Abstract interior design is a decorating style inspired by abstract art which emphasizes color, pattern, lines, and shapes. Inspired by modern, retro, and [minimalist design](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-minimalist-interior-design-to-simplify-your-home) trends, interior spaces decorated in this style use contrast to balance bold elements, like colorful lamps, artworks, and accent furniture, with neutral-colored walls, flooring, or seating. 

This approach to decorating invites you to play with your space and showcase your personality with statement pieces, geometric shapes and patterns, bold-colored textiles, and accent furniture that challenge the eye. 

Abstract interiors are easy to identify because of their distinct and imaginative flair, exhibited through: 

1. __Color__: From bright colors to pastels, abstract interiors are a showcase for bold, eye-catching colors. Sometimes, the colors in a piece of abstract art in the room inspire the color scheme for the whole room, creating a curated and cohesive feel. Decorators often balance these [bold colors](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-working-with-color) with other neutrals—and in some cases, rely entirely on a neutral color palette to make a statement piece pop. 
2. __Contrast__: Contrast in abstract design manifests in many different ways. You can use contrast to draw attention to a focal point or create a sense of balance. For example,  contrast bright colors with black or metallics to make them pop or balance a loud pattern by taking an otherwise minimalist approach to your overall décor. 
3. __Focal points__: Decorators creating an abstract interior will often build a room design around a single focal point, like statement furniture, an eye-catching piece of wall art, or a bright pop of color on a tapestry, and allow the remainder of the room to act as a canvas. Though the abstract aesthetic welcomes the bold and adventurous, it avoids becoming too loud or messy by contrasting drama with simplicity. 
4. __Geometric shapes__: The abstract design style embraces geometric shapes that challenge the eye. Like [modern design](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/modern-design-guide), the style welcomes clean lines, which can be reflected in architectural elements, furniture, textiles, and other accent pieces. 

Whether you are working with an interior designer or taking on a DIY design project, there are many ways to experiment with abstract style in your home décor: 

- __Art__: Hanging abstract paintings on the wall is a straightforward way to incorporate this design trend into any room. Whether you choose to hang a dramatic piece over the fireplace or incorporate smaller pieces into an unexpected place, like a bathroom, artwork can set the tone for the entire room. 
- __Furniture__: The abstract style invites you to step outside the box with your furniture choices. Abstract furniture reimagines ordinary furniture in compelling and unexpected ways, like placing an acrylic coffee table with clean lines on a patterned rug in the living room or showcasing the library in a gravity-defying cubist bookshelf in your office.  
- __Lighting__: From chandeliers to lamps, your choice of [lighting](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-lighting-a-room) can impart many abstract qualities while providing a stunning focal point that captivates. Install a metallic, geometric chandelier in your dining room to create a focal point that contrasts well with the room’s color palette, or find lampshades featuring a bold pattern or Picasso-inspired line-drawing for the bedrooms. 
- __Patterns__: Incorporating attention-grabbing geometric [patterns](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-working-with-patterns) into your décor is another way to bring the abstract aesthetic into your home. Textiles with bold colors and challenging patterns can add [texture](https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-working-with-texture) to a room, whether on furniture, throw pillows, tapestries, or wallpaper. 

Master everything from color theory to pattern mixing with the [MasterClass Annual Membership](https://www.masterclass.com) and exclusive lessons from award-winning interior designers like Kelly Wearstler and Corey Damen Jenkins. From shopping for statement furniture to designing a lighting scheme to choosing the newest member of your plant family, the skills you’ll pick up are sure to make your house, apartment, or condo feel even more like a home. 
Geometric shapes and eye-catching focal points are among the main characteristics of abstract interior design. Learn about this unique design style and how to incorporate elements into your home décor. 


Geometric shapes and eye-catching focal points are among the main characteristics of abstract interior design. Learn about this unique design style and how to incorporate elements into your home décor. 


How to Integrate Abstract Interior Design Into Your Home Décor

Abstract interior design is a decorating style inspired by abstract art which emphasizes color, pattern, lines, and shapes. Inspired by modern, retro, and <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-minimalist-interior-design-to-simplify-your-home' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/how-to-use-minimalist-interior-design-to-simplify-your-home","linkCopy":"minimalist design","category":null}'>minimalist design</a> trends, interior spaces decorated in this style use contrast to balance bold elements, like colorful lamps, artworks, and accent furniture, with neutral-colored walls, flooring, or seating. This approach to decorating invites you to play with your space and showcase your personality with statement pieces, geometric shapes and patterns, bold-colored textiles, and accent furniture that challenge the eye.

What Is Abstract Interior Design?

Abstract interiors are easy to identify because of their distinct and imaginative flair, exhibited through: <ol class="mc-m-4"><li class="mc-my-4"> 1. Color: From bright colors to pastels, abstract interiors are a showcase for bold, eye-catching colors. Sometimes, the colors in a piece of abstract art in the room inspire the color scheme for the whole room, creating a curated and cohesive feel. Decorators often balance these <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-working-with-color' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-working-with-color","linkCopy":"bold colors","category":null}'>bold colors</a> with other neutrals—and in some cases, rely entirely on a neutral color palette to make a statement piece pop. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 2. Contrast: Contrast in abstract design manifests in many different ways. You can use contrast to draw attention to a focal point or create a sense of balance. For example, contrast bright colors with black or metallics to make them pop or balance a loud pattern by taking an otherwise minimalist approach to your overall décor. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 3. Focal points: Decorators creating an abstract interior will often build a room design around a single focal point, like statement furniture, an eye-catching piece of wall art, or a bright pop of color on a tapestry, and allow the remainder of the room to act as a canvas. Though the abstract aesthetic welcomes the bold and adventurous, it avoids becoming too loud or messy by contrasting drama with simplicity. </li><li class="mc-my-4"> 4. Geometric shapes: The abstract design style embraces geometric shapes that challenge the eye. Like <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/modern-design-guide' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/modern-design-guide","linkCopy":"modern design","category":null}'>modern design</a>, the style welcomes clean lines, which can be reflected in architectural elements, furniture, textiles, and other accent pieces. </li></ol>

4 Characteristics of Abstract Interior Design

Whether you are working with an interior designer or taking on a DIY design project, there are many ways to experiment with abstract style in your home décor: <ul class="mc-m-4 list-styled"><li class="">Art: Hanging abstract paintings on the wall is a straightforward way to incorporate this design trend into any room. Whether you choose to hang a dramatic piece over the fireplace or incorporate smaller pieces into an unexpected place, like a bathroom, artwork can set the tone for the entire room. </li><li class="">Furniture: The abstract style invites you to step outside the box with your furniture choices. Abstract furniture reimagines ordinary furniture in compelling and unexpected ways, like placing an acrylic coffee table with clean lines on a patterned rug in the living room or showcasing the library in a gravity-defying cubist bookshelf in your office. </li><li class="">Lighting: From chandeliers to lamps, your choice of <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-lighting-a-room' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-lighting-a-room","linkCopy":"lighting","category":null}'>lighting</a> can impart many abstract qualities while providing a stunning focal point that captivates. Install a metallic, geometric chandelier in your dining room to create a focal point that contrasts well with the room’s color palette, or find lampshades featuring a bold pattern or Picasso-inspired line-drawing for the bedrooms. </li><li class="">Patterns: Incorporating attention-grabbing geometric <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-working-with-patterns' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-working-with-patterns","linkCopy":"patterns","category":null}'>patterns</a> into your décor is another way to bring the abstract aesthetic into your home. Textiles with bold colors and challenging patterns can add <a href='https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-working-with-texture' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com/articles/kelly-wearstlers-tips-for-working-with-texture","linkCopy":"texture","category":null}'>texture</a> to a room, whether on furniture, throw pillows, tapestries, or wallpaper. </li></ul>

How to Incorporate Abstract Interior Design Into Your Home

Master everything from color theory to pattern mixing with the <a href='https://www.masterclass.com' target='_self' class='mc-text--link' data-mc-segment-trigger='true' data-mc-segment-event-type='Article Page Click' data-event-obj='{"textTag":"p","href":"https://www.masterclass.com","linkCopy":"MasterClass Annual Membership","category":null}'>MasterClass Annual Membership</a> and exclusive lessons from award-winning interior designers like Kelly Wearstler and Corey Damen Jenkins. From shopping for statement furniture to designing a lighting scheme to choosing the newest member of your plant family, the skills you’ll pick up are sure to make your house, apartment, or condo feel even more like a home.

Ready to Give Your Space a Chic Update?

Geometric shapes and eye-catching focal points are among the main characteristics of abstract interior design. Learn about this unique design style and how to incorporate elements into your home décor.