Lesson 3: Design Style – Communicating aesthetic vision

Okay, this is where your design expertise really shines. Because here’s the thing: AI knows thousands of design styles, substyles, and aesthetic movements. But it needs you to communicate clearly which direction you’re going.

Think of style as the personality of the space. It’s what makes a bedroom feel like a serene Scandinavian retreat versus a moody maximalist sanctuary. And the words you choose here? They’re incredibly powerful.

The Major Style Categories (AI understands these very well):

Modern Styles:

• Modern / Contemporary
• Mid-century modern
• Scandinavian / Nordic
• Minimalist
• Industrial
• Bauhaus

Traditional Styles:

• Traditional
• Classic
• Victorian
• Georgian
• Colonial
• Tudor

Transitional & Eclectic:

• Transitional
• Eclectic
• Bohemian / Boho
• Maximalist
• Art Deco
• Hollywood Regency

Regional & Cultural:

• Mediterranean
• Coastal / Hamptons
• French country
• English country
• Tuscan
• Japanese / Japandi
• Moroccan
• Spanish / Hacienda

Contemporary Movements:

• Farmhouse / Modern farmhouse
• Rustic
• Shabby chic
• Cottagecore
• Grandmillennial

Specific Aesthetics:

• Luxury / High-end
• Boutique hotel
• Organic modern
• Warm minimalist
• Dark academia
• Biophilic

Here’s where it gets interesting: You can layer styles.

Single style: “Scandinavian living room” Result: Clean, minimal, light woods, neutral colors. Predictable but nice.

Layered styles: “Scandinavian living room with Japanese influences” Result: Still minimal and light, but now with lower furniture, shoji screen elements, more intentional negative space. More interesting!

Layered styles: “Modern farmhouse kitchen with industrial accents” Result: Warmth of farmhouse but cleaner lines of modern, plus metal fixtures and maybe exposed beams. Exactly what’s trending right now.

But here’s the warning: Don’t go crazy with style mixing.

Too many styles: “Victorian bohemian industrial minimalist art deco bedroom” Result: AI gets confused and you get a mess. Pick 1-2 styles max, 3 if they genuinely work together.

How to describe styles effectively:

Use the established name first: “Mid-century modern living room” – AI has thousands of reference images for this. You’ll get iconic pieces, warm woods, clean lines.

Then add descriptive modifiers to refine: “Warm mid-century modern living room” – now you’re pushing it toward cognac leathers and amber tones “Minimalist mid-century modern living room” – now you’re getting the pared-down version “Colorful mid-century modern living room” – hello, vibrant accent chairs and bold art

Time periods work great as modifiers:

• “1970s boho living room” – Very specific vibe
• “1920s art deco bathroom” – Immediately communicates geometric tiles and glamour
• “1950s retro kitchen” – Pastel colors, chrome fixtures, checkered floors

Mood-based style descriptors: These are magic words that help AI understand the feeling you want:

• Moody
• Bright and airy
• Cozy
• Luxurious
• Serene
• Dramatic
• Warm
• Cool and crisp
• Intimate
• Grand
• Playful
• Sophisticated
• Rustic
• Polished
• Lived-in
• Editorial

Watch what happens: “Modern bedroom” vs. “Moody modern bedroom” – Completely different lighting and color palette “Bohemian living room” vs. “Bright and airy bohemian living room” – One’s potentially dark and layered, one’s whitewashed and light

Designer and brand references (use these carefully):

AI often recognizes big-name designers and brands:

• “Kelly Wearstler-inspired living room” – Expect bold patterns and luxe materials
• “Studio McGee-style kitchen” – Clean, modern traditional with warm neutrals
• “Restoration Hardware aesthetic bedroom” – Oversized furniture, neutral palettes, Belgian linen vibes

But here’s my advice: Use these sparingly. They’re helpful when you want a very specific vibe, but they can also make your work feel derivative. Your own creative direction is more valuable.

Color within style descriptions:

You can absolutely include color in this part:

• “White Scandinavian living room” – Emphasizes the lightness
• “Dark moody industrial loft” – Pushes toward blacks and deep grays
• “Blush pink feminine bedroom” – Immediately sets the palette
• “Emerald green art deco bar” – Very specific glamorous direction

What to avoid:

❌ “Nice style” – Too vague

❌ “Expensive looking” – Doesn’t give clear direction (say “luxury” instead)

❌ “Pinterest perfect” – AI doesn’t know what your Pinterest board looks like

❌ Made-up style names like “modern classic contemporary vintage” – Just confusing

My favorite technique: The “but” modifier

This is advanced but super effective:

• “Traditional living room, but make it fresh and young” – You’ll get traditional bones with updated colors and less fussiness
• “Industrial loft, but warm and inviting” – Keeps the exposed elements but adds textiles and warmth
• “Minimalist bedroom, but not cold” – Adds texture and warmth to minimalism

Obviously AI won’t understand the word “but” in your prompt—you’d translate this to: “Warm minimalist bedroom with textured linens” or “Fresh traditional living room with modern colors”

Here’s my process:

1. Start with the primary style (the foundation)
2. Add one modifier or secondary style (the twist)
3. Include a mood word if you have strong feelings about atmosphere
4. Consider adding a color if it’s central to your vision

Example: “Organic modern living room with Japanese influences, serene atmosphere, neutral earth tones”

That’s specific enough to guide AI but open enough for beautiful surprises.

Quick test: Can you picture the space from your style description alone? If yes, you’re good. If you’re getting five different mental images, you need to be more specific.

Next up, we need to talk about one of my favorite topics: specificity versus creative freedom. Because knowing when to be detailed and when to let go? That’s the art of this whole thing…