The popularity of interior design styles varies from region to region in the U.S., though there are clearly a few styles that are popular wherever you go.
Victorian and Bohemian Take the Lead
According to a study conducted by the interior design site Joybird, using Google Trends data, the most popular interior design styles are Victorian and bohemian. Surprisingly, rustic and casual modern styles were the least searched design terms; though contemporary was the third most popular.
The website Apartment Therapy attests that the popularity of Victorian-style decor is a backlash to the minimalism that was in vogue just a few years ago. Today, it appears that people want a few more flourishes. Though, what they’re really after is a “reimagining of Victorian interiors,” says Apartment Therapy, not actual historical recreations.
The popularity of bohemian design is easy to figure out. By nature, bohemian is eclectic. Almost anything goes, so it’s easy to mix and match pieces; you don’t have to be tied to a strict aesthetic. In addition, the popularity of antique and vintage décor, and accessibility to unique items on sites like eBay and Craigslist, lends itself well to bohemian style.
According to Wikipedia, the original “Bohemians” were travellers or refugees from central Europe. French for the word “gypsy” is “bohémien.” Perhaps because they were travelers, bohemians picked up different styles from the many places they visited, hence the eclectic look of bohemian design.
Today, the world of décor is just a few clicks away, so it’s easy to collect furniture and other décor items from all over the world. It’s not surprising that bohemian style is a top design trend.
Design Preferences by State
The popularity of design styles by state revealed some interesting discoveries. While California has a reputation for being a liberal state, even sometimes called “flakey,” surprisingly, the most searched for interior design style among Californians was “traditional.” Massachusetts, definitely considered a more traditional U.S. state, was the only other state for whom traditional was the most popular style.
By comparison, Texas, Kansas, Illinois, New York, Virginia, and Florida all favor contemporary design style. While those in Oregon, Colorado, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio ranked industrial as their preferred style.
Out of all the western states in the U.S., it was only Wyoming and South Dakota that showed a penchant for western-style décor. And New Mexico was the only state that put art deco at the top of its list.
Mid-century modern is a popular style in Minnesota, which makes sense given its similarity to the clean lines of Scandinavian décor, as many Minnesotans have Scandinavian roots. Yet, “mid-century modern” is also the most searched design term by Washingtonians. The reasons for this are anyone’s guess.
What this Means for Landlords
Paying attention to trends in design certainly doesn’t hurt when it comes to getting a property ready to rent out. Though, at the end of the day, a clean, neutral, and well-maintained property never goes out of style. And it can serve as the ideal backdrop for a renter to apply their own unique style to make a place their home.
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If you already have a rental property or are just starting to think about renting your property out, we’d be happy to talk with you. Intempus Property Management has been providing a full suite or real estate and property management solutions to landlords in the greater Silicon Valley and San Francisco Bay areas for our 13 years. Contact us today to talk to one of our friendly experts about your property management needs.
