Architecture & interior design styles
18 popular styles — palettes, materials, how to recognise and tell them apart, plus a quiz to find yours.
Modern
Function first: straight lines, clean planes and honestly used materials.
Minimalism
Less is more: keep only the essential and let light and space do the decorating.
Contemporary
The style of now: soft, flexible, mixing curves, new materials and technology.
Scandinavian
Bright, warm and easy to live with: pale wood, soft textiles and as much light as possible.
Japandi
Japan meets Scandinavia: low, calm and warm, with few pieces, each one well made.
Wabi-sabi
The beauty of imperfection: raw surfaces, humble materials and the patina of time.
Indochine
France meets Asia: patterned cement tiles, dark wood, rattan and louvred shutters in a tropical climate.
Neoclassical
Classicism simplified: symmetry, mouldings and balanced proportion, without the excess.
Classic
Grand and intricate: dense carving, gilding, strict symmetry and precious materials.
Modern luxury
Modern lines made luxurious by materials: natural stone, fine wood, leather, plated metal and subtle light.
Industrial
Factory beauty: concrete, bare brick, black steel and exposed pipes, bold and free-spirited.
Mid-century Modern
Optimistic and retro: warm teak, slim tapered legs, organic curves and orange and mustard.
Art Deco
Glamour and geometry: fans, stripes, symmetry, black-and-gold contrast and polished materials.
Mediterranean
Sun, breeze and sea: whitewashed walls, arches, terracotta, sea blue and rustic wood.
Tropical
Living with the climate: deep eaves, sun louvres, cross ventilation, greenery and local materials.
Bohemian
Free and relaxed: layered textiles, pattern, rattan, plants and collected treasures.
Organic modern
Modern softened by nature: pebble-like curves, natural materials and warm neutrals.
Fusion – Eclectic
Mixing with intent: several styles and eras united by colour and proportion.
Styles people often confuse
Side by side, the differences in colour, materials and decoration are easy to see.
- Straight lines and right angles dominate ceilings, walls and furniture
- Flat-fronted full-height cabinets with almost invisible handles
- White, grey or beige backdrop with only one or two accent colours
- Table tops and shelves almost bare
- A palette of one or two tones, usually white with grey or beige
- Plain seamless walls with no cladding or mouldings
- Curves on sofas, mirrors, door arches or ceiling edges
- Warm neutrals: beige, cream and mushroom rather than cold grey
- Tactile surfaces: bouclé, effect plaster, softly veined stone
- Pale timber floors and furniture such as oak or ash
- White or very pale grey walls fill most of the frame
- Wooden chairs with tapered legs, soft curves and visible joints
- Low furniture sitting close to the floor
- Light and dark woods together in the same room
- Beige, earth brown, stone grey and charcoal; almost no bright colour
- Hand-trowelled walls with visible, uneven strokes
- Wood with grain, knots and natural cracks left exposed
- Drip-glazed, slightly irregular pottery
- Dense floral and scroll carving on furniture and mouldings
- Gilding on frames, chair legs and ceiling mouldings
- Ceilings with reliefs, domes or paintings
- Walls divided into panels by mouldings, with a moulded ceiling border
- Clear symmetry around a central axis
- White, cream, beige and grey, with gold only as an accent
- Repeated fan, sunburst, stepped or hexagon motifs
- Strong symmetry and a formal layout
- High contrast: black with brass, emerald with cream
- Patterned cement tiles on the floor or a feature wall
- Dark wood furniture paired with woven rattan
- Louvred shutters or geometric lattice screens
- Arched doors, windows or wall niches
- White rendered walls that are not perfectly flat
- Sea blue with white, or earthy orange and sand
- Large-leaved plants inside and on the veranda
- Deep eaves, wide verandas or façade sun louvres
- Timber, rattan, bamboo and stone make up most materials
Which style suits you?
Pick the answer closest to you — we suggest your top 3 styles with a match score.
Still unsure? Let an architect blend it for you
HICONIQUE balances style with function, orientation, climate and your real budget.