5 Popular Styles Defined and Explained

There are plenty of buzzwords floating around the design world and sometimes it seems like you need a glossary to understand everything. At FIFTEENTH AND HOME we never want our customers to feel lost or confused so we made this lovely little handbook that defines and explains five of the most popular design styles.

Farmhouse

This particular style is especially popular in our neck of the woods because actually farms are so abundant. Farmhouse style is characterized by rustic and distressed pieces paired with a predominantly white and beige color scheme. Lots of natural wood appears frequently in a farmhouse design. Nontraditional pieces like the old milk crates or mason jars are typical. 

Nautical 

A nautical style shouldn’t be confused with a nautical theme. While a nautical themed room might have sailboats pillows and anchors, a nautical styled room will be in the vein of a New England coastal cottage. Filled with unfinished woods and linen upholstery, the color scheme is white and sand, accented by a signature navy blue. 

Mid-Century Modern

One of the most iconic styles in American history, and a personal favorite around the shop, mid-century modern is clean, minimal, and chic. This style puts a new spin on 1950’s design and pulls in a bit of new modern flare. With mid-mod you aren’t limited to a certain color scheme, you just need to make sure the shapes and flow of the room are consistent. 

Scandinavian 

Somewhat of a fusion between farmhouse and mid-mod with a Norwegian accent, Scandinavian style is well engineered and simple. The color scheme is white and grey with a few soft accent colors. The lines are simple and well thought out, which can make doing a Scandinavian room by yourself a bit tricky. If you dream of a Scandinavian wonderland don’t be afraid to make use of our design services. 

Industrial

Raw, rusted steel, exposed brick, vintage finds, and unique light bulbs, the industrial style is all about the turn of the century. Copper and galvanized steel accents are no stranger here, nor are leather sofas and chairs. This style can easily become overly masculine, so be aware if that’s not your intention. 

Options for Outdoor

If you have a pool, patio, deck, fire pit, porch, or any other kind of outdoor living space, you'll need a few odds and ends to fill the space. Just like buying indoor furniture, there’s an overwhelming amount of options for materials. We carry almost every kind of material at the shop, and to help you sort through the madness here’s a guide for all the outdoor options. 

Plastic 

Pros- Lightweight, easy to maintain, somewhat durable, affordable, and you can find it any color. 

Cons- Plastic can absorb heat and get hot. Some people will argue that plastic furniture can look cheap, but that’s a personal preference. 

Buying some plastic furniture is great if you have a few kiddos running around. It can take a beating and it’s light enough that you can let the kids move the furniture around. On the off chance the furniture gets damaged or breaks, you can replace it without breaking the bank. Calligaris has some fabulous plastic outdoor chair like the skin chair, area 1 chair, and hero chair.

Wicker

Pros- Lightweight, comfy, won’t absorb heat, and can be used indoors under the right conditions. 

Cons- Bulky and not the most durable. 

Wicker is one of the most popular options for outdoor furniture, and for good reason. It stays cool, it’s fairly easy to move around, and there’s minimal maintenance required. The downside is that wicker furniture tends to be on the bulky side and it will start to fray a bit over time.  Summer Classics has some beautiful new wicker styles that are completely outside durable (Athena and Wind) and Kannoa has the Maui wicker that is completely outdoor safe.

Wrought Iron

Pros- Holds up the weather and durable. 

Cons- Very heavy and needs a cushion. 

Like wicker, wrought iron has been all the rage in outdoor furniture for quite some time. This ever durable material will last for generations, as long as you make sure the powder coat doesn’t chip. Wrought iron furniture weighs more than a teenage girl’s summer camp suitcase, so get don’t plan on moving it around a lot. Summer Classics has a newer version of wrought iron, Wrought Aluminum. Our favorite style is Belize.

Wood

Pros- Stays cool, sturdy, and durable

Cons- Can be heavy and some maintenance is required. 

Having wood furniture certainly give a very classic feel to any outdoor space. Teak is one of the most common types of woods used to make outdoor furniture. It’s the go to wood for Summer Classic’s Croquet line. Like this wonderful recliner with marvelous gold accents in the back.