There are several different design styles. As a stager/designer, working closely with the homeowner gives me so many amazing benefits. Not only am I enlisted to help de-clutter a space ready for the market. I often get asked to help with an existing space. Confusion sometimes occurs when a client feels overwhelmed by a living space. Living with those same 4 walls day after day and not really knowing how to move forward with that space. So many factors need addressing. What will the space be used for? How much time will be spent in there? Working closely with the homeowner to achieve their vision. Being able to ask the right questions is paramount. Taking the time and being patient. To the homeowner this can be very overwhelming. Design should be fun and incredibly rewarding. Be inspired by places that you’ve been to, styles that you’ve seen in either magazines or on t.v. and then try them out in your home with confidence.
Minimalistic Style
This term can mean different things to different people.
In the Minimalist Design Style, simplicity of style in artwork, by using the fewest and barest essentials or elements to maximum
effect. Less is definitely more with this style. Furniture must have streamline shapes and 
upholstered with neutral colored leather. Shiny surfaces and straight lines look amazing in this interior. Details should be made of stainless steel or chrome. This is a great style for those home owners that love tidy, clean spaces free from unnecessary decorations and frills. Minimalism is especially popular among businessmen and creative people who value the combination of simplicity, sophistication, beauty and being very practical. Colour scheme is very neutral. It gives the owner a great sense of peace, quiet, harmony and beauty. This style can also be relatively inexpensive and very easy to maintain.
Contemporary Style
This design style focuses on neutral colours, such as creams, whites, browns, blacks and taupe. Bold colours, such as red or yellow can be used for the accessories, also combine fabrics such as silk, velvet, linen or wool. Smooth, clean, geometric shapes are essential for contemporary style furniture pieces. Uphols
tered furniture often wears black, white, or other neutral tones in textured natural fibers. Furniture pieces should be simple and uncluttered, without curves or decoration. Sofas, chairs, and ottomans have
exposed legs.
Simplicity combined with texture and clean lines help to define contemporary style decorating. Interiors showcase space rather than things. By focusing on the colour, space and shape, the end result evokes a sleek and fresh feel. In a contemporary style interior, don’t use ruffles, excessive carved details, fringe, or floral prints. Floors should be bare and smooth in wood, tile, or vinyl. Carpet can be used for sound control or warmth, choose commercial grades. Add color and texture with plain or geometric-patterned area rugs.
Eclectic Style
This term is often u
sed in spaces of mismatched pieces. However, a successf
ul eclectic design scheme is not a random assortment of mismatched home furnishings and decor. It is a deliberate and planned design scheme that is unified by furnishings that relate to each other through color, shape, texture, finish or scale. A mixture of different decorating styles. It can also be a blend of different cultures and time periods.
Art Deco Style
In its prime throughout the 1920’s and 30’s, in Europe, particularly Paris. Art Deco opted for sleeker, stream
lined sha
pes and geometric patterns. More zigzags and sunbursts shapes. Paying close attention to the more modern materials like chrome, stainless steel and inlaid wood. Natural materials were used more sparingly, with Zebra skins and fern leaves as popular choices. Today, Art Deco style goes by a new name, it is sometimes known as retro modern, sometimes as vintage modern or some variation of the two. The most popular of Art Deco colours are bolder pastel shades. Great examples are: Mint green, banana yellow, salmon pink, turquoise blue, lilac.
Art Nouveau Style
Popular design ranging from 1880 to before World War I. Art Nouveau adopted geometric shapes such as arcs and semi-circles, whic
h were very elaborate. Instead of sharp lines and right angles, the style features gentle a
rches, elongated curves and fluid-looking edges that flow together. This look can present challenges, especially when dealing with flat tables and chair legs. Art Nouveau design in furniture overcomes the straight lines with chair and table legs that bow gracefully instead of standing stick-straight. Bookcases and cabinets are designed to feature tree-like limbs that appear supple and asymmetrical, rather than being rigid.
Colours were elegant and subtle, mustard, sage, olive, brown and gold, teamed with lilac, violet and purples, peacock blue, salmon and robin’s egg blue for the ultimate in elegance. Wallpapers included much of the highly stylized nature symbols, particularly flowers, feathers, birds and dragonflies. Fabric also featured much of the same designs.
Country Style
This design is all a
bout comfort, very casual and cosy. The emphasis is on natural materials and ch
arm, handcrafted features. A lot of wooden furniture and closets, decorated with things used on the countryside. Very often not modern things! Some of the older heavy wooden tables and chairs. Inspiration definitely comes from the surrounding landscape. Colour palette can vary widely and will be centered on greens, reds, blues, beige and white to name a few.
Classic Style
The idea behind a classically designed room is to create a sense of perfect symmetry. If a classic interior design were to be sliced down the middle, one side of a room would perfectly reflect the other side of a room. Everything from the lighting to the way that pictures are placed inside of a classic room should be immaculate.
Classical design does not include any modern elements or current influences. Instead, classic interior design is steeped in tradition. In order to distinguish classical design from other types of design, it is important to understand the idea behind a focal point.
Classically designed rooms often contain large focal points. A large fireplace, grand table, or impressive staircase are good examples of focal points that are often used. Once a designer has chosen the focus of a room, all other items within the room are placed in order to enhance the look of the chosen focal point.
Modern Style
Clean lines, accessor
y-free space, and neutrals with primary colors. The essence of modern interior des
ign includes basic shapes, Geometric-patterned or plain area rugs provide accent colours and accentuate the bold look of modern interiors. Modern design is a great choice for apartment dwellers because it increases space and creates the illusion of a larger room. Young, busy professionals particularly love this decorating style since the space is easily kept clean without knick knacks or ornate decorative furniture to dust. Spur of the moment entertaining is simple and quick. Materials like metal, chrome and glass – and furnishings without decorative parts.
Shaker Style
Shaker furniture and interior design style is widely admired for its simplicity, quality, and functionality. The shaker style originated in 
my home country, England, in the late 1700s. The Shakers believed in common ownership of property and communal living. They used a lot of natural materials such as Cherry wood, pine, walnut, hickory and maple. The Shaker design is stylish–subtle curves and straight angles blend in a design that is both solid and graceful.
Graceful enough to blend in with high-end home decor and humble enough to blend with mix-and-match furnishings, the Shaker style is versatile.
Simple shapes such as ladder back chairs with woven-tape seats. Examples shown. Colours were rich and dark. Ruby red, forest green or blue, with heavy damask patterns were prominent. The color palette consisted of Peacock greens and blues, magentas, violets and 
raw pink. Fabrics were highly patterned. Velvet and damask were of choice for the winter, switching to cotton and chintz for the cooler summer months. Wallpaper became mass-produced and was embraced 
by the masses. Paper went from the skirting board to the dado line and was pattered in flock, damask or water silk.
Interior spaces have large pieces but also very light and compact for portability and easy storage. Tables had drop leaves and legs that unscrewed. Chairs, racks and cupboards were built to be hung on pegs.
Today Shaker furniture is recognized for its simplicity, honesty, grace, utility and sturdiness.
I have attached a great link of a Grand Designs Television show which I watched recently. It really shows how the Shaker style can be implemented in any space, in this example it is used in a summer house. Very interesting to me because the designer is working with a couple on two very different projects. It really enforces how hard it can be to truly know what the home owner’s true vision is. There are so many choices in any design project and of course budget has a big bearing as well. Enjoy the link.
Gothic Style
When I think about the Gothic Style, my immediate thought is churches, gargoyles, arches and everything dark. Gothic design style flourished in England from about 1180 until about 1520. Wrought iron and hardwood furniture is a special feature of Gothic sty
le designing. The bed heads and chair backs need to have the typical pointed arch design found in the Gothic style. Wrought iron furniture includes decorative items such as chandelier and sconces used for candles. The style began in churches and then found its way into homes. Predominately the style is pointed arches, staine
d glass, coats of arms, mythical beasts and the tree of life. Heavy fabrics, and heavy woods are some other characteristics of the Gothic style accompanied with intricate detailing. Some people think Black and Red are the only colours that can be used in a Gothic Design. Actually there are lots of colours like rich, blues, purples, violets, reds, and greens. It all depends on personal taste.
To give an even clearer example I have attached the following link to a Grand Designs episode showing Gothic Style at its best. Enjoy.