Most homes are remodeled one room at a time. A room can be remodeled according to the guidelines and conventions set forth by a number of different established design styles. Many homeowners love the aesthetic beauty of particular design style because it differs drastically from their home’s existing interior style, offering something fresh and new.
But remodeling just one or two rooms under style-based design ideas can make a home’s newly remodeled spaces look out of place and may fail to create a cohesive aesthetic throughout the home. Here’s an explanation of different design styles—and some ideas for creating continuous spaces—to help your home transition to a new design style over time.
Popular interior design styles explained.
What makes a space traditional, modern, or contemporary? There are many features that contribute to each design style, but here are some of the basics.
- Traditional style is a classic look that gets its inspirations from the past. Rich wood tones, conservative color schemes, beautiful patterns and prints, ornate details, and an overall refined design are some of the hallmarks of a traditional aesthetic. This style has symmetry, elegance, and elements that conjure up the past.
- Modern style is a distinct look that should be differentiated from contemporary. The modern aesthetic draws inspiration from post Industrial Revolution design elements. Lack of adornment, horizontal lines and layouts, and a mix of natural and industrial materials help create this specific look that’s sometimes now described as “retro.”
- Contemporary style is the style that’s trendy in the moment. Open space, natural light, simple design accents, geometric shapes, and a mix of solids and patterns all contribute toward a contemporary aesthetic. While these designs often integrate muted colors, they also tend to highlight a single color. When it comes to contemporary design, it’s best to keep it simple.
But what if your personal tastes gravitate toward more than one style, or perhaps you don’t like being confined by rules and conventions? And in practical application, what if the home you’re remodeling is opposite the style you prefer or simply has no particular style at all?
An increasing number of San Jose and South Bay homes are gravitating toward transitional and eclectic remodels: two styles that integrate multiple design aesthetics, permit a bit of rule-breaking, and allow plenty of room for personal style.
Transitional style. This transitional living room has elements of both traditional and contemporary design styles. The crown molding, fireplace surround, and area rug all support elements of traditional style, while the muted color scheme, wood flooring, and geometric accents lean toward contemporary.
Together, the two aesthetics marry to create an increasingly popular style called transitional, which does exactly as it the name indicates: combines design styles that help liberate a living space from established rules and conventions by transitioning from one style to another, all within the same room or space.
Elements of transitional style can really help create a continuous flow between spaces in a home with remodeled rooms, especially if those rooms were remodeled according to different stylistic choices, or some of them haven’t been remodeled at all. With a growing number of area homes designed around an open floor plan, creating a continuous flow between spaces is more important than ever.
Eclectic style. Eclectic design seems to break all the rules, but it adheres to fundamental design principles such as symmetry, repetition, and cohesiveness to help anchor the space. It’s not that anything goes in an eclectic space, but almost anything can if there’s a common element holding the room together.
Eclectic design welcomes elements from any design style or period, as well as antiques, trends, and personal kitsch or memorabilia. Eclectic people tend to gravitate toward eclectic design, but integrating your own favorite elements of this style into a home in design transition can help offset the stark differences between new and old spaces.
This contemporary kitchen remodel has some transitional elements as well. The rich, warm tones in the cabinets were chosen to match the woodwork around the rest of the home, such as the banister that can be seen in the background. Matching tones and colors in new and old spaces helps tie the entire home together and creates a transition from one design style to another.
