Find What Fits You Best
No matter where you are on your design journey, all of us here at Melton want to help. We’ve compiled a list of different design styles to help you get started on finding what you want your home to feel like, so browse away!
Contemporary
Contemporary homes are bold, trendy, and emphasize popular design. Rooms can have bold colors and mix-and-match textures. For example, kitchens can be sleek and dramatic, with high-gloss cabinets and frosted glass.
Look for: Bright and contrasting colors, unique furniture shapes, dramatic architectural details, and trendy materials and designs, such as chevron patterns, chalkboard paint, and plastic.
Craftsman
Craftsman homes are defined primarily by the time period they originated from: the 1900s through the 1930s. This style includes bungalows, Prairie homes, and Arts & Crafts homes; they’re often distinguishable by the home’s structure and architectural details as opposed to the interior design.
Look for: Low, pitched gable or hipped roods, tapered and squared entry columns, custom built-ins, and oak woodwork.
Eclectic
Eclectic homes have an intentionally curated feel. This category pulls from multiple styles and purposefully mixes patterns, colors, textures, and eras. These homes are often unique looking.
Look for: Creative use of contrasting colors, mismatched décor, one-of-a-kind pieces, and bold mixtures of all styles, such as a traditional sofa paired with modern art.
Industrial
Industrial homes replicate the look of a warehouse through the use of unfinished materials and repurposed products. This style includes urban lofts, converted warehouses, and steampunk décor.
Look for: Lots of metal, concrete, cinder block, and exposed brick, as well as repurposed furniture with cables, bolts, and other raw materials.
Farmhouse
Farmhouse homes can either be in a rural, farm-like setting, or merely embody the feel with farmhouse décor. This style includes traditional farmhouses and silos, barns and pastures, as well as small country-style details like rocking chairs and apron-front sinks.
Look for: Traditional country-style homes with front porches, picket fences, and simple, unfussy design. Antique furniture, butcher block counters, and floral décor are also characteristic of the Farmhouse style.
Mediterranean
Mediterranean encompasses a wide variety of styles, including Moroccan, Tuscan, Spanish, and Italian Villa. They all have similar characteristics and emphasize warm earth tones clay, stucco, and tile.
Look for: Clay tile roofs, stucco exterior, terra-cotta tile floors, colorful hand-painted tiles, iron railings, wood-beamed ceilings, elegant furnishings, and arched windows and doors.
Midcentury Modern
Midcentury Modern homes were considered modern in the 1950s and 1960s. This style includes Eichler Ranches, split-level homes, and retro décor.
Look for: Long and low rooflines, retro design, iconic furniture, pop art, warm tones with bold accents, and geometric shapes and patterns.
Modern
True Modern homes are not focused on trends – basic materials and an ordered structure are used to create a clean, simple environment. This style is characterized by minimalist and Bauhaus spaces, as well as grid-like glass houses.
Look for: A lack of “trendy” finishes, instead focusing on the use of glass, steel and stone, straight lines, and minimal texture.
Rustic
Rustic homes are mountain-inspired; Western décor, log cabins, and ski lodges are the influences behind this style.
Look for: Antlers, cow hide rugs, animal prints, taxidermy, knotted wood, oversized leather furnishings, and lanterns are all common décor.
Traditional
Traditional homes have familiar, classic details, materials, and colors. Traditional can encompass a variety of styles, such as Tudor, Victorian, and colonial.
Look for: Conservative color palettes, rich wood tones, crown molding, crystal chandeliers, and classic prints, such as florals, plaids, and stripes.
Transitional
Transitional homes fall between Traditional and Contemporary – they are often Traditional homes that are evolving toward an updated, trendier look. Spaces done in this style include ones with popular finishes, colors, and materials, but they aren’t quite as bold as Contemporary homes.
Look for: Neutral colors (especially greys), minimal ornamentation, simple lines, and small, trendy details such as nail head finishes that update an elegant, traditional space.
Beach
Beach or coastal inspired homes go for a beachy vibe through nautical themed décor and classic Cape Cod influenced styles.
Look for: Sailboat, fish, and surf décor, wood shingle siding, shiplap, crisp whites, light blues and greens, distressed and white-washed wood, and rope accents.
This list merely scratches the surface of all the different décor and architecture styles that exist. On top of that, style is personal; only you know what suits you, your aesthetic, and your lifestyle best. Don’t be afraid to mix-and-match and experiment until you find what you like, and remember that styles evolve; creativity and self-expression is the point!