Interior Design Style Guide

Comprehensive reference for 42 design styles with regional/era sub-variations, optimized for AI image generation. Each style includes hex color codes, specific materials (with wood species), signature furniture, and 15+ AI rendering keywords.

Individual Style Skills

Each style is its own skill — invoke directly with /style-<name>:

Modern & Contemporary

/style-minimalist · /style-scandinavian · /style-mid-century-modern · /style-japandi · /style-contemporary · /style-bauhaus

Classic & Traditional

/style-baroque · /style-colonial · /style-victorian · /style-neoclassical · /style-art-deco · /style-french-provincial · /style-regency · /style-georgian · /style-rococo · /style-tudor

Asian & Eastern

/style-japanese · /style-chinese · /style-vietnamese · /style-indochine · /style-korean · /style-thai · /style-balinese · /style-moroccan · /style-indian · /style-persian

Regional & Vernacular

/style-mediterranean-greek · /style-mediterranean-italian · /style-mediterranean-spanish · /style-tropical · /style-coastal · /style-rustic · /style-farmhouse · /style-desert-southwestern

Specialty & Avant-Garde

/style-industrial · /style-brutalist · /style-biophilic · /style-maximalist · /style-retro-vintage · /style-futuristic · /style-bohemian · /style-wabi-kintsugi

Reference

styles/reference.md — AI Prompt Formula, Provider Notes (Midjourney/DALL-E/SD/Gemini), Style Compatibility Matrix, Material Glossary, Room Material Tables, Color Hex Reference

Quick Style Lookup

Modern & Contemporary

• Minimalist — Japanese (zen, ma, tatami) / Scandinavian (hygge, birch, lagom) / Warm (limewash, travertine, bouclé)
• Scandinavian — Danish/Swedish/Norwegian/Finnish. Light woods, white, functional warmth
• Mid-Century Modern — 1950s-60s organic forms, teak, walnut, Eames, Saarinen
• Japandi — Japanese wabi-sabi + Scandi hygge. Shou sugi ban, washi, live-edge oak
• Contemporary (2024-25) — Curved forms, bouclé, travertine, limewash, warm earth tones
• Bauhaus — Tubular steel, primary colors, geometric purity, Wassily/Barcelona chairs

Classic & Traditional

• Baroque (1600-1750) — Gilded grandeur, trompe-l'œil, velvet, crystal chandeliers
• Colonial — American (pine, hearth) / British (rattan, mahogany) / Spanish (terracotta, stucco)
• Victorian — Early (Gothic Revival) / High (maximalist) / Late (Aesthetic/Eastlake)
• Neoclassical (1750-1850) — Greek/Roman symmetry, fluted columns, Wedgwood blue
• Art Deco (1920s-30s) — Geometric glamour, Macassar ebony, chrome, black+gold
• French Provincial — Rustic elegance, toile, lavender, carved walnut armoire
• Regency (1800-1830) — Sabre legs, brass inlay, rosewood, "Bridgerton" aesthetic
• Georgian (1714-1830) — Palladian symmetry, Chippendale, mahogany
• Rococo (1715-1775) — Pastel asymmetry, boiserie, shell motifs, gilded bergère
• Tudor (1485-1603) — Exposed oak beams, inglenook fireplace, linenfold paneling

Asian & Eastern

• Japanese (Wabi-Sabi) — Tatami, shoji, tokonoma, hinoki cypress
• Chinese Traditional — Ming (huanghuali) / Qing (ornate lacquer, red+gold)
• Vietnamese — Tropical bamboo+rattan, French-colonial blend
• Indochine — French-Asian fusion, dark wood, rattan, silk
• Korean (Hanok) — Ondol floors, hanji paper, pine, celadon
• Thai — Teak, gilded carving, naga motifs, Thai silk
• Balinese — Open-air bale pavilions, paras stone, alang-alang thatch
• Moroccan/Moorish — Zellige tile, tadelakt, riad courtyard
• Indian — Mughal (marble, jali screens) / Rajasthani (mirror work, vibrant color)
• Persian — Persian carpets, muqarnas, turquoise+lapis, iwan courtyards

Regional & Vernacular

• Mediterranean — Greek (white+blue) / Italian (terracotta, Murano) / Spanish (azulejo)
• Tropical — SE Asian / Caribbean / Hawaiian. Rattan, bamboo, open-air
• Coastal/Hamptons — Shiplap, navy+white, linen, sisal
• Rustic — American lodge / European / Mountain. Log, stone, cowhide
• Farmhouse — Traditional / Modern. Shiplap, apron sink, barn doors
• Desert/Southwestern — Adobe, vigas, saltillo, kiva fireplace, turquoise

Specialty & Avant-Garde

• Industrial — NYC Loft / Warehouse / Soft Industrial. Brick, concrete, matte black
• Brutalist — Raw concrete, board-formed, geometric mass, Corten steel
• Biophilic — Living walls, natural light, organic forms, wellness
• Maximalist — Curated / Eclectic. Jewel tones, velvet, pattern mixing
• Retro — 50s (pastel) / 60s (space-age) / 70s (earth, shag) / 80s (neon, Memphis)
• Futuristic — Parametric, LED, smart glass, carbon fiber
• Bohemian — Traditional / Modern / Chic. Macramé, kilim, rattan
• Wabi-Kintsugi — Gold-repaired ceramics, weathered materials, imperfection beauty

How to Use

1. User asks about a style → Invoke /style-<name> (e.g., /style-japanese for Japanese)
2. Generating prompts → Use AI Keywords from the style skill + styles/reference.md for prompt formula
3. Color specifics → Each style skill has 8+ hex codes in color tables
4. Material specifics → Each style skill lists 10+ materials with species/types
5. Fusion request → Invoke both style skills + check Compatibility Matrix in styles/reference.md
6. Provider optimization → See Provider-Specific Notes in styles/reference.md

Connected Skills

Skill	Uses Style Guide For
/design-consult	Style recommendation, narrowing options
/generate-prompt	AI Keywords, materials, hex colors — source of truth
/mood-board	Textures, furniture, atmospheric descriptions
/edit-design	Target style vocabulary when shifting styles
/refine	Diagnosing missing/incorrect keywords
/compare-models	Consistent prompts via Keyword Matrix

Gotchas

• Sub-styles matter: "Mediterranean" → specify Greek/Italian/Spanish. "Victorian" → Early/High/Late.
• Keywords are provider-sensitive: See Provider-Specific Notes in reference.md.
• Cultural sensitivity: Asian styles have sacred elements — check Cultural Notes before rendering.
• Styles blend: "Modern but warm" = Japandi or Warm Minimalism, not strict Modern.
• Hex codes are starting points: Let design brief take priority over canonical colors.