In the world of interiors, “style” is one of those words that gets thrown around a lot—Scandinavian, Modern, Contemporary, Industrial, Minimalist… the list goes on.
As an interior designer and architect working with homeowners in Kuala Lumpur, I’m often asked, “What’s the best style for my house?” Or sometimes, “I love Japandi interiors, but I also want it to feel contemporary. Can I have both?” Here’s the thing: style can be a helpful reference point, but it’s not a rulebook. In fact, it’s more fluid than most people realize.
Many people assume that each design style has a strict checklist. If it’s Scandinavian, it must have light woods and a sheepskin throw. If it’s Modern, it must have clean lines and no ornamentation. And while these associations exist for a reason, they don’t tell the whole story.
What really matters is how a space makes you feel, or it has all the provision for your lifestlye. For example, if you require a cabinet for storage, you wouldn't make do without it just because it doesn't fit into the design style.
It's good to ask yourself:
As an architect by training, I was taught to think in terms of structure, form, and purpose before surface aesthetics. And that’ has stayed with me. Style is important, but it should never overshadow livability or authenticity.
Let’s take “Modern” and “Contemporary” as an example. Technically, Modern design refers to a specific era (roughly the early to mid-20th century) with a focus on minimalism, function, and a lack of ornamentation. Contemporary, on the other hand, simply means “of the now,” so it changes over time.
But try telling that to someone flipping through Pinterest. To many homeowners, these terms are interchangeable, and honestly, that’s okay. As designers, it’s our job to decode what people mean, not just what they say. If a client says they love “modern” but points to a cozy, curved sofa and brass light fittings, I don’t correct them—I translate that into a design that makes sense for their lifestyle.
In reality, most beautiful homes are a blend of different influences. A home might borrow clean lines from Modernism, a sense of warmth from Scandinavian design, and mix in local Malaysian pattern or craftsmanship for good measure. That’s not breaking the rules, that’s creating a space with soul.
Rather than obsessing over style categories, I encourage my clients to focus on three questions:
Once we have those answers, we can pull in design language that supports them, whether or not it fits neatly into one style box.
Design styles serve as useful starting points, but they’re not the destination. At the end of the day, your home should reflect who you are, not just what’s trending.
So if you’re worried about getting the “style” right, take a breath. The right design is the one that works for you.
