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What's YOUR Design Style?

Retro? Rustic? Maybe modern industrial? There is a range of styles out there, and it's worth getting to know some of them before you begin planning the interior design of your new home. Read on to find out more and decide which one is right for you.

There are a few styles that stand out on the Israeli scene today, but most homes just end up with an eclectic look that combines elements from a range of styles and materials. There's an element of eco-friendliness to this mix of styles, since it often utilizes used furniture alongside new pieces, avoiding the need to buy more. Here are a few of the current leading design styles:

Modernist

This style developed in the 50s and is distinguished by geometric patterns with straight, clean lines and precise composition. Smooth blocks of color are never interrupted by patterns, prints, or added decoration. To avoid looking flat and cold, this style wisely incorporates furniture from a variety of materials, such as wood, metal, and glass. The style can be expressed using all sorts of elements: hanging furnishings, recessed lighting, muted colors on a background of bright tones, and nickel or stainless steel in kitchens to provide an industrial look. 

Rustic

This design style uses all-wood furniture with curving lines in warm or neutral colors, alongside elements from rough-textured natural materials like stone, iron, and fabric.  The emphasis is on daily use and comfort, in order to create a homey, warm, and inviting atmosphere. Due to the use of natural materials, this style is best for brightly-lit homes that are well integrated with their natural surroundings. The rustic look can also be expressed in wall coverings made of natural materials, spacious seating areas filled with throw cushions, and – in the kitchen – the use of cooking utensils as design elements hanging on the walls rather than stored in cabinets.

Classic

Always in fashion, this style has a rich, prestigious look, with precise design. Classic furniture has an antique effect, combining rounded lines with plenty of carvings and decorative elements. The primary color pallet is based on light cream tones, with delicate touches of complementary colors like gold. The style often takes the form of upholstered furniture with prominent carvings, wallpaper with stripes or gold decorations, eye-catching crystal chandeliers, and many ornaments, such as vases, candlesticks, and wood-framed pictures.

Retro

Retro is all about revisiting the past. In home design terms, it usually means borrowing styles from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. This cheerful, colorful look is perfectly suited to nostalgic people. Unlike vintage furnishings, retro furnishings aren't actually antiques – they are recently manufactured with old-fashioned designs. Vintage style, however, uses old furnishings that have been minimally repaired or restored. Plastic, vinyl, and PVC are the dominant materials used for the retro look, and they're used for a range of design elements: colorful household items from another era (like an old touchtone phone), geometric or floral prints on furniture, bold wallpaper, and more. To apply this style consistently, avoid using cold, impersonal materials, like stainless steel, iron, glass, and so on.