Your State Might Be Influencing Your Favorite Home Design Style

Personal design style relies a lot on your gut. Sometimes you just know when you love something (or when you can't stand it). But it's also constantly evolving and influenced by everything around you. And sometimes, that means deriving inspiration from the styles and trends you see every day. One analysis showed that whether you realize it or not, the state where you live might just be informing the design decisions you make in your home.

The investigation came from interior design site Modsy, and was released by HGTV. It revealed that often, geography can be one indicator for what type of home design style would be most popular in any given state. For instance, farming has long been a way of life for people in states like Kansas, Nebraska, and Wisconsin — and they're some of the states that showcased farmhouse style above all. States with beaches, like Delaware and Florida, favored coastal decor, while areas like New York, California, Minnesota, and Washington leaned towards modern design.

Overall, the winning home design category proves that farmhouse will never go out of style. It was the favorite of 26 states, including Oklahoma, Iowa, Kentucky, Utah, and West Virginia. It's not too surprising, given the robust history of farming throughout the United States, or the fact that design stars like Joanna Gaines have brought the farmhouse look into the modern era. 

If you live in one of these states and have been influenced by the farmhouse style of your neighbors, you know it's all about maximizing warmth and character while still keeping decor simple and functional. Just like farming communities, these spaces are practical and no-nonsense, but not at all sterile. Whether your farmhouse style leans more modern (think clean lines and neutral color palettes) or more traditional (hello, vintage pillows and wooden accents), it's always inviting.

Nearly as popular throughout the U.S. was modern home design. It was the top style in 16 states, including many Northeastern states, as well as Arizona, California, Texas, and Hawaii. You may notice that many of these are areas with gorgeous natural features ranging from snow-capped mountains to jaw-dropping sunsets. That may be why people in these states are drawn to modern designs that use features like big glass doors or floor-to-ceiling windows to make the most of natural light. Modern style also incorporates organic, earthy materials like natural stone, glass, and terracotta into the home design, mirroring the outside world in the interior. Those natural elements can do a lot of the design heavy lifting, allowing the rest of the space to be minimalist, clean, and structured.

There were four states — Alaska, Delaware, Florida, and Rhode Island — that gravitated towards easy-breezy coastal design. Homeowners are drawing color palette inspiration from the beach, using shades of blue, green, sand, and coral. They're also finding ways to bring the outside indoors, whether it's a bowl of seashells and beach glass on the credenza or relaxing by a natural stone fireplace (especially in Alaska).

Three states repped country design for the rest of the nation. If you take on a home design project in Indiana, New Hampshire, or North Dakota, you might gravitate towards the rural charm of these areas. Maybe you'd use natural materials like exposed beams and decorate with eclectically mismatched furniture. Or perhaps you'd find yourself creating the perfect country style kitchen, incorporating elements like a farmhouse sink or vintage hardware to strike the perfect balance of cozy chic.

New Mexico lived up to its reputation of being a unique and distinct state, as the only one where "rustic" was the preferred home design. There are many rustic home design trends that are making a comeback, and you may find you love the area's cozy and unpretentious indoor spaces that use tons of texture and natural materials.