At some point I’m sure you’ve stumbled across some interior design buzzwords and for the average reader, the definitions are not always clear. Whether it’s about home, office or garden design, buzzwords are frequently weaved into blogs, articles and social posts.

Ergonomic design, reclaimed wood, rustic, eclecticism and contemporary design… to name a few!

To help you understand some of these industry terms, we’ve compiled a list with examples so that you can read on and converse with cognition!

Ergonomic Design

Ergonomic Design is the science of refining the design of products to optimise them for human use. The goal is to eliminate discomfort by strategically placing objects that assist human activity; promoting well-being and performance.

For example, coffee tables are a practical piece of furniture that pulls together all the elements in a room. We often fail to notice the importance and versatility of coffee tables in our home but it’s an object we would miss if it were to vanish.

It has many functions from holding our drinks and the TV remote, to acting as a rest for our legs and feet. It’s an object that we gather around for conversations with family and friends; casually dining on take away food or breakfast cereal as we watch our favourite series. The coffee table is a fundamental and indispensable item to have in every living room. It assists in creating a flow of traffic through the furniture while adding visual depth to interiors.

In other words, ergonomic design simply helps to make a room more user-friendly! The living space becomes useful providing enough storage space for possessions and enough room to move around easily.

Reclaimed Wood

Regarded by The Independent as ‘The Hipster Interior Design Trend’, this approach (as you may have guessed) features plenty of wood. Prominent features of this trend include exposed woodwork in the architectural structure, wood ceilings and support beams, wood plank floors, walls, and cohesive wood design.

Retrieved or recovered from past buildings and structures, reclaimed wood is recycled and reused to meet the present day need for sustainable and eco-friendly buildings. There’s an industrial feel to reclaimed wood in homes as it connotes craftsmanship and restoration.

This trend is often seen in modern farmhouse and country house interiors and should not be confused with salvaged wood which instead has been preserved for several years.

Rustic

Rustic style is all about accentuating natural materials with an emphasis on a past connection. Typically used to describe homes with warm and cosy qualities, interiors decorated in this style are simple, unostentatious, and comfortable. Neutral earth tones, organic textiles and textures are prominent in ‘rustic’ interiors. This buzzword is frequently used to describe the characteristics of farmhouse and country house interiors.

Eclecticism

Eclecticism is another recurring buzzword that we’re seeing in the media as it refers to the combination of heterogeneous elements. Considered the antonym of minimalist design, eclecticism is all about mixing up seemingly disparate styles, trends, patterns and materials, all the while remaining harmonious. That sounds like a difficult challenge to master, but it’s all about creating a look of controlled chaos.

The objective of eclecticism is to invent an interior design that is authentic to your personal preference, which is unique and cannot be copied by others. It’s a style that you’re unable be create by choosing cohesive furnishings from a catalogue! Essentially you can decorate however you wish, providing your decisions offer visual satisfaction and physical comfort.

Many interior designers have shed light on how to nail this trend, but you must remember that style is subjective and if you’re happy with the results of your eclectic styling, then bravo! You’ve done it!

Contemporary

There’s a common misconception between contemporary and modern design. Often referenced synonymously, these two styles do have several distinctions.

Modern design refers to the specific time period. Contemporary design, however, does not refer to any specific time period. It is an ambiguous term constantly evolving to reflect the popular styles and trends of present day design.

Think back to an interior design trend that you’ve seen or heard about. If it mentioned minimalism, neutral palettes, or geometric shapes then it was referring to contemporary characteristics.

Mention of materials including nickel, steel, and chrome often allude to contemporary styling. Interior door handles with straight oval levers offer a unique aesthetic in contemporary spaces as they feature a blend of organic and geometric lines. This being the round shaped rose extending to the straight line of the door handle levers.

Steel accessories such as polished stainless steel coat hooks can be featured throughout the home as a stylish system for holding coats, robes, bags and scarfs. Offering a practical benefit to homes, the reflective polished finish of the stainless steel is perfect for contemporary styling.

Modern design refers to the specific time period. Contemporary design, however, does not refer to any specific time period. It is an ambiguous term constantly evolving to reflect the popular styles and trends of present day design.

We hope that we’ve cleared up some confusion as you complete your own home improvement projects. At Handle King, we offer a variety of high-quality products that excel in both aesthetic and performance. For more tips on the art and science of enhancing your interior, check out our previous blog Modern Farmhouse Interiors.