The sixth section of our long registry of decorating styles largely pays homage to simpler times with a European flavor.
Nautical
Nautical design channels the charm of seafaring life without going full pirate ship. It’s breezy, classic and just structured enough to feel like everything’s shipshape. Inspired by sailboats, seaside cottages and maritime gear, this style blends crisp lines with weathered character.
Color is a big player. Bold navy and bright red show up in stripes, textiles and accents, balanced by a sea of whites, off-whites and sandy beiges. You’ll spot these hues on everything from curtains and cushions to throws and tableware. Stripes are the signature pattern with horizontal, vertical, or somewhere in between. If it looks like a Breton shirt, it probably works.
Materials lean toward the natural and nautical. Expect weathered wood, jute rope, rattan and linen, paired with shiny brass, chrome or stainless steel. Tripod floor lamps styled after vintage coastguard spotlights bring an industrial edge. Classic pieces like director’s chairs, collapsible yacht furniture and teak slat tables are go-tos for outdoor spaces.
Decor tells the story. Picture vintage oars, life preservers, glass fishing floats, sextants and anchor motifs. Mariner pendant lights and glass buoys add subtle sparkle. Even scent plays a role. Candles or diffusers with notes of ocean breeze, salt or citrus help set the scene.
While the style doesn’t have one defining designer, brands like Ralph Lauren Home have famously embraced nautical aesthetics. It’s a look that never really goes out of style. It’s part East Coast prep, part coastal cool and just the right amount of shipwreck chic.
Neoclassic
Neoclassic homes evoke a timeless, elegant and historical aesthetic. This interior design motif shares certain characteristics to other home styles including Greek and Roman. Decorating pieces like vases, statues and paintings feature themes from Greek mythology and front porches have massive symmetrical columns inspired by Greek and Roman architecture. Walls are decorated with large vintage mirrors surrounded by ornate gilded frames. Stone or marble floors are commonplace in neoclassical homes. Interior colors are light and subtle and include pale blues, creams, grays, yellows and greens. Black and gold are used as bold contrasting hues. Furniture is simple and constructed out of dark wood. Persian rugs cover the floors and rich brocades, lush velvets, luxurious damask silks and cotton fabrics are used for curtains and bed linens.
Northwestern
Northwestern interiors combine both modern and traditional styles. There is an emphasis on natural light and outside views, so large wall-to-wall windows, sliding glass doors and skylights are found throughout the home. A palette of cream tones warm the interior, while sparingly used bold hues like bright oranges and reds bring personality into the space. A variety of materials are used throughout each room, such as concrete, wood and glass for a combination of old and new. Lines found on tables, chairs and sofas are simple and clean, while upholstery features a variety of textures and patterns. Northwestern kitchens usually have espresso or coffee stations with a built-in shelf for mugs, cups and saucers – it makes sense that Starbucks originated in the Pacific Northwest.
Old World
Old World interiors stem from a variety of European locations around the world, including Spain, Italy and France. It’s what you think of when imagining the inside of classic European manors or estates. Old World homes feature characteristics from a few different styles including medieval and Renaissance, and there’s an even a balance of traditional and rustic aesthetics. Navy, burgundy, forest green and cream are the most popular colors used in Old World homes for a relaxed yet regal effect. Woven tapestries and fabrics featuring floral or striped patterns are used to decorate interiors. Fringe, beaded trim and tassels are used to embellish everything from curtains to bedding. Weathered wood ceiling beams offer a rustic distressed contrast to the sophisticated dark-stained surfaces found on tables and chairs. Limestone, tile and tumbled marble floors covered in richly woven rugs provide additional textured accents to this style.
Organic
Organic interior design is basically nature’s way of saying, “Come on in, kick off your shoes, and just breathe.” This style is all about blurring the lines between inside and outside so your living room feels like a natural extension of the forest—or at least a very posh meadow. Expect forms that flow gently: nothing stiff or square, unless you count the occasional rustic table that looks salvaged from a tree rather than a factory. Furniture tends to be welcoming and sculpted, often showing off gentle curves inspired by river stones or coastal driftwood. Think Vladimir Kagan’s sinuous Dover sofa or Isamu Noguchi’s Freeform Sofa—the kind of pieces that almost beg you to stretch out and take a nap.
Palette-wise, organic design likes to keep things chill with creamy whites, weathered browns and the kind of greens you’d spot on a hike. Add in some sun-baked ochres or rust tones and you’ve got a look that’s as calming as a Sunday morning. Texture is everything, so you’ll see lots of raw wood, rough stone, clay and soft, natural fabrics like linen or wool. Even when something synthetic sneaks in, it’s all about that honest, tactile feel.
Large windows are practically a must—they let sunlight pour in and invite the outdoors to become part of the décor. Plants in earthy ceramic pots add the final, living touch. Frank Lloyd Wright set the standard with organic architecture, while Kelly Wearstler gives it her glamorous spin. At its core, organic style is where calm meets beauty, with a side of “wow, I feel so refreshed.”
Palladian
Much like Greek and Roman interiors, Palladian homes rely on symmetry, balance and proportion. Palladian windows are recognized by their distinct shape – they feature a natural arch at the top, and the window curves in line with the roof of the home. The bottom window is surrounded by narrow rectangular panels on each side [Pile 2005]. The iconic arch can be found indoors as well in doorways. Whites and creams are used throughout the home, and Palladian blue, a greenish-blue soft hue, provides a subtle contrast against white. Clean, simple lines are shown off using tables, chairs sofas and wall decor. This style is named for the renowned Venetian architect Andrea Palladio, who is widely considered one of the most influential individuals in the history of architecture.
Parisian
Parisian homes offer a mix of old and new for a unique, eclectic aesthetic. Traditional and modern elements are combined – for instance, flea market finds like a vintage clock or lamp might be paired with a clean, simple modern sofa. Parisian walls are kept white to maximize natural light, and colors used on furniture and decor are darker and richer to create a stark contrast. Texture upholstery is important and is frequently made from luxurious velvet or rich brocade. Rugs and chandeliers are two integral elements of Parisian interiors. Rugs are typically patterned and feature a bold color to contrast the white walls. Vintage chandeliers can be found anywhere from the kitchen to the bedroom and offer a touch of Parisian glamour. Authentic bathrooms may feature a freestanding claw-foot tub with a small accent table nearby.
Pennsylvania Dutch
In Pennsylvania Dutch interior design, you’ll see similarities to rustic, farmhouse-inspired homes. This folksy furniture is most commonly constructed out of woods such as maple, walnut, pine and fruitwoods. Pieces like tables, sofas and chairs tend to have straight, simple lines with little to no decoration. Instead, furniture boasts a sleek, glossy finish. Adorning the walls of Pennsylvania Dutch homes are paintings featuring fruit, animals, flowers or German script. Fresh flowers are also used to decorate and bring a splash of color into the home. A neutral color palette is used to emphasize the variety of textures found among the interior, like brick walls, stone floors and reclaimed wood tables. Its Germanic roots also influenced the development of Amish style utilitarian furnishings.
Plantation
Plantation interiors contain a combination of Spanish and Colonial architectural elements made popular in the antebellum South. Common features include Greek Revival columns, arched windows, high ceilings, French doors and accents like medallions, keystones and onlays. The entrances of plantation homes are grand with balcony railings and winding, curved staircases. Interiors are light and bright with white and cream-colored fabrics. The neutral color palette is contrasted with dark-stained woods like mahogany or teak. Wood blinds or plantation shutters are found on windows alongside relaxed, breezy curtains. Parlor rooms are located near the front entrance of the home and are used for entertaining. A grand piano, card tables, sterling silver tea sets and tapestry footstools can be found throughout parlor rooms.
Post-Modern
Post-modern interior design is what happens when Modernism lets its hair down, turns up the color and decides rules are made to be playfully bent, not followed. Popping up in the later twentieth century, Post-Modernism is the cool older cousin who mixes irony with elegance and always throws something surprising into the room. You’ll notice curvy sofas striking up conversations with sharp-angled side tables—sometimes in pastels, other times in high-voltage brights like hot pink or blue that Barbie herself might approve.
Forms get cheeky. One chair may look like it wandered in from a cartoon, while a lamp nearby takes geometry a little too literally with blocks or spheres piled as if by a mischievous child. Materials are a mixed bag: luxe velvet, glossy laminates, terrazzo, brassy metals and the occasional well-intentioned slab of granite all mingle. And surfaces love to layer: cool glass against fuzzy mohair, sleek lacquer stealing the spotlight from humble rattan. Every space feels a touch theatrical, part museum, part playground.
When it comes to icons, look for Ettore Sottsass’s Carlton bookcase, which might remind you of an abstract Transformer, and Alessandro Mendini’s Proust Chair, equal parts gallery piece and time machine to the Baroque era. Studio Alcimia and the Memphis Group—with its zigzags and squiggle legs—changed the game. Post-Modern style refuses to take itself too seriously. It’s daring, quirky and, much like the best movie cameos, always leaves you wanting more.
Puritan
Puritan home design style definitely falls under a more traditional category, but with a farmhouse twist. Tables and chairs are equipped with ornate wood carvings to put an emphasis on refined craftsmanship. Materials used on upholstered chairs, curtains and drapes are often lightweight cotton, which helps to soften up the interior. Kitchens offer an especially rustic feel, with wrought-iron stoves or brick fireplaces that produce a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Shaker cabinets are another common kitchen element, and they offer a classic and simple look. They feature flat paneled doors and are typically constructed out of durable woods such as hickory, maple or cherry. Colors throughout Puritan homes are subdued and consist mainly of neutrals. You’ll often see a blend of off-whites, browns and grays to produce a natural and calming ambiance.
Queen Anne
The Queen Anne was a design style popular during the end of the 19th century, which carried into the 20th before the advent of shingle style. Queen Anne interiors boast a mixture of Victorian and Colonial style. Looking at the front of these homes, you’ll notice an asymmetrical design, plenty of large windows to let in natural light, and a wide, welcoming front porch. Interiors of Queen Anne homes are kept light and bright thanks to large windows, tall ceilings and a neutral color palette.
Surfaces inside and outside of the home are anything but smooth and simple and feature detailing such as fish scale siding, spindlework and ornate carvings. Fixtures inside the home are just as detailed, with paneled wood cabinets and vintage faucets. One of the signature features of Queen Anne furniture is the cabriole leg. This design bows outward at the top and inward at the bottom, to create a stylish flaring S-curved support.
Guide Sections
References
- Pile, J. F. (2005). A history of interior design. Laurence King Publishing.
Leave a Reply