Explore the World’s Best Cities for Interior Design Inspiration

If you’re looking to expand your sense of interior and exterior design, then taking in a whole range of aesthetics is always recommended. This includes looking beyond the style guides published in any given season. Travel is one of the best ways to expand your mind, and this counts for expanding your design sensibilities as well. Taking in styles from cities around the world, whichever of them you can visit, can greatly help you develop a distinct taste and pick up some pieces that you might not find otherwise.

Copenhagen

A true design lover’s dream, this Danish city is well known for the minimalist yet warm Scandinavian aesthetic that’s become very popular as of late. The city blends clean lines, muted tones, and functional beauty in everything from furniture to architecture. Explore the Designmuseum Danmark, or stroll through boutiques in the Vesterbro and Østerbro districts. Taking a trip to local cafés and restaurants can give you some perfect examples of “hygge” living at its best, and the showrooms of brands like Hay and Normann Copenhagen can give you some great inspiration. What’s more, if sustainable design is your passion, the city is truly leading the world in eco-conscious aesthetics. Every corner of the city subtly teaches the principles of balance, simplicity, and elegance, making it one of the world’s most influential interior design hubs.

Tokyo

The capital of Japan is one of the few true metropolises in the world, allowing you to find traditional craftsmanship right around the corner from futuristic innovation. Global interior design has already borrowed a lot from Japan, but here you can get face-to-face with older elements like hoji screens, tatami mats, and natural wood contrasted with sleek, tech-integrated modern interiors. Visit design-forward districts such as Daikanyama or Aoyama, where boutiques and concept stores act as living galleries. There are excellent museums like 21_21 Design Sight, where you can see some of the best works exploring a wide range of Japanese living staples in all of their true design potential.

Milan

Considered by some to be the true global capital of modern interior design, in no small part due to the fact that the Salone del Mobile furniture fair is held here each year during Milan Design Week. It should be no surprise that the city is abuzz with creativity, especially in neighbourhoods like Brera and Tortona, rich with bold materials, luxurious textures, and some of the more avant-garde sides of European design. Milan’s showrooms, galleries, and concept stores are treasure troves of inspiration. Brands like Kartell, Poltrona Frau, and B&B Italia originated here, and their flagship locations are a must-see. You should be sure to check out the Triennale Milano Museum as well, regularly updating with cutting-edge design exhibitions.

Paris

Of course, if you’re talking about European design and more avant-garde sensitivities, then you really cannot skip Paris. If you’re looking for a timelessly elegant design sense, of ornate moldings, herringbone floors, and antique mirrors, but paired with sleek modern accents, then this is where you’re going to find it in spades. Explore design-centric areas like Le Marais or Saint-Germain-des-Prés, home to art galleries and boutique decor shops. Paris Design Week and Maison & Objet are major events that showcase the future of luxury interiors. Even taking a walk around to explore the city’s cafés, hotels, and apartments will reveal no shortage of charm, with the Parisian style just as obsessed with personality as it is with heritage, a truly unique mix that you won’t find anywhere else.

London

While classic British style is somewhat ornate and robust, London has taken a turn for the contemporary and the bold, as of late. Visit iconic stores like Liberty, Heals, or The Conran Shop, where tradition and modernity collide in beautifully curated interiors. The Design Museum and the V&A’s decorative arts collections offer deep insight into the UK’s design heritage. If you have to catch a train, leave your things in luggage storage in Victoria Station, like the beautiful Elizabeth Street with its elaborately dressed retail scene, or Eccleston Yards, where London’s contemporary arts and creative scene is alive and thriving, thanks to its population of brands focused on supporting local artists and wellness. During the London Design Festival, the city becomes a playground of global design talent, with installations across town.

New York

If you want to see something a little more eclectic and in your face, then the melting pot of global styles that is New York makes it one of the most inspirational cities you can visit. From SoHo’s industrial chic lofts to Brooklyn’s bohemian brownstones, NYC neighborhoods double as style catalogs. Explore design showrooms in the Flatiron District and visit the Museum of Art and Design for insight into decorative trends. Take the time to visit major design fairs like the International Contemporary Furniture Fair, if you have the chance, and you can see some of the trends that will start appearing in catalogues years down the line from their cultural inception. The city has a rich history of fostering emerging talent and countless independent designers who use it to reach the world stage with their ideas.

Barcelona

Spanish interior design is its own whole world, bold and yet comfortable as it is, but here you’ll find the Catalan spin, as modernistic as it is artistic. Antoni Gaudí’s architectural works, such as Casa Batlló and Casa Milà, showcase the city’s flair for organic forms and vibrant color. Explore and you will find plenty of decorative tilework, arched windows, as well as beautifully wrought ironwork that blends beautifully with more minimalist surroundings. The city’s modern boutiques and stylish cafés reflect a Mediterranean mix of texture, pattern, and light. Design in the city has a tight grip on the traditional styles that have become popular worldwide, but with innovation bringing passion, color, and personality.

Stockholm

Don’t think that one city is going to be enough to get your fill of Scandinavian design, offering clean, cozy, and sustainable living inspiration. Interiors in the Swedish capital embrace natural light, muted colors, and multipurpose functionality. Visit the Swedish Centre for Architecture and Design, or explore homeware boutiques in Södermalm. The city has a minimalist yet warm approach to living spaces that is best exemplified during Stockholm Design Week, but even exploring open houses and public spaces can help you see the wide range of potential in organic materials and simple design used more expressively than you might guess.

Melbourne

As one of the youngest cities on this list, Melbourne is fast becoming known as the latest powerhouse in global interior design, with a focus on extensive use of natural materials, especially local timber, as well as indoor-outdoor living and relaxed luxury. The climate practically necessitates that you’re able to find somewhere with shade and open spaces, so it’s a great place ot pick up inspiration for the outdoor livable spaces becoming more and more popular. In neighborhoods like Fitzroy and Collingwood, you’ll find boutique studios, concept stores, and cafés with meticulously curated interiors. If you’re looking for a style that’s easy-going while sophisticated, few people tend to have it nailed down with their open layouts and earthy palettes quite the designs of Melbourne.

The next time you’re planning a city break or have to travel for work, be sure to keep an eye out for the design inspiration you can find there. Before too long, you’ll be developing a style well beyond what magazines alone can teach you.