Are you looking at renovating and seem to be spending hours on Pinterest trying to work out what your interior design style is? Do you love the Hamptons colour palettes but also love industrial features? And you are not sure how to put it all together?
Well we thought why not break down 3 popular interior styles! We look at how these styles were defined and show you ways in which you can achieve each style in your home
Define what style you love
HAMPTONS
The Hamptons style is characterised by its brightness and breeziness. It’s an American version of the French interior design styles Baroque, Rococo and Empire. It’s filled with whites that make it look very sophisticated with a touch of a coastal vibe. Hamptons interiors are effortlessly stylish and relaxing to walk into. They’re spacious and comfortable with casual elegance and tasteful decor. Hampton style interiors infuse a relaxing coastal atmosphere in your home with generous proportions of reclining sofas, and island benches for gathering and entertaining. You’ll love this style if you desire a house filled with natural light and want coastal feel in your home.
What is it influenced by?
This style is inspired by the look and architecture of vacation houses and buildings in high-end seaside communities along the eastern beaches of upstate New York’s neighbouring Long Island.
Colours & Furniture typically associated with the Hamptons Style
If you want to create a “luxurious coastal vibe” in your home, you need to limit your colour palette to white, blue, timber, and neutral tones. At its core though, the Hamptons style is all about white and more white. But you can build on this clean base by adding other decorative elements and touches of colour. Put texture where it counts. Stripes and two-tone florals will work with these natural tones and help expand your creative choices.
In terms of furniture and materials, look for antiques and classic pieces of furniture. Don’t go for things that are “trendy”. Wicker furniture and woven baskets will be your best friend to complete the look. Then, add more “nature” in your design with pot plants. Having a luscious garden in your interiors will be a great choice. Natural light everywhere is also the way to go together with rooms that combine the inside and outside.
How to utilise the Hamptons style in your own home?
If you want to bring this elegant, coastal-vibe style into your home, here are key things to consider:
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1. Remember to be luxurious.
This style is inspired by high-end holiday homes. So, you need to give it all the glamour it deserves. Go all out and spoil yourself with stunning tapware and beautiful textured rugs. You can also get yourself an elegant upholstered armchair in your bedroom. -
2. White, white, white
As we've mentioned before, the Hamptons style is crazy about white. So, use colours carefully. Don't put too many colours as this may take away the light and airy vibe of this style. -
3. Less is more
Bright, over the top artworks, multi-coloured rugs, or radical window designs are a big no-no. Opt for muted tones and subdued patterns. Indulge with gorgeous linens and refined decor instead. -
4. Texture from nature
The warm tones of wood, cane, and bamboo will make your Hamptons style beautiful and relaxing. Add texture to your home with natural elements, like texture wall hangings.
Hamptons Style Gallery:
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INDUSTRIAL
The Industrial Style is all about baring building materials that people normally conceal. There’s beauty in the raw, unfinished look that this style provides to meticulously-designed homes. This style is a growing trend among people who are into functionality as much as aesthetics. It offers a “warehouse look”. It’s an unforeseen combination of raw and refined that is not only for unfinished spaces but also has a strong influence on modern decor.
Industrial style is an accidental discovery that came out of necessity. It was developed in the late 20th century due to the lack of affordable housing in large cities. People started converting abandoned industrial spaces into apartments. This style is said to have originated in Lower Manhattan when creatives and artists rented these areas as studios and turned them into their homes. They treated their space as a blank canvas and turned them into lofts with few internal walls, high ceilings, and floor-to-ceiling windows. They maintained the industrial bones of the structure by keeping their functional features intact.
Today, Industrial style refers to no-fuss, no-frills, no-nonsense decor that is made of bare and stripped architectural details such as bricks, metals, and wood. The best thing about industrial-style homes is that you can customise the look of your furniture and decor so that your home will be unique and different even from other industrial-style homes.
What is it influenced by?
The raw appeal of Industrial style was inspired by the lofty look of warehouses, factories, and other industrial structures. Due to the shortage of residential buildings, industrial structures were transformed into residential areas. And, instead of hiding the raw beauty of the industrial buildings, they accepted its bare truth and incorporated its original architectural details as part of the design.
Colours & Furniture typically associated with the Industrial Style
When it comes to colours, and furniture, Industrial style is all about incorporating neutral tones, utilitarian objects, and wood and metal surfaces. Utilise features such as stainless steel surfaces, metal light fixtures, and vintage furniture. Comfort should be a priority, so furnishing should have a simple design with solid upholstery in natural textures and neutral colours.
How to utilise the Industrial in your own home?
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1. Make use of contrast
In terms of colours, use neutral palettes such as grey, black, and white. You can add moody layers with darker tones to bring in personality. Then, place some vibrant art pieces against this backdrop to make them pop. You'll notice that in industrial style homes, bold hues are saved for small details. The majority of the spaces are still neutral. This is because the Industrial style is still about having a clean and minimalist look. -
2. Silhouettes matter
If you want to promote a utilitarian cohesiveness to the overall look of your home, use squared lines and blocky shapes. However, it's still okay to use organic curves and abstract shapes. Just remember to minimise usage because you want to preserve a "strong industrial feel." -
3. Open spaces
When you want to have an Industrial-style home, you need to be generous with your space. Have an open plan because industrial-style houses work well with such designs. Of course, you need to be strategic with your decorations because you don't want your space to look overwhelmingly large. You need to place furniture and accessories strategically to break up space in a way that complements the general look that you want to achieve. -
4. Don't forget the lighting.
To make sure that the lighting is on-theme, use lights that are made of metal. Combine pendants and lamps in your design. Pendants should be low hanging with wide shades. On the other hand, use multi-directional floor lamps so that it can work well in any part of your space.
Industrial Style Gallery:
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CONTEMPORARY
Contemporary style is about being in the moment. Less is more, so there’s emphasis on smooth profiles instead of ornamentation. It may not have the obvious warmth of other styles, but it’s also not a “cold” design. There’s beauty in a well-planned contemporary living space that mixes bold home decor in a sea of neutrals. It’s a timeless classic that brings a room together through luxurious simplicity.
Contemporary style is calming and serene. Its focus is on architecture, decor, bold scales, and concise colour palette to create a space that’s warm and sophisticated. Simplicity, clean lines, plays on texture, and subtle drama are all essential elements to achieve a contemporary-styled home. It’s a light-handed approach to ensure that design remains timeless and never feels dated.
What is it influenced by?
Essentially, “contemporary” means “of the moment” so it’s hard to pin down this style because it’s constantly evolving. Today, it’s all about curved lines, neutral colours, and minimalism, but in the future. The contemporary style dates back to the 1970s, and what makes it unique is that it has many elements from other styles. You can see inspirations from modern, traditional, art deco, and even futuristic design.
Colours & Furniture typically associated with Contemporary Style
The main colours of the contemporary style homes are neutrals, black, and white. Black is often used for grounding and serves as the foundation of any contemporary-styled space. The neutral palette is often paired with bright and bold colours to create a contrast and make them stand out.
Another defining feature of the contemporary style is its use of lines and space. It doesn’t matter whether you use vertical, horizontal, or curved lines. Strong visible lines are noticeable in any contemporary-styled home. You can see it in the use of bold colour blocks, high ceilings, bare windows, and geometric shapes in wall art and sculpture. Spaces on walls, empty as they may seem, are as important as areas filled with objects. Since contemporary style follows the “less is more” mantra, each piece definitely stands out.
In terms of furniture, pieces are bold and yet simple and uncluttered. No curves. Just smooth, clean, geometric shapes will suffice. Upholstered furniture pieces are often in black, white, or other neutral tones and use natural fibers such as wool, cotton, linen, silk, and jute.
How to utilise the Contemporary style in your own home?
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1. Simple and no-frills
Sofas and ottomans often have exposed legs. Ruffles, excessive carved details, or floral prints are a no-no. Opt for basic, bare, bold, and structural designs. Keep the flooring basic and stick with a classic wooden floor. Add rugs that have a simple pattern and carpets that have geometric shapes in design. -
2. Let the light in
Get lighting that's simple and yet effective in displaying your contemporary home decor and architectural features. Use a mix of metal, stone, and opaque or clear glass for windows. Then, you can use heavily-textured fabrics in plain colours for your window treatments to soften and bring warmth to the area. -
3. Get some pots and plants
Plants and flowers should be put in large and dramatic containers. Large blooms with interesting leaves can really add to a contemporary space. -
4. Open space
Take advantage of the openness by using large-scale furnishings, art, and accents. Break furnishings into groups so that you can be strategic in how you divide the space. If you would like to chat to us about your upcoming renovations or would like some further advice on these three styles, please feel free to get in touch.
Contempory Style Gallery:
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Getting Ready for a New Design or Renovation Project?
A new home design or renovation is not something you do on a whim, it requires planning.
Whether you are renovating a bedroom or a whole house there’s a few essential steps that will help as you embark on this exciting and sometimes daunting journey.
My 6 Top Tips for Planning Your Home Renovation
- Do your Homework & Define your Scope
- Know your Budget
- Know your Limitations
- Hire Experts
- Have a Plan Open & Honest Communication
- Resources to Help You Get Started
Want to know more about working with Bella Vie Interiors? Check out our FAQ’s.
Need More Information?
If you have any questions or would like help with your building or renovation projects, feel free to contact us for a no obligation discussion.
We help busy families and individuals achieve their ideal version of luxury living, blending it seamlessly with practicality to suit their lifestyle perfectly.
If you are building or renovating, we’d love to hear from you to discuss creating a beautiful interior that fits your dream of luxury living.
