What Furniture Style are You?

Your contemporary taste is good looking, relaxed and casual … like today’s home-as-haven Lifestyle design. You lean toward light, glowing woods like birch and maple or dark, dramatic stains like espresso. The strong, simple lines of Mission may appeal, as do accents with cross-cultural savvy: the geometry of primitive design or the serene curves of oriental pottery. Sofas and chairs may be leather, slipcovered or upholstered in soft inviting fabrics – but they're always welcoming and stylish.

Heirlooms, rich fabrics and dark woods like cherry and mahogany speak volumes to you. Your taste leans to furniture classics that evoke the past and stand the test of time. Design influences include 18th and 19th century English and American styles, including Queen Anne, Chippendale, and Victorian or European favorites like Louis XIV-XVI. Oriental rugs, Asian art, formal fabrics like velvet and damask, and Transitional furniture that blends influences from different eras are all part of this beautiful picture.

Your sentimental attachment to a simpler past leads you to classic country designs, both American and European. You may prefer the primitive, rough-hewn Rustic construction of Mexican or lodge furniture – or the softer lines, distressed finishes and hand-painted designs of romantic Cottage style. Your sofa and chair choices lean toward comfy slipcovers or upholstery fabrics like flowery chintz, linen or hardworking denim, woven plaids and textured, nubby fabrics. Quilts, needlework and outdoor-themed accessories are all part of your homey and creative look.

You're a Modernist, with an eye for sharp, linear design and the great masters of 20th century design. Or your modern groove may take a lighter, Retro approach – think black-and-white Hollywood and ’60s sitcoms. Spell it "Moderne" if you love the groundbreaking look also known as Art Deco … or call yourself eclectic if you mix trends and styles to create your own modern statement. Fabrics are simple, although frequently richly woven, while leather is perfect for the greatest designs of the century.