With everyone at Plumbs eagerly awaiting our attendance at the Ideal Home Show (March 14-30), there has been a lot of talk about our favourite interior styles. The event’s Ideal Home Magazine Room Sets are always packed full of inspiration regarding the latest interior trends, with numerous styles represented.
In celebration of the event and to help any of you hoping to recreate the styles that will be showcased this March, we’ve put together this style guide to outline the main features of each distinctive home interior style.
Traditional
The perfect option for those with conservative tastes, traditional styles gain plenty of appreciation for their classic and timeless charm. Symmetrical arrangements of furniture and rich colours are common and give this look an indulgent and luxurious feel.
Main features:
- Antique furniture and furnishings
- Floral prints
- Rich colours combined with clean neutrals
- Deep carpets with thick piles
- Decorated woodwork
Eclectic
The preserve of the eccentric, this style stands in stark contrast to the symmetry of traditional styles, for a more free-flowing look with plenty of character. The secret to this style is that are no strict rules to follow.
Main features:
- Mismatched furniture
- Haphazard arrangement of ornaments, photos and artwork
- Mixture of patterns and colours on fabrics and furnishings
- Bold, neutral and dark colour palettes used together
- Use of glass and wood
Rustic
Working on the principle that all fashion trends revolve in a circle and repeat themselves, rustic styles are most commonly associated with country cottages and older properties. Exposed wooden surfaces, free from varnish and paint, as well as uneven cuts that give a more ‘rough and ready’ look, are both common.
Main features:
- Solid wood furniture
- Dark colour palettes mixed with deep neutrals
- Large furniture with luxurious, patterned furnishings
- Natural decorations (fresh flowers, fruit bowls)
- Uneven cuts and plain finishes
Shabby Chic
This style combines modern elements with traditional patterns for something dainty, quirky and altogether beautiful. Think glass tables with floral furnishings and plenty of natural elements.
Main features:
- Pastel shades and light colour palettes
- Floral prints
- Heavy use of fabric and natural wood as well as glass
- Strong nature trend
- Tasselled, embroidered and pleated fabric
Industrial
A modern look that embraces the artistic elements of manufacturing, this is not a style for the faint-hearted. Dark colour palettes combine with a bold use of metal and distressed wood to create something urban, dark and mysterious.
Main features:
- Weathered and distressed wooden furniture
- Dark colour palettes with a heavy focus on black and grey
- Common use of metal furniture and ornaments
- Traditional hard flooring
- Few, sparse natural elements
So what style is best-suited to you? Whatever your preferred style for your home, this guide should help you to achieve your desired look. To find out more about Plumbs’ attendance at the Ideal Home Show, see our events page for more details.
