Successful interior design projects featured in popular magazines often conform to specific design styles.

Having a fundamental understanding of these interior design styles may help you determine what look you’d like to achieve in your home or possibly even help you create your own eclectic look that captures your unique style and personal interests.

Various design styles are influenced through world travel—French country, Paris, Scandinavian, New York, Asian and African. Some are influenced by period styles—art deco, arts and crafts, etc. Others are influenced by their surrounding environment—Nautical, Cottage and Country.

We’ll take a closer look at some of the more popular design styles including Contemporary, Traditional, Asian and Seaside, a Steveston area favourite.

•Contemporary style: Once regarded as cold and minimal, today’s contemporary interiors are comfortable and welcoming. The defining elements in contemporary design are line, color and space. Vertical and horizontal lines are seen in furnishings, bare windows and architectural elements (walls, ceilings, etc.). Contemporary palettes are neutrals and blacks and whites accented with bold colors. Colourful art and accessories are often used to create visual contrast against the neutral walls. Spaces are edited but not minimal and furnishings should be clean and simple showing no decoration.

•Traditional style: Traditional interiors are comfortable, calm and casual. Interior elements including furnishings, lighting and décor accessories are consistent and predictable. Furnishings are restful looking and usually upholstered in florals, plaids, stripes or small all-over patterns. Walls may have simple molding details and are often painted with a flat finish or covered with wallpaper. Room accessories include plants, wall sconces, book collections, vintage art, vases and fine china. Traditional spaces are orderly, elegant and understated.

•Asian style: Whether it’s Japanese or Chinese influenced, this style is popular with both Asians and non Asians. Asian-style interiors are designed to be simple yet elegant. Red is often used for its bold and energetic properties. It also represents good luck in many Asian cultures. Furnishings are slightly scaled down, multi-purpose and made of natural materials or finished in a shiny black lacquer. Interlacing geometric motifs can often be found on chair backs, table legs and door fronts. Popular decorative elements often found in Asian style interiors are bonsai plants, bamboo, floor screens and water features.

•Seaside style: Seaside interiors are calm and serene. Walls are pale in color and include soft blues, greens, light brown, whites and ivory. These colors are associated with natural elements found in seaside environment—water, grass, rocks, driftwood, etc. Adding white or light brown furnishings (tables, chairs, etc) can add to the tranquil feel of the space while adding dark brown furnishings will add some sophistication and richness. Don’t forget about accent pieces that help pull the style together—river rocks, shells, decorative light houses and a boat’s wooden steering wheel.

There are countless design styles in practice and there is at least one that will work for you. Once you’ve discovered yours, have fun pulling all the elements together.

Seng Sengsavanh is a Richmond resident and academic director of interior design at the Art Institute of Vancouver. Contact him at ssengsavanh@aii.edu.