Do You Know the 30 Main Interior Design Styles?

The Thirty Top Interior Design Styles — With Images!

Discover the ever-evolving story of interior design styles with our independent research combining popular sources and search data. Plus, how to keep track of all these styles!

Please note: This article may contain affiliate links which help to support the site at no expense to our readers.

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Heads up, design style lovers: The most popular interior design styles are also the most-searched design styles

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Do you want to discover which are the most important interior design styles?

The good news is you don’t need to be an interior design pro to get really good at recognizing different interior design styles.  You can discover all of the most main interior design styles from popular media.  For those of us who love interior design styles, it’s one of our favorite things to do! 

But with so many sources out there and naturally some differences in opinion, we wanted to come up with a list of interior design styles that could stand as the ultimate resource based on the most current data. 

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First, we asked the question, ‘What are the most popular designers according to the most popular resources for interior design styles on the web?’  Next, we scoured the top blogs on Google to combine a list of the thirty most frequently featured styles. 

But we didn’t stop there: We also did some data analysis on the most frequently searched interior design styles on Google.  We then compared these search results with a list of the top thirty styles by search volume.  What did we discover? 

See for yourself!

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In this post

The Top 30 Billboard List of 30 Interior Design Styles

The Interior Design Style Data Story

Our Design Baddie Interior Design Style Project

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The Billboard Top 30 Mega List of Interior Design Styles 2023-24

In alphabetical order, the most popular interior design styles according to publisher consensus and search data:

1. Art Deco
2. Biophilic
3. Bohemian
4. Coastal
5. Contemporary
6. Cottage
7. Craftsman
8. Eclectic
9. French country
10. Georgian
11. Gothic
12. Hollywood Regency
13. Industrial
14. Italian Modern
15. Japandi
16. Maximalist
17. Mediterranean
18. Mid Century Modern
19. Minimalist
20. Modern farmhouse
21. Organic Modern
22. Rustic
23. Scandinavian
24. Shabby Chic
25. Spanish
26. Traditional
27. Transitional 
28. Urban modern
29. Victorian
30. Vintage

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Note: This list is updated every few months to reflect and take into consideration the newest search data available.

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Comparing Popular Blog Results with Search Data Results

The 30 Most Popular Interior Design Styles According to Blogs	30 Most Popular Interior Design Styles by Search Volume
1. Art Deco Style	1. Art Deco
2. Asian Zen Style	2. Biophilic
3. Biophilic Style	3. Bohemian (Boho)
4. Bohemian Style	4. Coastal
5. Chalet Style	5. Contemporary
6. Coastal Style	6. Cottage
7. Colonial Style	7. Craftsman
8. Contemporary Style	8. Eclectic
9. Eclectic Style	9. Farmhouse
10. Ethnic Modern Style	10. French Country
11. French Parisian Style	11. Georgian
12. Glamorous (Luxe) Style	12. Gothic
13. Global Style	13. Hollywood Regency
14. Gothic Revival Style	14. Industrial
15. Hollywood Regency Style	15. Italian Modern
16. Industrial Style	16. Japandi
17. Italian Modern Style	17. Maximalist
18. Japandi Style	18. Mediterranean
19. Maximalist Style	19. Mid-Century Modern
20. Mid-Century Modern Style	20. Minimalist
21. Minimalist Style	21. Organic Modern
22. Modern Classic Style	22. Rustic
23. Modern Farmhouse Style	23. Scandinavian
24. Organic Modern Style	24. Shabby Chic
25. Period Style(s)	25. Spanish
26. Rustic (Country) Style	26. Traditional
27. Scandinavian Style	27. Transitional
28. Traditional Style	28. Urban Modern
29. Transitional Style	29. Victorian
30. Vintage (Shabby Chic) Style	30. Vintage

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Interior Designers, Publisher and Fans Agree On Styles

Here’s an interesting fact:  When comparing the most popular interior design styles as reported by interior design industry publishers and the most popular interior design styles by search, the two lists were found to be 93% similar!  It seems publishers really do know what they’re talking about when it comes to popular interior design styles.

Nonetheless, it’s important to point out that the two lists also reveal some interesting differences.

What makes the blog-derived list a great one is that it encompasses a wide range of styles. Niche aesthetics like “Hollywood regency” and “Maximalist,” cater to a wise variety of design preferences and still respect the mega trends of interior design style evolution.  On the other hand, the keyword search list favors trending styles like all time favorites “Mid-Century Modern” and “Scandinavian” with newer styles like “Japandi” and “Cottage”, also showing up in internet and social media search patterns.

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It’s interesting to note that some blog list styles aren’t even in the keyword data, indicating that there is less search interest for those styles even though they might be considered mainstays by interior designers.

This holds up a mirror to the changing nature of interior design trends. It also underscores the need for both expert consensus and also the ‘votes’ of online users to provide a full grasp of interior design style preferences in the media.

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Behind the Styles: Creating a Well-Curated List of Top Interior Design Styles

Our newest list of the top thirty interior design styles is drawn from a dataset pulled from KeywordTools.org for all search terms related to interior design styles. This interior design style dataset contains a massive 2199 data points.  In other words, it contains over two thousand search terms related to interior design styles that people search in the United States search for.  We chose the United States because it represents the largest available dataset, and as the US is a trend leader US data tends to be well-representative of global trends.

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On to the good part. Here’s the story the data told:

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These are the most-searched interior design styles 

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High Search Volume for ‘Boho’, Modern and Eclectic

Keywords related to bohemian, modern, and eclectic styles are the most popular interior design styles, with high search volumes.

Mid-century modern and Scandinavian design interior design style keywords also have high search volumes.

Traditional Styles Enjoy Moderate Search Volume

Traditional and Victorian styles appear to have moderate search volumes.

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Modern and eclectic styles are the strongest trends for interior design styles in 2023

Long term favorite interior design styles still reign

Mid-century modern and Scandinavian interior design styles have a consistently high search volume, indicating their enduring popularity, including recently on Tiktok.

Bohemian and eclectic styles are also trending with high search volumes and search ranking competition.

Lowkey Gothic and Renaissance revival?

It’s also interesting to note that there’s interest in various historical styles like Victorian, Georgian, and Spanish, though the competition is lower.

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Niche styles are gaining popularity

Getting specific with it

Some of the keywords we are typing into Google are very style specific, such as “japandi bedroom” or “organic modern living room,” suggesting niche interests and a well-informed and style-loving audience.

Other interior design style keywords searches are more general, like “modern farmhouse interior“. This is no big surprise, since these terms could can be interpreted as home building and architectural styles as well as decorating or interior design styles.

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Interior Interior Design Professionals and Publishers: 3 Pointers for How to Target Interior Design Style Keywords

Do you want to advertise your unique interior design style online? Pay attention to the data on on interior design style keyword searches. Why? By understanding the level of competition in various styles, you can target less competitive areas and capture a large market share.

In this case knowledge and strategy are key to a good marketing campaign for your interior design, home decor or style-based business.  

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3. Our Key Insights for Interior Design Style Keyword Targeting

Modern interior design styles are expensive for advertisers

If you’re looking to advertise using a particular interior design style keyword you might want to avoid certain keywords related to modern and contemporary styles, such as “modern interior decor” and “modern interior home design” These have especially high CPCs, indicating potentially competitive markets.  If you still want to target modern interior design style traffic, go for niche modern styles, like Japandi, Organic Modern or Modern Classic.

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Traditional interior design styles are cheaper to advertise for

Keywords like “neoclassical interior” and “traditional interior style” have low competition, which might present opportunities for targeting specific niches. Even better if you’re a lover of traditional and classical interior design styles!  If you want to niche down even further try newcomer style breakouts “Cottagecore” or “Grand Millennial“.

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Some super niche interior design styles might attract loyal fans

“Whimsical decorating style” and “transitional furniture style” represent niche markets with relatively low search volumes but could attract a specific audience.

Keywords related to regional styles like “cape cod” and “Spanish style” have moderate search volumes and may appeal to those interested in specific cultural aesthetics.

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Decade period styles offer niche and cost-effective options

Interior design publishing advertisers on a budget may find keywords like “1960s decorating style” and “cottage decor” with lower CPCs the most cost-effective options for campaigns.

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Conclusion

As you can see, the popularity of certain interior design styles like bohemian, mid-century modern, and Scandinavian was very evident in our analysis of interior design styles on the internet.  We also explored and discovered the potential for targeting specific niches or regional interests with lower competition keywords. 

The bottom line is that interior design professionals or advertisers targeting interior design styles should try to strike a balance between search volume and relative competition when selecting keywords for their campaigns. It’s also wide to adjust your advertising strategies based on CPCs (cost-per-click).

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Our Interior Design Style Research Project

As easily accessible as interior design styles are online, finding a good reference for all of the interior design styles in one place can prove challenging. 

When I started this blog I found that not only do different sources have different ideas about what the most popular styles are, but there are also overlaps between styles.  Styles are often referred to by different names, depending on the source, and it’s easy to confuse styles that are similar with one with one another. 

We’ve aggregated similar styles into style families and styles genres to make them easier to understand. If you’d like to gain a deeper understanding of interior design styles, keep reading!

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How to Understand Interior Design Styles: Thirty Styles or Only Five?

Interior design styles are fun, but it isn’t always easy to remember all of the design styles, even the popular list of thirty that we created on this blog.  If I wanted to simplify things a great deal, I could contend that there are actually two major style categories: Traditional and modern. 

Why those two?  

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Introducing Style Polarities: Traditional vs. Modern Styles

Splitting all interior design styles into the classifications of either modern or traditional makes sense for several reasons. First, it allows for a clear distinction between two major design approaches. Modern design styles are characterized by clean lines, minimalism, and a focus on functionality, while traditional design styles embrace ornate details, rich textures, and a sense of history. By categorizing styles as either modern or traditional, it becomes easier for individuals to identify their preferred aesthetic and narrow down their choices when designing their homes.

Secondly, classifying interior design styles as modern or traditional helps to simplify the vast array of design options available. With so many different styles and influences to choose from, it can be overwhelming for homeowners to navigate the world of interior design.

By dividing styles into these two broad categories, it provides a starting point for individuals to explore and understand the different design philosophies and elements that define each category.

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The modern versus traditional classification also allows for a better understanding of design evolution over time. It highlights the shift in design principles and aesthetics that have occurred throughout history. Modern design styles emerged as a response to the industrial revolution and the desire for simplicity and functionality, while traditional design styles draw inspiration from classical architecture and historical periods.

By recognizing these distinctions, individuals can appreciate how design has evolved and how different styles have influenced one another.

Finally, the modern versus traditional classification provides a framework for creating cohesive and harmonious interior spaces. While some individuals may prefer a purely modern or traditional design, many homeowners find themselves drawn to a combination of both styles. By understanding the characteristics and elements of each category, individuals can blend modern and traditional elements in a way that creates a balanced and visually appealing space.

This classification system helps individuals make informed design decisions and ensures that their chosen styles complement each other, resulting in a cohesive and personalized interior design.

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Introducing Style Families: The Sleek, the Rustic, and the In-Betweens

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However, by only looking at the extremes of traditional and modern I would be ignoring the fact that there are a lot of popular styles that fall somewhere between the two.  These are the eclectic styles. Our study of the 30 major styles becomes more interesting when we look at the distribution between modern, traditional and eclectic.

Have you considered the myriad of interior design styles that draw influences from different time periods, cultures, or even materials? And what about those styles that encapsulate a certain mood or philosophy? 

For instance, if we start broad, we could say styles range from the sleek lines of Modern and Minimalist through to the comforting textures of Country and Rustic.

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But how about when Modern incorporates organic elements and becomes Mid-Century Modern? Or when Rustic meets Industrial and becomes Industrial Farmhouse? And what about styles like Bohemian that prides on individuality and doesn’t strictly adhere to any set rules?

Between the extremes of the sleek and the rustic, you’ll find a treasure trove of design styles.  And that’s why there are actually three big design “families”, so to speak.

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The three big “design style families” are:

a) Traditional styles

b) Mixed, transitional or ‘eclectic’ styles

and of course,

c) Modern styles

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Introducing Style Genres: The ‘Big Five’ Style Types

When delving into the world of design, I realized that a mere trio of categories just doesn’t provide enough flexibility or room for interpretation (remember, we’re diving into the world of styles here!).  For instance, there are further distinctions we can make when looking at styles across history:

Styles by period

1. Classical, Historic, Colonial and Revival Styles (15th century – present)
2. Neo-Traditional Styles (17th century – present)
3. Modern and Postmodern Styles (1920s, 1980s – present)
4. Transitional Styles (1910s – present)
5. Contemporary and Futuristic Styles (2010s – present)

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Styles Through History

It made sense to me after some reflection to organize the style ‘parent categories’ across history into:

a) Styles from history (before the advent of modernism), including traditional styles which draw from history but are influenced by modern building methods

b) Neo-traditional styles, which may be considered traditional today but are not pure traditional

c) Transitional styles encompass the happy marriage between the two worlds of modern and traditional and explore endless possible stylistic arrangements

d) Modern and postmodern styles from over the last century

e) Avant garde and futuristic styles, beginning with today’s most contemporary styles and going further into tech-driven styles of the future

Why do we need futuristic styles on this list?

Well, because style, like us, is never going to finish evolving. 

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Taking major historical periods into account, I devised a new list of categories for organizing all known interior design styles. This created two more ‘buffer’ categories that could fit between the style families. These five classifications became the five style genres.

1. Pure Modern Genre interior design styles
2. Modern-Eclectic Genre interior design styles
3. Pure Eclectic Genre interior design styles
4. Eclectic-Traditional Genre interior design styles
5. Pure Traditional Genre interior design styles

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30 Popular Interior Design Styles, 5 Time-Period Categories

Let’s see what the thirty most popular design styles look like separated into the five categories (alphabetical order):

Classical, Historic, Colonial and Revival Styles (15th century – present)	Neo-Traditional Styles (17th century – present)	Modern and Postmodern Styles (1920s, 1980s – present)	Transitional Styles (1910s – present)	Contemporary and Futuristic Styles (2010s – present)
French country	Asian Zen	Art Deco and Nouveau	Bohemian	Biophilic
Gothic revival	French Parisian	Ethnic modern	Chalet	Contemporary
New Classical	Hollywood glam	Industrial	Coastal/Hamptons	Modern farmhouse
	Traditional	Italian modern	Eclectic/Global	Organic modern
		Mid century modern	Farmhouse	Urban modern
		Minimalist	Glamorous
		Modern, classic	Maximalist
		Scandinavian	Rustic/Country
			Transitional
			Vintage/Shabby chic

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Of course, we know the story can’t quite end there, because there’s more than one way to skin a style.

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Other Ways to Categorize Interior Design Styles

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We’ve talked a lot about the historic basis for styles, because that is the overarching theme. However, it’s not the whole story. To get the full style story you need to delve into other aspects of styles.

Here are some additional ways we can categorize interior design styles:

• Historic styles
• Style and social movements
• Thematic styles
• Cultural styles
• Geographic styles
• Climatic styles 
• Material styles
• International + hospitality styles
• Digital styles

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With historic or legacy styles taken care of, let’s move to social movements before finishing our discussion for this post.  If you’re interested in reading about the others please sign up so you can be notified when we do the next installment of this foundational style guide.

By ‘social movement’ I mean a paradigm shift from a previous way of thinking to an entirely new one.  An example of this would be the departure from Gothic architecture to the Neoclassical form, which was inspired by archeological discoveries. Another major change was from the Victorian Age to the earliest forms of modern (which included the arts and crafts movement and art deco movements).  Another incredibly important movement was the Shaker movement and the Bauhaus.

Within the realms of interior design’s closest neighbors, architecture and art, these shifts in approaching design have been dramatic.  The forces behind these socially-driven style changes? 

The enlightenment, archaeology and the industrial revolution, to name a few.

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Interested in the most important social movements and the styles they birthed? The most influential ‘thought movements’ by decade over the last century looks like this:

	Time Period	Social Movement	Primary mode: material, construction or feature
1.	1890-1910	Art Nouveau	(flora, crimson)
2.	1910s	Art Deco	(round mirrors, geometric)
3.	1920s	Bauhaus	(bold, primary colors)
4.	1930s	Streamline Moderne	(tubular, steel, glass)
5.	1940s	Modernism	(bold, primary colors)
6.	1950s	Scandinavian	(timber)
7.	1960s	Space Age	(plastic)
8.	1970s	Back to Nature	(naturals, upcycled)
9.	1980s	Post Modernism	(bold, oversize, clashing)
10.	1990s	Minimalism	(white, neutral, quality,  sophistication)
11.	2000s	Green, Flat-Pack, Replica	(eco, multipurpose)
12.	2010s	Bespoke	(handmade, neon)
13.	2020s	Biophilic, Smart	(indoor plants, vertical gardens, smart technology)

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Conclusion: Style is an ever-evolving story

Since starting this blog I’ve made it my aim to try to demystify the subject of interior design styles and to make them more accessible. 

Three years ago I began work on a larger, more overarching study of interior design styles.  The goal is to keep tabs on the most popular interior design styles, and also to categorize interior design styles, breaking them down so that they are easier to understand. 

I also have a keen interest in expanding the knowledge of various interior design styles beyond the more common western styles to include global styles, fusion styles and climatic styles.

This said, if you can unearth a style I’ve never heard of, I’d love to hear about it. 

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Thanks for reading this article on the top 30 most popular interior designs styles according to design professionals and Google search data. 

I hope that you enjoy the story that your style evolves to tell. 

Got a great design style story? We’d love to publish it.

Comment below!