34 Different Types of Furniture Styles (2023 Photo Guide)

Over the years of upgrading homes, I’ve created this furniture styles guide. Not understanding the distinctions between styles can be a big problem – it can lead to purchases that clash with your decor or don’t fit your space. This guide will help identify the perfect pieces that complement your interior design.

The Breakdown of Furniture Styles

Contemporary furniture styles focus on clean lines and neutral colors. In contrast, modern furniture uses new materials and bold geometric shapes. Traditional furniture offers elegance with ornate and timeless elements inspired by historical designs.

Top Recommendations on Contemporary, Modern, and Traditional Furniture Styles

Just want my top recommendations based on certain furniture styles rather than reading through this entire guide? Here’s a quick breakdown:

• For a contemporary look, opt for Scandinavian furniture styles with light designs. 
• Mid-century modern and retro furniture are great choices using bold, geometric shapes. 
• For traditional elegance, consider farmhouse and vintage styles with ornate details.

Furniture Exploration: Different Types of Furniture Styles with Pictures

There are so many furniture styles available online and in stores that it is hard to know what is what. I’m going to explain the terminology of furniture with pictures as examples. Find the style of furniture that matches your lifestyle.

Contemporary Style Furniture

A contemporary furniture style is furniture that is popular here and now. For a minimalist aesthetic, it focuses on clean lines, solid wood, and neutral colors. Contemporary furniture styles offer an incredible range of choices. Each has its own features, benefits, and disadvantages.

Contemporary Style	Features	Pros	Cons
Coastal	Natural materials, light colors	Relaxed, airy look	Not as durable
Scandinavian	Simple lines, light woods	Clean, minimalist look	Less comfort
Shabby chic	Distressed paints, vintage fabrics	Romantic, cozy feel	Messy, worn look
Transitional	Blends traditional and modern	Balanced, versatile	Less distinctive

1. Coastal Furniture Style 

The coastal style gets its inspiration from the ocean or the sea. It radiates a holiday or vacation ambiance because of cool nautical colors. Furniture with this style often uses reclaimed wood and light-colored fabrics.

2. Scandinavian Furniture Style

Scandinavian contemporary design gained popularity because of its simplicity and functionality. Furniture pieces use natural wood with clutter-free and neutral tones. Like this upholstered platform bed, Scandinavian contemporary gives off a clutter-free look.

3. Shabby Chic Furniture Style

Compared to the Scandinavian furniture style the shabby chic style has earthier roots. It originated in elegant homes in the French countryside. The style involves more up-cycling of furniture showing signs of daily use over a very long time. It has a feminine feel yet lacks the smoothness of the provincial style.

4. Transitional Furniture Style

The transitional style combines traditional and contemporary furniture styles. Like this upholstered chaise lounge, the style likes straight lines and simple colors. It can also feature fabric patterns, mirror surfaces, and lacquered finishes. If you’re looking for furniture for a tiny home, transitional is a good style because it doesn’t have a “busy” design.

Modern Furniture Style

Sleek and stylish, modern furniture styles combine many elements. Materials like leather, vinyl, or natural wood are used in creating an elegant design. Originals from the Modernist period have become highly collectible, rare, and expensive antiques. The modern design is a broad range, featuring sub-categories with different features.

Modern Style	Features	Pros	Cons
Mid-century modern	Clean lines, geometric shapes	Sleek, retro feel	Less comfort
Retro	Bright colors, geometric patterns	Fun, nostalgic	Can look kitschy
Minimalist	Sparse, open designs	Clean, simple	Impersonal
Casual Luxe	Opulent and relaxed	Inviting, luxurious	More upkeep
Relaxed modern	Softens sharp edges	Cozy, inviting	Less bold
Art deco	Ornate geometric motifs	Glamorous, luxurious	Overly extravagant

5. Mid-Century Modern Style

Mid-century modern designs originated with contrasting textures and dark wood tones. Furniture with this style features subtle curves, splayed legs, and handpainted elements. Some could have minimal to no accent details.

6. Retro Furniture Style

Retro reminds me of the “goldies” from the “oldies” my grandmother might have chosen for her house in the 1950s. It comes in modular, geometric shapes, either spray painted or coated in pastel colors. The style creates an emotional connection like this retro dining table and chair set. If you don’t want to furnish an entire room in this style, you could add a statement piece to your foyer for a unique look.

7. Minimalist Furniture Style

A minimalist style has a distinct utilitarian design, often with rounder shapes. This is among my go-to styles when I want to avoid intricate carvings and details. The style’s neutral colors and subtle details are ideal for open spaces.

8. Casual Luxe Furniture Style

This style has a refined rustic look combining neutral colors and distinctive silhouettes. As you can see in this luxe dining set, this style often conveys a luxurious yet casual appearance. Furniture with this style is generally scaled and spacious for a cozy feel.

9. Relaxed Modern Furniture Style

Relaxed modern furniture styles have sleek silhouettes and plush furnishing. When my clients want a glorious yet comfortable ambiance, I use furniture with this style. Details would include elements like champagne brass or oak finishes.

10. Art Deco Furniture Style

The Art Deco style offers an attitude of glamour, luxury, modernity, and faith in progress. Like this art deco lounge chair, the design combines the old and the new. In this case, Victorian Era fine craftsmanship with modern materials. Art Deco furniture emphasizes geometric silhouettes and a variety of materials.

Traditional Furniture Style

Traditional styles first became popular in the reign of England’s Queen Victoria. Drawing inspiration from classical furniture styles, it has elegant fabrics and hand-crafted woods. Under the general heading of traditional furniture styles, modern shoppers can find:

Traditional Style	Features	Pros	Cons
Farmhouse	Distressed wood, simple lines	Rustic, welcoming feel	Less refined look
Vintage	Not new, 20-100 years old	Unique, cost-effective	Wear and tear, flaws
Industrial	Metal, reclaimed wood, exposed hardware	Urban, edgy look	Not for all spaces
Antique	Over 100 years old	Valuable, collectible	Expensive, high maintenance
Mission	Simple geometric designs, stained wood	Clean, utilitarian design	Plain, austere
Victorian	Ornate shapes, opulent fabrics	Elegant, romantic	Overly extravagant
William and Mary	Turned legs, simple lines	Understated elegance	Lacks ornamentation
Chippendale	Intricate carvings, cabriole legs	Grand, opulent	High maintenance
Queen Anne	Curved lines, elaborate carvings	Intricate, refined	Fussy for some interiors
Jacobean	Architectural shapes, embellished surfaces	Masculine, substantial	Heavy, bulky
Pennsylvania Dutch	Bright paints, geometric motifs	Whimsical, colorful	Folksy aesthetic
Loius XVI	Elaborate carvings, curved legs	Refined, majestic	Over-the-top opulence
Hepplewhite	Graceful tapered legs, oval backs	Airy, delicate	Less durable
Rustic	Raw wood, unfinished look	Organic, outdoorsy	Rougher texture
Sheraton	Slender tapered legs, inlays	Graceful, delicate	Less durable
Federal	Inlaid lines, slender legs	Balanced and patriotic details	Sparse ornamentation
American Empire	Classical motifs and symmetrical lines	Majestic, patriotic	Heavy, dark
Country	Unfinished wood, simple lines	Casual, rustic	Ragged imperfections
French Provincial	Scalloped details, distressed finish	Charming, romantic	Feminine style
Craftsman	Exposed joinery, built-in benches	Handmade quality	Rustic look
Shaker	Simple, functional pieces	Clean, enduring	Plain, sparse
Colonial	Turned spindles, carved crest rails	Traditional, patriotic	Formal, stuffy
Arts and Craft	Handcrafted, exposed joinery	Rustic, handmade quality	Imperfections
Asian	Lacquered surfaces, bamboo accents	Exotic cultural flair	Specific aesthetic

11. Farmhouse Furniture Style

Imagine being in a country homestead with a modern flair — that’s what I love about the farmhouse style. This style flourished after the Industrial Revolution. It often uses distressed wood, natural colors, wrought iron, and solid wood furniture. The organic look is perfect for interiors aiming for comfort and practicality.

12. Vintage Furniture Style

Vintage furniture is at least second- or maybe even third- or fourth-hand. It is used furniture that could have been used in the lifetime of someone you know. Vintage furniture could have contrasting veneers, upcycled materials, and neutral colors. You can find vintage furniture online or in thrift stores.

13. Industrial Style Furniture

Drawing inspiration from the Industrial Revolution, an industrial style has minimalistic pieces. It can use leather upholstery, metals, and natural and salvaged woods to create a rugged look. Think of factory-looking items with unique textures and shapes. This iron accent cabinet with black distressing embodies the style. 

14. Antique Furniture Style

Genuine antique furniture is at least 100 years old. It reflects the materials of their times, mostly wood. Their rarity and collectibility, determine the value of antique furniture. Most budgets restrict the purchases of antique furniture. Something like this antique Italian Armoire dresser can cost thousands of dollars. 

15. Mission Style Furniture

The Mission style comes from the 19th century. It features straight lines in 90 degrees, rectangles, and spindles. My only problem with this simple and sturdy style is that most pieces are also typically bulky. Still, it makes excellent accent pieces because of the flat paneling and finishes.

16. Victorian Furniture Style

Victorian furniture is named after Queen Victoria. The design uses heavy proportions, elaborate ornamentation, and dark finishes. Victorian furniture pieces often use rosewood, mahogany, walnut, leather, or velvet. This is one of the best styles to use if you want bulky yet elegant pieces.

17. William and Mary Style Furniture

William and Mary style furniture was popular around the late 17th to early 18th century. It is heavily influenced by Dutch, Chinese, and Spanish work. It’s notable for straight lines, woodturning, elaborate carvings, and Oriental lacquer work. They also tend to be heavy-looking and short.

18. Chippendale Furniture Style 

The Chippendale style originated with cabinet-maker Thomas Chippendale. It features cabriole legs, ball and claw feet, and pediment scrolls on top of furniture. The style is influenced by French, Chinese, and Gothic designs. The use of mahogany and ornate silk upholstery, made it popular between 1750 and 1790.

19. Queen Anne Style Furniture

Queen Anne-style furniture is famous for its bat wing-shaped drawer designs. It also has fiddle-backed chairs, cabriole legs and pad or drake feet. The style can be seen in this Queen Anne curio cabinet. It blends elements from the Chippendale and William and Mary styles, but is more graceful.

20. Jacobean Style Furniture

This style is born out of the English Early Renaissance in the 1600s.

The Jacobean style has straight lines, ornate carvings, dark finish, and marine motifs. It is one of my favorite styles because of its scrollwork, thick columns, and arches. But, furniture placement is quite tricky because of the massive sizes.

21. Pennsylvania Dutch Furniture Style

Pennsylvania Dutch combines American and Germanic influences. It features fruitwood, maple, walnut, or pine wood as the frame. It’s rather simple with a utilitarian design. Colorful paintings make the pieces stand out. For example, this Pennsylvania Dutch dowry chest would make a great collector’s item.

22. Louis XVI Furniture Style

Louis XVI furniture was designed for Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution. The style draws inspiration from Greco-Roman and Neo-classical furniture styles. Straight lines, rich carvings, and classical motifs like fluting characterize it. I typically use this style if I need painted or gilded flowers as ornamentation.

23. Hepplewhite Furniture Style

The Hepplewhite style also has Neo-classical furniture styles. It features tapered legs, contrasting veneers, and inlay for a delicate appearance. The style complements interiors that call for slender and curvilinear pieces. Light yet elegant design for a well-balanced layout.

24. Rustic Furniture Style

Rustic furniture style is much less formal. It seeks to capture a warm, homey feeling using animal hides or raw timbers. Warm colors predominate over dark colors, and finishes may or may not be smooth. One of my favorite rustic furniture examples is a barn door console cabinet. The simple lines work fine as design without ornamentation.

25. Sheraton Furniture Style

Named after English designer George Sheraton, the Sheraton style radiates simplicity. It has elegant yet straight lines, geometric figures, contrasting veneers, and tapered legs. The Sheraton style can be used instead of the late Georgian styles if you want a more feminine touch. Pieces could use drapery swags, ribbons, and flowers as decorations.

26. Federal Furniture Style

Combine the Hepplewhite and Sheraton styles, and you’ll get the Federal design. It is mostly crafted using cherry and mahogany wood. This style is heavily influenced by French and Neo-classical motifs. It often features straight lines, contrasting veneers, and sharp geometric inlays. The hutch and chest of drawers display the style of this Federal-style secretary desk.

27. American Empire Furniture Style

The American Empire style overlaps with French- and Federal-inspired solid wood furniture. But it’s best known for its symmetrical lines, brass details, and raised panels. The style also has contrasting veneers and ornate carving, especially on the feet. Most pieces are crafted from dark, rich woods such as walnut and mahogany.

28. Country Furniture Style

Country style may depend on the geographic location. Vintage fabrics, solid wood, muted colors, and primitive designs mainly characterize it. The style evokes a cozy, warm, and inviting look, giving you a taste of rural life. Most pieces are minimally decorated because it prioritizes functionality.

29. French Provincial Furniture Style

The French provincial style originated in the cities of Blois and Orléans in the Loire Valley and at Lyon or Liège. The design was popular with the wealthy in the French provinces in the 1600s and 1700s. French Provincial pieces include oversized armoires and sideboards with decorative, scalloped carving.

30. Craftsman Style Furniture

Function over form is the idea behind the Craftsman style. The style is on display in this solid oak buffet cabinet for your dining room. Furniture pieces have simple lines, solid wood, and minimal ornamentation. Pieces guarantee a robust construction radiating a handcrafted look. Woodworking techniques are evident in drawer pulls, inset paneling, and parallel slates.

31. Shaker Furniture Style

A religious sect favoring simplicity and utility created its own craft furniture design. The religious group Shaking Quakers‘ furniture design is practical and minimalist. It uses tapered feet and unadorned lines with excellent craftsmanship.

32. Colonial Furniture Style

The Colonial style combines Queen Anne and Georgian furniture styles. It focuses on pieces of furniture with grace and purpose. This eight-person dining table exemplifies the style. The idea was to make pieces for practical purposes, often using materials. Nowadays, it includes ornate carvings and lighter frames.

33. Arts and Craft Style Furniture

Arts and Craft furniture styles have simple and utilitarian designs with minimal ornamentation. It was popularized during the Arts and Crafts Movement. Each piece boasts rectilinear lines and elongated forms. Using Arts and Craft design is a good way to avoid the cluttered designs of Victorian furniture.

34. Asian Style Furniture Style

True to its name, Asian furniture incorporates designs from the continent. Especially Chinese, Japanese, and Tibetan pieces with exotic wood. It could have Imperial Chinese-inspired pieces that will remind you of dynasties. The Japanese furniture features bold, colorful designs. There could also be handpainted details from Tibetan furniture.

Frequently Asked Questions

What Are the Different Furniture Styles?

The main categories of furniture styles include traditional, contemporary, and modern. Each has distinct features like materials, shapes, and finishes that set them apart.

What Furniture Styles Are Popular Right Now?

Mid-century modern, industrial, and Scandinavian contemporary styles are very popular furniture trends. People gravitate toward sleeker, more minimalist furniture. Styles mix wood, metal, and other natural materials in muted, neutral palettes.

What Is Traditional Furniture Style?

The traditional style features furniture pieces with elegant, formal looks. It draws inspiration from European historical designs. The style favors carved wood details, custom upholstery, and curved lines. It also has ornate accents like turned legs, carved trim, and inlaid surfaces.

Conclusion

You should now have a solid understanding of traditional, modern, and contemporary styles. By knowing the different furniture styles, you can avoid mismatches. This will ensure you furnish your home with style and unity.