You might have heard a lot about the millennial interior design styles of minimalism, mid-century and contemporary, however, with the popularity of social media like Pinterest and TikTok, young adults have made several types of interior design styles more accessible. A lot of the classic interior design styles have started incorporating various elements of the newer styles in them. One of the reasons for this is that the interior design market has always taken inspiration from trends in first world countries. However, social media has led to an increased exposure of the BIPOC designs to a bigger audience- creating a more diverse and artistic form of movement in the interior world. In this article, we explore the new interior design styles that have changed how we see interior design now. 

Cottage core

One of the more famous kinds of interior designs- this style gets its inspiration from the countryside. Think of cottages, flowers, big fields, and homemade bread. This cosy aesthetic has been ignored for a long time, being deemed as “rural” by the industry. However, a pandemic may have played a huge role in its success- the aesthetically pleasing new interior design style brings the outside in and supports the concept of staying inside. Cottage core is defined by its presence of plants and nature-inspired décor that is close to biophilic designs. Owing to its fame to easily DIY-able and reachable design, cottage core has made its way into not only young adults' bedrooms but also many adults' homes. 

If you prefer this aesthetic, we suggest sticking with neutral colours on the walls so that your décor can do all the talking. Use nature to decorate- dried flowers and fruits, tapestries inspired by nature and décor that you made yourself! Cottage core is a very personal style of interior design that will make your personality shine since no two cottage core rooms are the same.

Naturalism

It is no secret that the pandemic has awakened the green thumb of multiple people and naturalism has become common in a lot of homes. Also described as the biophilic interior design, this style draws its inspiration from “bringing the outsides in.” Meaning Nature Lover, naturalism is heavy on creating a visual connection with natural elements. From plants to incorporating natural elements like terracotta and jute décor, this form of living promotes a sustainable lifestyle which has become the new ‘timeless’ interior design, replacing the traditional one. 

One of the reasons why this style is gaining so much popularity and is predicted to become a classic is that naturalism promotes wellbeing, healthier lifestyles, and happier life at its core. It also encourages an increase in natural daylight which is important to reduce stress, especially now when more people are working from home. 

Dark Academia

Exactly the way it sounds, the dark academia interior design revolves around academics, art, history, and literature. Based on a passion for learning, this interior design often employs more European features- dark and moody tones, Greek architecture, gothic themes and of course, the staple vintage antiques and candles.

The dark academia interior design is timeless, employing a lot of classical elements by combining them with more moody tones to create an atmosphere of mystery. One of the reasons this style has become so famous is because of how timeless and flexible it is. You can combine it with any other interior design and come up with a creative style that is inspired by your personality.

To incorporate this style in your space, think harry potter- books, candles, antique décor and art, dark wood furniture and vintage pieces like mouldings in the architecture. Minute details and accessories are at the heart of dark academia. It can be considered a kind of maximalism depending on the person employing it. 

Maximalism

The exact opposite of minimalism, which is often considered classist because of how it ignores the BIPOC cultures, the new interior design style, maximalism is drawn exactly from these styles. The maximalist style brings comfort by surrounding the room in bright colours and things we love. Known especially as the ‘artistic’ design, the maximalist interior design gives creative freedom to whoever wants to use it- you can centre the theme around anything you like, from books to flowers to plants- and make a space that makes you happy.

Mostly characterised by its ease, the style follows using the visual balance method that prevents the space from looking like it has been hoarded. Creating a visual balance depends heavily on what the person designing the space thinks of it- t can take various forms. The creative freedom offered by this style of interior design has made it famous amongst not only young adults but also amongst a lot of art and book lovers. It's best if you create a lot of space in your apartment when adopting this style. An easy way to declutter is by wall mounting your television so that the excess furniture can be replaced by some décor. To wall mount your TV, click here.