What is my interior design style? A visual guide to 12 styles (and how to find yours)
Quick answer
Your interior design style is the pattern in what you already love. Collect 20 to 30 pictures of rooms you like, note what repeats (colours, shapes, materials, amount of pattern), describe it in three words, and check it against your house's architecture [2][3]. Most people are a mix of two styles, such as Georgian and Scandinavian, or Art Deco and mid-century.
'What is my interior design style?' is one of the most searched questions in home decorating, and for good reason: the names are confusing, the styles overlap, and very few homes are one style from front door to back. This guide gives you a quick visual tour of the twelve styles you will hear most often, a simple six-step way to find your own, and a short quiz-style checklist at the end.
Twelve styles in one picture
The period styles
| Style | How to recognise it |
|---|---|
| Georgian (1714-1830) | Classical proportion, symmetry, sash windows, panelled doors and calm colours such as stone, sage and grey-blue [1]. See our Georgian guide. |
| Victorian (1837-1901) | Richer colour, pattern, ornate cornices and large ceiling roses, often with a mix of revival styles [1]. See Victorian terrace ideas. |
| Edwardian (1901-1910) | Lighter and airier than Victorian, with picture rails, Arts and Crafts touches and softer colours [1]. |
| Art Nouveau (c.1890-1910) | Whiplash curves, plant forms and stylised flowers. See Art Nouveau guide. |
| Art Deco (1920s-30s) | Geometry, sunbursts, stepped shapes, chrome, lacquer and glamour [4]. See what is Art Deco? |
The modern styles
| Style | How to recognise it |
|---|---|
| Mid-century modern (1945-70) | Clean lines, tapered legs, teak and walnut, graphic colour. See mid-century guide. |
| Scandinavian | Light, pale wood, white or soft colour walls, simple well-made furniture and a love of daylight [5]. See Scandinavian style guide. |
| Japandi | Japanese calm meets Scandinavian function: natural materials, low furniture, few objects. See Japandi guide. |
| Organic modern | Curves, plaster, limewash, wood and stone in earthy colours. See organic modern guide. |
| Industrial | Exposed brick, metal, concrete and factory-style lighting. See industrial style guide. |
The relaxed, collected styles
| Style | How to recognise it |
|---|---|
| English cottage | Comfortable, floral, collected, with painted furniture and low beams. See English cottage guide. |
| Coastal | Sea blues, shells, linen and sun-bleached wood. See coastal style guide. |
| Boho maximalist | Layered pattern, plants, travel finds and colour. See boho guide. |
How to find your style in six steps
- Collect. Save 20 to 30 room pictures you love, without thinking about why. Pinterest boards, magazines and holiday photos all count [2].
- Look for repeats. Lay them out and note what keeps appearing: warm or cool colours, curves or straight lines, lots of pattern or very little, old or new furniture [3].
- Name it in three words. 'Warm, classic, relaxed' or 'graphic, glamorous, dark'. Three words are more useful than one style label.
- Check your house. A Georgian townhouse, a 1930s semi and a new build suggest different starting points. You do not have to copy the period, but working with the architecture always looks better [1].
- Choose one anchor piece. A sofa, a ceiling rose, a rug or a pair of wall lights that sums up the style. Build around it.
- Layer slowly. Designers now talk about 'found luxury': collecting over time rather than buying a room in one go [6].
Most people are a mix: popular pairings
- Georgian + Scandinavian: classical bones, light colours, simple furniture.
- Art Deco + mid-century: geometric lighting with warm wood.
- Victorian + organic modern: ornate ceilings with limewash walls and curved sofas.
- Cottage + Japandi: beams and natural materials, fewer objects.
- Coastal + Art Nouveau: shells, curves and soft sea colours.
Quick quiz: which style are you?
| If you love... | You are probably... | Try this detail |
|---|---|---|
| Symmetry, calm colour, sash windows | Georgian or classic | A pediment over the door |
| Pattern, rich colour, antiques | Victorian | A large, detailed ceiling rose |
| Sunbursts, brass, glamour | Art Deco | Stepped or sunburst wall lights |
| Pale wood, white walls, simplicity | Scandinavian or Japandi | Plain curved plaster wall lights |
| Curves, limewash, earthy colour | Organic modern | A pebble or half-moon wall light |
| Shells, blues, linen | Coastal | A scallop shell wall light |
| Flowers, comfort, collected things | English cottage | A floral or daisy ceiling rose |
A plaster piece for four different styles: Art Deco, Victorian, organic modern and coastal.
Designer Caroline Winkler's popular walkthrough of finding your style is a good companion to this guide [7].
Video: Caroline Winkler, “The Ultimate Guide to find your Interior DESIGN STYLE”, via YouTube.
Good to know
Common questions
How do I find my interior design style?
Save 20-30 rooms you love, note what repeats, describe it in three words and check it against your house.
What are the main interior design styles?
Georgian, Victorian, Art Nouveau, Art Deco, mid-century, Scandinavian, Japandi, organic modern, industrial, English cottage, coastal and boho.
Can I mix two design styles?
Yes. Most good rooms combine two styles with one shared thread, such as a colour, material or shape.
What is the most timeless interior style?
Classic, proportion-led styles such as Georgian and simple Scandinavian date the least.
Sources
References and further reading
Harvard style. Web pages were checked on the access date shown.
- Calloway, S. and Cromley, E. (eds) (1996) The elements of style: a practical encyclopedia of interior architectural details from 1485 to the present. Rev. edn. London: Mitchell Beazley.
- Havenly (n.d.) How to describe your interior design style (even if you have no idea). Available at: havenly.com/learn/how-to-find-your-interior-design-style (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
- Apartment Therapy (n.d.) How to find your personal decor style. Available at: www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-find-your-personal-decor-... (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
- Duncan, A. (1988) Art deco. London: Thames & Hudson.
- Fiell, C. and Fiell, P. (2002) Scandinavian design. Cologne: Taschen.
- Richardson, E. (2026) The 10 biggest interior design trends of 2027 for a more considered, authentic home. Homes & Gardens, 2 October. Available at: www.homesandgardens.com/decor/interior-design-trends-2027 (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
- Caroline Winkler (n.d.) The ultimate guide to find your interior design style [Video]. YouTube. Available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=0l1ZBdO9P3k (Accessed: 14 November 2026).
How to cite this article
van Locke, J. (2026) ‘What is my interior design style? A visual guide to 12 styles (and how to find yours)’, The Flare Journal. Flare Studio UK. Available at: https://flarestudio.uk/blogs/journal/what-is-my-interior-design-style (Accessed: 15 November 2026).
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