On Trend: Find your new favorite home design style

By Erin Feitsma, Times Total Media Correspondent

With an abundance of niche fashion aesthetics to choose from, it can be harder than ever these days to find your personal sense of style. Do you like floaty prairie dresses and peasant blouses, a la the cottagecore micro aesthetic?

Are you an aspiring (or actual) coastal grandmother? Into dark academia? Or just trying to keep up? The same obsession around personal aesthetics can also extend to interior design preferences. From shabby chic to Southwestern style, we’ll take you on a tour of different types of home design and help you find your favorite. Select one style or combine elements of them all for a choose-your-own-adventure approach to creating an environment that’ll make you feel right at home – literally.

Shabby chic: “Pride and Prejudice” meets pops of color

It’s girly yet gritty – it’s shabby chic. Weathered floral prints and worn-in furniture create an ideal backdrop for enjoying a cup of tea or sitting and daydreaming contentedly. There is something decidedly romantic and lush about shabby chic design – it’s perfect for those who enjoy a feminine flair with a bit of wear and tear. Pieces can be sourced from vintage shops or antique stores for that one-of-a-kind find, and best of all, imperfections are encouraged in this type of design. Staples of the style include soft, muted pastels, furniture that looks vaguely Victorian and white fabrics and furnishings. Add a bit of lace or linen, and you’re set! Then dust off your copy of Jane Austen’s collected works and have yourself a nice sit in your sunroom.

Bohemian: Eclectic art and patterns paired with earthy accents

Are you a free spirit at heart? Love macramé? Or have you ever felt the all-consuming urge to dress like Stevie Nicks in a patterned tunic?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, a bohemianstyle home may be the right fit for you. Boho-themed interior design is all about individuality and blending an array of oddities, earthy colors and patterns. No two bohemian-style homes need look alike. Find your own design flair and embrace the boho style with wooden accents, loud, splashy art, pops of green from real or faux plants, woven rugs, tasseled poufs, bead curtains and as many mismatched pillows as your heart desires.

Southwestern: Vibrant colors combined with warm, wooden accents

Similar to the bohemian style, splashes of bold colors and patterns paired with earthy or natural elements bring the Southwestern style of home décor to life. There

Modern Farmhouse:

As made popular by Magnolia co-founder

Joanna Gaines

If you like your classic home décor with a slice of slightly rustic charm, then say hello to modern farmhouse design, AKA “the Joanna Gaines.” is a decided warmth to the desert-inspired design trend, featuring brightly colored tiles and pottery, Navajo-style rugs, animal-inspired accents, woven baskets and gorgeous tapestries. Add cacti or other plants to your Southwesterninfused space for a punch of green. You’ll enjoy beautiful design elements inspired by the colors and landscapes out West without ever having to leave your living room.

The foundation of modern farmhouse style is comfort and ease. These types of homes present a lived-in style that’s cozy and invites friends and family members to sit down, snuggle up and really enjoy the space.

Key parts of the look include a cool color palette, wooden accents and using a variety of fabrics and textures in items like pillows or blankets.

Modern Gothic:

Historical and lavish Gothic style with a modern twist

Modern farmhouse, meet modern Gothic (not to be confused with the painting “American Gothic” or mall goth fashions a la Hot Topic –“It’s not a phase, Mom!”). For those with a proclivity for a darker color palette and rich, ornate styles, the modern Gothic design movement is your new moody and medieval-inspired best friend. It’s not just about all-black styles that call to mind the dimly lit catacombs of a 13thcentury castle (although yes, it can be that, too): Modern Gothic home design combines a range of darker colors with opulent fabrics, eye-catching wallpapers, the occasional statement piece chandelier, stained glass windows and curious or chilling accent pieces that will make your home hauntingly beautiful. A little can go a long way: Choose a few of your favorite Gothic-inspired elements and add a modern twist with coffee table books, plants, pillows and other accent items from the here and now.