The same living room shown in four vertical slices: Japandi, industrial, Art Deco and Mediterranean styles

Interior Design Styles: 12 Styles Shown on One Real Room

Most style guides show you twelve beautiful rooms that have nothing in common. A white Scandinavian loft here, a velvet Art Deco salon there, each with different windows, different light and a different budget. It's hard to tell whether you love the style or just the room.

So we did it the other way round. We took one ordinary living room and redesigned it in twelve interior design styles, keeping the walls, the window and the camera exactly where they were. Only the style changes. Below you'll find what defines each one, the materials and colours that make it work, and the words to use if you want to try it on your own room with AI.

The short version: the most popular interior design styles right now are Japandi, Scandinavian, mid-century modern, industrial, bohemian, minimalist, modern farmhouse, coastal, Art Deco, maximalist, wabi-sabi and Mediterranean. The quickest way to find yours is to see your own room in three or four of them, then notice which one you keep going back to.

An ordinary living room with beige walls, a brown sofa, a glass coffee table and a black TV unit, before any redesign
The starting point: an ordinary living room. It's AI-generated too, so we had a room we could reuse freely. Every style below was made from this exact image with Google's Nano Banana Pro model.

Which interior design style is which? A quick comparison

Style Feels Key materials Palette
Japandi Calm, low, warm Oak, linen, paper, clay Warm white, sand, charcoal
Scandinavian Light, practical, cosy Pale wood, wool, cotton White, soft grey, blush
Mid-century modern Retro, graphic, optimistic Teak, walnut, leather, brass Mustard, teal, burnt orange
Industrial Raw, urban, solid Brick, concrete, black steel Grey, rust, cognac
Bohemian Relaxed, collected, layered Rattan, jute, plants, prints Terracotta, ochre, green
Minimalist Quiet, clear, edited Plaster, matte lacquer, stone White, greige, black
Modern farmhouse Homely, fresh, sturdy Shiplap, reclaimed wood, iron White, black, natural wood
Coastal Airy, breezy, sunlit Linen, jute, whitewashed wood White, sand, soft blue
Art Deco Glamorous, bold, geometric Velvet, brass, marble, lacquer Emerald, navy, gold
Maximalist Bold, personal, joyful Pattern, colour, collections Anything, all at once
Wabi-sabi Earthy, imperfect, still Lime plaster, raw wood, stoneware Clay, stone, muted earth
Mediterranean Sunny, textured, relaxed Terracotta, plaster, wrought iron White, terracotta, cobalt

1. Japandi

The living room in Japandi style with a low oak sofa, linen cushions, a paper floor lamp and warm white walls

Japandi blends Japanese restraint with Scandinavian comfort. Furniture sits low, surfaces stay clear, and warmth comes from materials rather than decoration: light oak next to a darker wood, nubby linen, a paper lamp, one handmade vase. It's calm without feeling cold, which is why it has become one of the most searched styles of the last few years.

Words that help in a prompt: low oak furniture, linen upholstery, paper lantern, warm white walls, dark wood accents, clean uncluttered surfaces, soft natural light.

2. Scandinavian

The living room in Scandinavian style with white walls, pale wood, a light grey sofa and soft textiles

Scandinavian design grew out of long, dark northern winters, so everything works hard to catch light and feel cosy. Think white walls, pale wood floors, simple furniture with rounded edges, wool throws and plenty of practical storage. It's the easiest style to live with and the easiest to get right on a budget.

Words that help in a prompt: white walls, pale birch or ash wood, light grey sofa, wool throw, simple rounded furniture, cosy hygge atmosphere.

3. Mid-century modern

The living room in mid-century modern style with a walnut sideboard, tapered legs, a leather lounge chair and mustard accents

Mid-century modern takes its look from furniture design between roughly the mid-1940s and the late 1960s. Look for tapered legs, warm teak and walnut, organic curves, leather lounge chairs and a few confident colours such as mustard, teal and burnt orange. It suits rooms with good windows and people who like a bit of personality without clutter.

Words that help in a prompt: walnut sideboard, tapered wooden legs, leather lounge chair, sputnik or globe pendant, mustard and teal accents, 1960s modernist living room.

4. Industrial

The living room in industrial style with exposed brick, a cognac leather sofa, black metal shelving and filament bulbs

Industrial style borrows from converted warehouses and factory lofts. The structure is the decoration: exposed brick, concrete, black steel window frames, visible pipes. Soften it with a worn leather sofa, a big rug and warm filament bulbs, or it can tip into feeling like a car park. It's forgiving of wear and tear, which families tend to appreciate.

Words that help in a prompt: exposed brick wall, polished concrete, black steel shelving, cognac leather sofa, Edison filament bulbs, loft apartment.

5. Bohemian

The living room in bohemian style with layered rugs, rattan furniture, trailing plants and patterned cushions

Bohemian, or boho, looks collected rather than bought in one go. Layered rugs, rattan and cane, trailing plants, textiles from different places and a floor cushion or two. The trick is a warm, consistent colour base, usually terracotta, ochre and green, so the mix feels relaxed instead of chaotic.

Words that help in a prompt: layered vintage rugs, rattan armchair, macramé, lots of indoor plants, patterned cushions, warm terracotta and ochre palette.

6. Minimalist

The living room in minimalist style with bare white walls, one low sofa, a single side table and nothing on display

Minimalism is about what you leave out. A few well-made pieces, hidden storage, bare surfaces and a narrow palette. It looks effortless and takes discipline, because every object you own needs a place out of sight. When it works it's restful. When it doesn't, it feels like a hotel room nobody has checked into.

Words that help in a prompt: minimalist, one low sofa, bare surfaces, hidden storage, white plaster walls, very few objects, soft diffuse light.

7. Modern farmhouse

The living room in modern farmhouse style with white shiplap, reclaimed wood beams, black iron details and a slipcovered sofa

Modern farmhouse keeps the comfort of a country house and adds crisp contrast. White or shiplap walls, reclaimed wood, black iron hardware and lighting, a big slipcovered sofa and a chunky wooden coffee table. It's homely and hard-wearing, and it's one of the most popular styles for family houses.

Words that help in a prompt: white shiplap walls, reclaimed wood beam, black iron light fixture, slipcovered linen sofa, rustic wooden coffee table, modern farmhouse.

8. Coastal

The living room in coastal style with white walls, a linen sofa, jute rug, soft blue accents and whitewashed wood

Coastal style aims for the feeling of a house near the sea, whether or not there's one outside. White and sand tones, soft blues, linen slipcovers, jute rugs and whitewashed wood. Skip the anchors and seashell prints. The best coastal rooms suggest the beach through light and texture, not souvenirs.

Words that help in a prompt: airy coastal living room, white linen sofa, jute rug, whitewashed wood, soft blue accents, sheer curtains, bright daylight.

9. Art Deco

The living room in Art Deco style with an emerald velvet sofa, brass details, a marble table and geometric patterns

Art Deco takes its name from the 1925 decorative arts exhibition in Paris and it still looks like a party (Britannica). Bold geometry, curved velvet sofas, brass and gold, marble, lacquer and deep jewel colours. One Deco piece can lift a plain room. A whole Deco room needs confidence and good lighting.

Words that help in a prompt: Art Deco, emerald velvet curved sofa, brass details, geometric fan pattern, marble coffee table, lacquered surfaces, glamorous.

10. Maximalist

The living room in maximalist style with patterned wallpaper, a bold coloured sofa, gallery wall and many collected objects

Maximalism is the opposite of minimalism: more colour, more pattern, more of the things you love. Patterned wallpaper, a gallery wall, stacked books, clashing prints that somehow agree. It works when there's a thread running through it, such as a repeated colour or a strong personal theme. Without one, it's just a lot of stuff.

Words that help in a prompt: maximalist, bold patterned wallpaper, jewel-toned sofa, gallery wall, stacked books, layered prints, eclectic collected objects.

11. Wabi-sabi

The living room in wabi-sabi style with textured lime plaster walls, raw wood, handmade stoneware and muted earthy tones

Wabi-sabi comes from a Japanese way of seeing beauty in things that are imperfect, incomplete and ageing. In a room that means textured lime plaster, raw or weathered wood, handmade stoneware, crumpled linen and a muted, earthy palette. It's close to Japandi but rougher and more organic, with less emphasis on neatness.

Words that help in a prompt: wabi-sabi, textured lime plaster walls, raw weathered wood, handmade stoneware, crumpled linen, muted earthy tones, quiet and imperfect.

12. Mediterranean

The living room in Mediterranean style with white plaster walls, terracotta floor tiles, an arched niche and cobalt blue accents

Mediterranean style pulls from the houses of southern Europe and North Africa: thick white plaster walls, terracotta floors, arches and niches, wrought iron, and blue or olive accents. It's made for warm climates and bright light, which is why it translates so well to homes in the Gulf and other sunny regions.

Words that help in a prompt: Mediterranean, white plaster walls, terracotta tile floor, arched niche, wrought iron, cobalt blue accents, olive tree in a pot, sunlight.

How do you find your own interior design style?

Start with your own room rather than other people's. Photograph it straight on in daylight, then run it through three or four styles that appeal to you, using the prompt words above and asking the model to keep the walls, window and camera angle the same. Our step-by-step guide to redesigning your room with AI for free shows the whole process with free tools.

Then try two quick tests:

  • The return test. Which image do you keep scrolling back to after a day? That one usually tells you more than the one you liked first.
  • The subtraction test. Take away the most striking object in each image. If you still like the room, you like the style. If not, you liked the object.

Most homes end up as a mix of two styles, such as Scandinavian with mid-century pieces or Japandi with a little wabi-sabi texture. That's normal. Pin down the mix with a mood board before you buy anything, and see our complete guide to AI interior design for what these tools can and can't be trusted with.

Presenting styles to clients? Our AI for Architects and Interior Designers course shows how to produce style options and mood boards from your own project photos, consistent enough to put in front of a client.

See the course

Frequently asked questions

What are the main interior design styles?

The styles people search for most include Japandi, Scandinavian, mid-century modern, industrial, bohemian, minimalist, modern farmhouse, coastal, Art Deco, maximalist, wabi-sabi and Mediterranean. Traditional, transitional and contemporary are also common, especially in estate agents' listings.

What is the difference between Japandi and Scandinavian?

Both are light, calm and natural. Japandi sits lower, uses darker wood accents and fewer objects, and leans on Japanese restraint. Scandinavian is brighter and cosier, with pale woods, soft textiles and more everyday clutter allowed.

What is the difference between modern and contemporary interior design?

Modern refers to a specific period of design from the early to mid twentieth century, with clean lines and natural materials. Contemporary simply means what's current right now, so it keeps changing and borrows from many styles at once.

Can AI tell me what my interior design style is?

It can show you, which is more useful. Redesign a photo of your own room in several styles and compare them. You'll usually know your answer within a few images, far faster than from a quiz.

Save the images you like, delete the ones you don't, and look again tomorrow. Your style is usually the one still standing.

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