From traditional to contemporary: interior design styles for every home

The philosophy behind minimalism can be described in three words: less is more. Rather than making everything bigger and bolder, it’s all about cutting back as much as possible. Anything that doesn’t serve a purpose or distracts the eye? Off it goes! In minimalist living spaces, selected statement pieces take centre stage against a clean background. Monochrome colour schemes of black, white, or grey are accentuated by cool materials such as glass or metal – along with plenty of daylight for an open, airy atmosphere.     

• Furniture: straight-lined shapes and smooth surfaces

• Materials: stainless steel, aluminium, natural stone, concrete, glass

• Colours: white, black, grey, beige

• Switch designs: Gira E2 in black matt, pure white matt, or grey matt

During the 1960s, many people in big cities such as New York or London were struggling to find affordable housing. Artists and other “free thinkers” within the culture scene thus came up with a clever solution: they turned empty factories, warehouses, and similar facilities into apartments and ateliers. And just like that – industrial interior design was born. Today, the rough appeal of those lofts is more popular than ever. Unplastered brick walls, concrete floors, exposed pipes and wooden beams: all these elements can feel surprisingly homely when combined the right way. In industrial-style living rooms, the rough and unpolished appeal is accentuated by vintage furniture made from wood or metal and accessories such as bare light bulbs.

• Materials: stainless steel, aluminium, wood, concrete, glass

• Colours: white, black, grey, matt or shiny metallic hues

• Must-have: freely suspended light bulbs, metal counter tops  

• Switch design: Gira Studio in black matt

Another trend that began in the middle of the 20th century and continues to inspire contemporary homes: puristic elegance with furniture in organic shapes and bourgeois accessories in dark wood or (faux) leather. The mid-century modern interior design style works particularly well in huge open spaces with floor-to-ceiling windows. You’ll also find a lot of dressers, sideboards, and armchairs on slim feet. To bring out the nostalgic appeal, you can add vintage elements such as newspaper racks or chromium-plated lamps. Many design classics from the 1950s and 1960s are still being reproduced to this day.

• Furniture: functional and organic

• Materials: dark wood, (faux) leather, velvet

• Colours: brown, beige, and other warm earthy tones

• Must-have: classic pieces from the 1950s

• Switch design: Gira Esprit in aluminium brown or glass umber

Keep it simple – that’s the motto of the so-called “Scandi style”. As you can guess from the name, it reflects the “hygge” way of life associated with countries such as Sweden, Denmark, and Norway. Wooden furniture made from birch, pine, or spruce are complemented by light pastel hues. For that extra bit of cosiness, you can pile up a good amount of soft blankets and fluffy pillows. A few romantic accents, e.g. candles or flower arrangements in glass vases, round off Scandivanian-style interior design.

• Furniture: light wood or white coating

• Materials: solid wood with visible texture, wool, (faux) leather, cork

• Colours: black, white, pastels

• Must-have: candles, soft blankets

• Switch design: Gira Esprit in linoleum-mulitplex or Gira Studio

Similar to Scandinavian interior, nordic-style living rooms are all about those “hygge“ vibes. Natural materials, earthy colours, and rounded shapes will make you feel right at home. The decor leans more toward a minimalist approach: playful accessories take a backseat against functional furniture pieces and a clean, reduced aesthetic.

• Furniture: wooden or painted white

• Materials: larch, pine, fir, cherry, walnut; (faux) leather, cork

• Colours: earth, creme, and pastel hues

• Must-have: a huge lounge area, f.ex. with the Moss sofa by COR

• Switch design: Gira Esprit in linoleum-multiplex

You love spending time in the open air, surrounded by lots of green? Then this might be just what you’re looking for: the new natural style turns indoor spaces into an outdoor experience. Needless to say, it includes sustainable materials only. Woven baskets and untreated wooden surfaces speak of long hikes through the woods and dinners cooked over a campfire. In terms of colour, light earthy tones and any shade of green are a great choice for this interior design style. Decorative stones, twigs, or reed – anything you might have picked up during your latest adventure – further accentuate the rustic, pristine appeal.

• Furniture: simple and functional

• Materials: light untreated wood, natural stone

• Colours: all shades of green, bright earthy hues

• Must-have: souvenirs from your walks through the woods

• Switch design: Gira Esprit linoleum-mulitplex

When people hear “boho style“, they often think of the hippie era during the 1960s and 1970s. But the term “bohemian“ actually refers to a movement that began more than a century earlier: originally used as a pejorative for Roma gypsies, it came to signify the romantic ideal of “free spirits” who sought a life outside of the bourgeoisie. Today, the Oxford Dictionary defines “bohemian” as “a person, often somebody who is involved with the arts, who lives in a very informal way without following accepted rules of behaviour”. Boho interior design reflects this sense of avant-garde with a bright mix of colours, patterns, and textures: vintage armchairs and embroidered pillows meet oriental ornaments and Beni Ourain carpets. Bohemian-style decor celebrates unique and handmade creations – with patchwork blankets as the cover for an old sofa or an antique suitcase turned into a coffee table, for example.

• Motifs: mandalas, tribals, geometrical patterns

• Materials: wood, cotton, linen, (faux) fur, (faux) leather, rattan

• Colours: bright, earthy tones with splashes of orange, turquoise, or violet

• Must-have: vintage finds from the flea market and handmade pieces

• Switch design: Gira E3 in umber soft touch or sand soft touch

Geographically, Japan and Scandinavia are around 8,000 kilometres apart. But their cultures have more in common than you might think – and their differences complement each other perfectly. No wonder that the Japandi interior design style, a fusion of Nordic and Asian elements, has found its way into contemporary homes. Minimalist yet homely, it invites us to take a breath and regain a sense of calm amidst our busy lives. Bright colours and simplistic shapes create a clear aesthetic that helps us clear our minds just as well. Japandi interior also draws inspiration from wabi-sabi – a Japanese philosophy rooted in Zen Buddhism that celebrates the beauty of imperfection.

• Patterns and motifs: none, the interior is kept as clean as possible

• Materials: soft, single-colour textiles and dark wood

• Colours: light earthy tones, beige, black

• Must-have: large wall paintings with abstract motifs

• Switch design: Gira E2 in black or grey matt  

Imagine you spent a day hiking across alpine mountains and now you’re looking forward to a cosy evening in front of the fireplace: that’s exactly the feeling that modern farmhouse-style interior design evokes, with handmade wooden furniture and quaint, cheerful details. The ideal backdrop would be a setup reminiscent of a traditional log cabin or ”chalet“. Neutral tones such as creamy white or grey, along with lots of fluffy blankets, round off the warm ambience. For the final touches, you can add a few rustic accessories: a pair of antlers on the wall, (faux) furs, or lanterns, for example.

• Materials: beech, spruce, oak, pine; natural stone

• Colours: shades of brown, bright creamy hues

• Must-have: (faux) fur on chairs or floors, alpine accessories on the wall

• Switch design: Gira Esprit linoleum-mulitplex