Pro Corner: Selecting a Style for the Photos in Your Projects
Learn the key architectural and decor features to look for when categorizing your photos by design style
Picking a style for the photos in your portfolio can be tough, especially when your design includes a mixture of several styles. But deciding upon the right style is key; after all, categorizing your photos correctly ensures that users will find your project while searching for the style they love, instead of missing it because it’s in a category where it doesn’t belong.
For those photos you’re on the fence about, Houzz is here to help. Discover where your photos belong with this in-depth explanation of the 14 styles on our site.
For those photos you’re on the fence about, Houzz is here to help. Discover where your photos belong with this in-depth explanation of the 14 styles on our site.
Beach. Beach or coastal homes can either be on the ocean or have a beachy vibe through decor alone. This style can include everything from classic Cape Cod homes to rooms with themed nautical decor.
Look for: Sailboat, fish and surf decor; wood-shingle siding; boardwalks; docks; crisp whites; light blues or greens; distressed or whitewashed wood; and rope accents
More info: So Your Style Is: Coastal
Look for: Sailboat, fish and surf decor; wood-shingle siding; boardwalks; docks; crisp whites; light blues or greens; distressed or whitewashed wood; and rope accents
More info: So Your Style Is: Coastal
Contemporary. Contemporary homes are the opposite of classic — they are bold and trendy and emphasize popular design. Rooms can have bold colors and mix-and-match textures; kitchens can be sleek and dramatic, with high-gloss cabinets and frosted glass.
Look for: Bright and contrasting colors, unique furniture shapes, dramatic architectural details and trendy materials or styles, such as chevron patterns, chalkboard paint and plastic
More info: So Your Style Is: Contemporary
Look for: Bright and contrasting colors, unique furniture shapes, dramatic architectural details and trendy materials or styles, such as chevron patterns, chalkboard paint and plastic
More info: So Your Style Is: Contemporary
Craftsman. Craftsman homes are defined primarily by their time period — the 1900s through the 1930s. This style includes bungalows, Prairie homes and Arts and Crafts homes; they often are distinguishable by the home’s structure and architectural details instead of the interior design.
Look for: Low, pitched gable or hipped roofs; tapered and squared entry columns; custom built-ins; and oak woodwork
More info: So Your Style Is: Arts and Crafts
Look for: Low, pitched gable or hipped roofs; tapered and squared entry columns; custom built-ins; and oak woodwork
More info: So Your Style Is: Arts and Crafts
Eclectic. Eclectic homes have an intentionally collected, curated feel. This category pulls from multiple styles and purposefully mixes patterns, colors, textures and eras. The homes are unique.
Look for: Creative use of contrasting colors, mismatched decor, one-of-a-kind pieces and bold mixtures of all styles, such as a traditional sofa paired with modern art
More info: So Your Style Is: Eclectic
Look for: Creative use of contrasting colors, mismatched decor, one-of-a-kind pieces and bold mixtures of all styles, such as a traditional sofa paired with modern art
More info: So Your Style Is: Eclectic
Farmhouse. Farmhouse homes can either be in a rural, farm-like setting or merely mimic farmhouse decor. This style includes traditional farmhouses with silos, barns and pastures, as well as small country-style details like rocking chairs and apron-front sinks.
Look for: Traditional country-style homes with front porches, picket fences and simple, unfussy design, as well as antique furniture, butcher block counters and rooster decor
More info: How to Create Farmhouse Style
Look for: Traditional country-style homes with front porches, picket fences and simple, unfussy design, as well as antique furniture, butcher block counters and rooster decor
More info: How to Create Farmhouse Style
Industrial. Industrial homes replicate the look of a warehouse through the use of unfinished materials and repurposed products. This style includes urban lofts, converted warehouses and steampunk or general industrial decor.
Look for: Lots of metal, concrete, cinder block and exposed brick, as well as repurposed furniture with cables, bolts and raw materials
More info: So Your Style Is: Industrial
Look for: Lots of metal, concrete, cinder block and exposed brick, as well as repurposed furniture with cables, bolts and raw materials
More info: So Your Style Is: Industrial
Mediterranean. Mediterranean actually encompasses a wide variety of styles, including Moroccan, Tuscan, Spanish and Italian villa. They all have similar characteristics and emphasize warm earth tones and clay, stucco and tile.
Look for: Clay tile roofs, stucco exteriors, terra-cotta tile floors, colorful hand-painted tiles, iron railings, wood-beamed ceilings, elegant furnishings and arched windows or doors
More info: 7 Ways to Add Mediterranean Elegance to Your Home
Look for: Clay tile roofs, stucco exteriors, terra-cotta tile floors, colorful hand-painted tiles, iron railings, wood-beamed ceilings, elegant furnishings and arched windows or doors
More info: 7 Ways to Add Mediterranean Elegance to Your Home
Midcentury. Midcentury homes were considered modern in the 1950s and 1960s. This style includes Eichler ranches, split-level homes and midcentury modern decor.
Look for: Long and low rooflines, retro design, iconic furniture, pop art and geometric shapes
More info: So Your Style Is: Midcentury
Look for: Long and low rooflines, retro design, iconic furniture, pop art and geometric shapes
More info: So Your Style Is: Midcentury
Modern. True modern homes are not trendy — basic materials and an ordered structure are used to create a clean, simple environment. This style includes minimalist and Bauhaus spaces, as well as grid-like glass houses.
Look for: A lack of trendy finishes; use of glass, steel and stone; straight lines; and minimal texture
More info: Modern or Contemporary: What’s the Difference?
Look for: A lack of trendy finishes; use of glass, steel and stone; straight lines; and minimal texture
More info: Modern or Contemporary: What’s the Difference?
Rustic. Rustic homes can either be in the mountains or merely have rugged Western decor. This style includes log cabins, mountain lodges and other Western-style homes.
Look for: Antlers, cow hide rugs, animal prints, taxidermy, knotted wood, oversize leather furnishings and lanterns
More info: So Your Style Is: Rustic
Look for: Antlers, cow hide rugs, animal prints, taxidermy, knotted wood, oversize leather furnishings and lanterns
More info: So Your Style Is: Rustic
Southwestern. Southwestern homes are defined primarily by their region — they are usually adobe homes in the American Southwest. This style uses earthy tones, rugged textures and pops of color; it also often includes Native American motifs.
Look for: Flat roofs, adobe exterior, painted pottery, colorful tiles, turquoise, bright red, Navajo rugs, longhorn skulls, cactus, tribal patterns, leather; and rough wood
More info: So Your Style Is: Southwestern
Look for: Flat roofs, adobe exterior, painted pottery, colorful tiles, turquoise, bright red, Navajo rugs, longhorn skulls, cactus, tribal patterns, leather; and rough wood
More info: So Your Style Is: Southwestern
Traditional. Traditional homes have familiar, classic details, materials and colors. This category includes many styles, such as Tudor, Victorian and colonial.
Look for: Conservative color palettes, rich wood tones, crown molding, crystal chandeliers and classic prints, such as florals, plaids and stripes
More info: So Your Style Is: Traditional
Look for: Conservative color palettes, rich wood tones, crown molding, crystal chandeliers and classic prints, such as florals, plaids and stripes
More info: So Your Style Is: Traditional
Transitional. Transitional homes fall between traditional and contemporary — they are often traditional homes that are evolving toward an updated, trendier look. Spaces done in this style include ones with popular finishes, colors and materials, but they aren’t quite as bold as contemporary homes.
Look for: Neutral colors (especially gray), minimal ornamentation, simple lines and small, trendy details, such as nailhead finishes, that update an elegant, traditional space
More info: So Your Style Is: Transitional
Look for: Neutral colors (especially gray), minimal ornamentation, simple lines and small, trendy details, such as nailhead finishes, that update an elegant, traditional space
More info: So Your Style Is: Transitional
Tropical. Tropical homes have an exotic, vacation-style appeal, with features like plantation shutters and oversize porches. This style includes island homes, colonial-plantation-style homes and tropical-themed spaces.
Look for: Palm trees (real or fake), storm shutters, coral motifs, seashells, lanais, grass roofs, tile flooring, outdoor showers, exotic woods and natural textures
More info: So Your Style Is: Tropical
Selecting styles for your products on Houzz? Find more information here.
Look for: Palm trees (real or fake), storm shutters, coral motifs, seashells, lanais, grass roofs, tile flooring, outdoor showers, exotic woods and natural textures
More info: So Your Style Is: Tropical
Selecting styles for your products on Houzz? Find more information here.
Look for: Asian-style fabrics or motifs, Buddha sculptures, shoji screens, tatami mats and paper lanterns
More info: So Your Style Is: Japanese