heavier and darker woods with curvy lines and detailed finishes. Upholstery and curtains are plush and the preferred fabrics are velvet, brocade, and toile.
Rustic
Also known as “shabby chic”, the rustic space seeks to embrace nature and its imperfections. Everything is as organic and natural as possible so that the wood finishes are raw, worn and unfinished. The decorations that complete the look are also brought in from nature and the fabrics used are made from natural cotton, linen, and wool.
Today, the rustic look has lost some of its heavy and dark appearance and there is a balance of clean lines and pale-colored wood surfaces combined with darker colors in the finishing touches that are designed to be eye-catching.
Bohemian
The idea here is the same as that of the bohemian dressing style. The rules are few and the finished look usually incorporates vintage furniture combined with other pieces. These are often sourced in flea-markets and second-hand furniture stores. The choices don’t just concentrate on furniture and accessories from one style or area; they are mixed so that the look ends up having a worldly feel.
Chairs may be replaced by pillows scattered on the floor. Some items may look old and worn, while some may be completely glam and the pieces complement each other well because that is the idea behind the way they were chosen.
Mid-century Modern
The mid 20th century was the time when this style was born. This is a modern style also incorporates a bit of flair and nostalgia for a more retro style, but is never completely minimalist.
The styling here is all about functionality and there is ever anything unnecessary and no too many trimmings. Furniture shapes reflect organic and simple forms and one of the best examples is the egg- shaped chair design.
Minimalist
As the name suggests, the minimalist style is a balance of the least amount of aesthetics required so that the furniture item is functional. The shape, colors, materials are all simple and crisp. Besides wood, the use of leather, glass and metals is also popular in minimalism.
Minimalist homes are clutter-free, functional, have light neutral colors and clean lines. This simplicity is not easy to communicate and great care needs to be taken when considering the furnishings and finishing for a minimalist home.
Industrial
The inspiration for the industrial styled home was born out of the urban warehouse settings with raw finishes. The elements in a room needed to successfully implement this style include metal, raw wood, the older the better, high ceilings and exposed pipes.
The industrial style home is fitted with sparse furniture that is functional. The color schemes are browns, blacks and grays and furniture is made mostly with woods and metals. The idea here is to display the hard-working elements chosen and if they are old and battered they are displayed, not hidden.
Farmhouse
Many people confuse farmhouse with rustic design, but there is a definite difference. Farmhouse design is more refined and finished and draws its inspiration from the French country, cottage or shabby chic styles of decorating. The colors of farmhouse styled homes are soft and the tones are usually pastel and gray. Wood does play an important part in the farmhouse look, but it is more finished that that of a rustic design.
The fabrics used most are floral and plaid in softer pastel colors and lots of handmade accessories complete the look. This includes pottery, slipcovers and baskets.
Contemporary
Not to be confused with modern, contemporary furniture is what is in fashion at any given point of time. On the other hand, the modern design style began in the 20th century. That means that contemporary is an ever-changing style because it utilizes the current design and trend of that particular time.
Contemporary style is not all about straight clean lines, but it changes and could include curves to furniture and softer edges.
Transitional
Transitional is a mix of traditional and contemporary styles with neither of the two overpowering the other. The materials and furnishing are used in perfect harmony to recreate the look in an unexpected way.
An example of how this balance can be achieved is by using the furniture of a more traditional space with contemporary decorative elements that incorporate steel and glass.
Scandinavian
The furniture of the Scandinavian style is functional, yet artistic in design and it creates an understated yet clean and earthy feel to the home. Wooden furniture with clean lines is combined with a dominantly white color scheme and other neutral touches.
Accessories are few and well-chosen and the basic feel of a Scandinavian interior is that of spaciousness, and natural light.
Final word
These are the main design styles but there are others that inspire decorators and homeowners too. Art Deco, Retro, Modern, Coastal, and Mediterranean Chic are a few of these that are often spoken about in magazines and by decorators. These are just a guideline and the best homes are created out of love and a mix and match of ideas by using a combination of new and the old; these that are often lovingly handed down from previous generations in each family.
