Know the Home Themes
It's important to know your way around the themes that come with home design and which themes work best with a variety of home structures. When done right, a theme can make a room feel personal and put together, and provide a more emotional connection for your client to their space. Home themes, also referred to as decorating styles, can be done to suit your client's taste specifically, or you can build a brand around yourself offering a particular type of style.
For example, Joanna Gaines is known for her modern farmhouse design style, and when her clients hire her, that's what they expect to get from her. You may love modern farmhouse styles, or prefer mid-century modern, or maybe you enjoy English cottage - either way, you can build a brand around yourself providing a particular style to all of your staging and decorating jobs. This is also considered "picking a niche." The market you work with that wants a modern farmhouse look is going to be a niche separate from clients who want a coastal theme. Different groups of people that lead to different form of branding you'd do to pick up these particular clients. Let's dive into the popular, more commonly known, decorating styles below. You can choose for yourself what themes you love and incorporate that to your brand. There are a variety of themes you can intermingle to have a mixture that still matches you and your style preferences, yet gives your clients more options.
HOME THEMES AKA DECORATING STYLES
MODERN FARMHOUSE
Think Joanna Gaines for a modern farmhouse decorating style. Modern farmhouse is all about mixing comfortable furniture with salvaged materials like reclaimed wood. Antiques are right at home in farmhouse interiors, but none that are too delicate to touch. Everything is tactile and tangible. Most of all, a modern farmhouse is cozy without being cluttered.
MID-CENTURY MODERN
A look originating in the '50s and '60s and epitomized by the Rat-Pack days in Palm Springs. Scandinavian designers and architects were very influential at this time, with a style characterized by simplicity, functionality and natural shapes. Architecture shows off its minimalist design with walls of glass. Pops of deep colors such as orange, yellow, olive green and chocolate brown add to decor.
COUNTRY
A rustic elegance is characteristic of this look. Some country looks are marked by extensive use of white wood paneling and soft floral patterns, muted hues and pops of red, black or pure white accents. Floral, checked and striped vintage fabric patterns are standards, and elements have a handmade, rustic quality: wood, handmade pottery, baskets and hand-forged metal to name a few. Primitive furnishings have history to them, and are bought in antique shops and flea markets.
COASTAL
This look is inspired by the ocean. It evokes a light and breezy feel by way of airy fabrics for window treatments, and the emphasis on nautical or beach-themed accessories such as lighthouses and seashells. The classic Ralph Lauren-inspired palette of navy and white with gold accents is a striking look for any home
ART DECO
Streamlined, geometric style of home furnishings popular in the '20s and '30s featuring rounded fronts, mirrored accents, sleek lines and wood furniture with chrome hardware and glass tops.
ASIAN
Inspired by the design elements from Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand. This look fuses natural fiber elements, bamboo and colors taken from nature to create a serene, calm environment. Furnishings may be lacquered or hand-painted with ornamental designs, punctuated with brightly-colored accessories or statues of animals or mythical creatures.
CONTEMPORARY
Contemporary design often has clean, sleek lines and is marked by solid colors, predominantly muted neutrals or bold punches of color in furniture and accessories. Furniture is sleek, lower to the ground and often has metal frames or straight legs with an emphasis on basic shapes and forms. Graphic elements in artwork or as accents work well with this look
TRADITIONAL
Furnishings are usually 18th-century English, 19th-century neoclassic, French country and British Colonial revival. Use of classic styling and symmetry to create a calm, orderly decor. Color palette is usually in the mid-tones and fabrics are muted, usually simple florals, solids, stripes or plaids.
ECLECTIC
This catch-all style borrows from several other design styles and evokes a sense of imagination and surprise with unexpected contrasts. The style is not simply throwing together everything and anything, but rather relies heavily on the building blocks of design (color, pattern, texture, composition) to make the space look cohesive. A multitude of fabrics is characteristic, whether patterned, textured, solids or all three.
ENGLISH COUNTRY
A feminine look, with lush rose patterns, extensive uses of greens, reds, pinks and blues are characteristic of an English Country home. Ornamental, fine carved wood furniture, overstuffed sofas with tufting and skirted furniture mix with antiques and lots of small decorative accessories.
FRENCH
An ornate, fanciful and decorative style is characteristic of this look. Colors range from rich, sun-drenched Mediterranean hues to softer, muted shades. Often, one color or fabric is repeated throughout the space. It's characterized by rich details and extensive use of gold, bronze and gilt. Antique or heirloom furniture, layered dramatic window treatments and abundant fresh flowers fill out a French home.
MEDITERRANEAN
Inspired by the coastal regions of Spain, Greece and Italy, this look favors colors that echo the sea and also include terra cotta, yellow and lavender. Furniture pieces are short with ornately turned legs and feet; hardware is heavy and often burnished. Velvets, linens and textured fabrics mix with textured walls.
MODERN
Rooted in minimal, true use of material and absence of decoration. A clean, streamlined furniture and architecture style from the 1930s. It's characterized by a neutral color palette, polished surfaces, strong geometric shapes and asymmetry.
MOROCCAN
A heavily layered look consisting of intricately patterned fabrics, colorful mosaics, metal lanterns, textured walls, bold, jewel-toned colors, layers of Oriental rugs and pillows in luxurious fabrics and ornately-carved wooden accents.
SHABBY CHIC
Coined in 1980 by Rachel Ashwell, this cottage-inspired look includes weathered white-painted furniture, painted motifs, floral prints in muted colors, white slipcovered sofas and vintage accessories. A sense of brightness and airiness is always evident in these interiors.
TRANSITIONAL
The transitional look bridges contemporary and traditional design. Offering a deep rooted sense of history in some pieces, while furniture often gets an update with cleaner lines. Leather ottomans used as coffee tables is very popular in this decor. Crate & Barrel and Pottery Barn could be considered transitional looks
TROPICAL
A look inspired by beaches of Hawaii, French Polynesia or other tropical destinations. Thatched furniture, heavy prints of palm leaves and bright colored flowers find their way onto upholstery. Muted colored rugs or sisal and seagrass carpets cover the floor.
WESTERN
Raw, rough hewn woods, inviting fabrics or cozy plaids play up the Western look. Worn leathers mixed with stone hearths or walls and other natural elements. Furniture is usually large scaled and wooden.
RUSTIC
A rustic house is most at home in a rustic environment. You'll find them perched on the edge of a mountain stream, skirting a national park, or nestled among a forest of aspens. If you can't pick your surroundings, you can certainly pick wide-plank wood floors, weathered ceiling beams, and paneled walls. These architectural features go a long way toward creating a pleasing rustic shell. Avoid painting wood surfaces. This decorating style prizes wood in its natural state, mixing the textures of knotty pine with quarter-sawn oak and rough birch bark, for example, to emulate the feeling of living in a tree house.
HOLLYWOOD REGENCY
Due to this heavy emphasis on glam, Hollywood Regency style furniture tends to have rich textures, contrasting colors, and luscious curves. To make up for the popular, low-lying furniture, the design details are sumptuous and luxurious. Executed with a mix of bold statement pieces and delicate accents, Hollywood Regency balances lavish fabrics and finishes with traditional architectural elements.
AMERICAN GOTHIC
American Gothic is characterized by metal rooms, black, barn red, denim blue, and Gothic windows. The design is reminiscent of rural farms in Early America.