The top 15 countries inspiring interior design

New research by Secret Linen Store has cross-referenced Instagram, TikTok and Pinterest data with Google search data to see where around the world is inspiring our interior design trends the most.

Taking inspiration for decorating our home from other countries isn’t new; incorporating features of Asian décor were a common sight in the 1990s, with Chinese calligraphy prints on fabrics and posters, divider screens in living rooms and Buddha statues as far as the eye could see. As we transitioned into the 2000s, Scandi and hygge décor dominated our homes.

The data shows we’ll continue to take inspiration from other country’s décor for years to come, with over 25,000 Google searches for country-inspired décor occurring each month.
With 2022 coming to an end, Secret Linen Store compared online and social data to find out which countries are set to inspire décor trends the most in the next decade.

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The research combined the number of TikTok views, Instagram hashtags, Google searches and Pinterest boards related to the interior design of over 150 countries.

Japan came out on top as the most popular international inspiration, with a combined score of over two million, thanks to ‘Japanese interiors’ garnering over 2.1 million TikTok views, 998 Pinterest boards and 2 900 monthly global Google searches.

Beloved for its clean and simple aesthetic, Japanese interiors are about embracing harmony in your home, adopting neutral colour palettes and using natural materials. Japan is at the root of one of the newest popular interiors trends, which has been labelled the Japandi aesthetic. Combining the styles of Japanese and Scandinavian interior design, the hashtag #Japandi has had over 60 million views on TikTok, showing that there is a new generational interest in Japanese interior design.

France ranks in second place for inspiring our interior décor, showing a desire to incorporate Parisian romance into our homes. With shows like Netflix’s Emily In Paris debuting beautifully chic offices and social spaces, it’s clear that the French style continues to captivate the imagination of interior lovers.

Denmark rounds out the top three countries for international interior inspiration. The second European country to appear at the top of the rankings, Denmark represents people’s enduring interest in Scandinavian design, with over 1.7 million online searches and social shares for 'Danish interiors'.

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One of America’s states, California, makes the global top ten with South America’s Brazil and Mexico also scoring highly. Morocco’s opulent styling ranks in ninth with Sweden coming in tenth.

Japan: One half of the inspiration for the emerging design trend Japandi, (the other half being Scandinavian design), Japanese interior style has serene Minimalism at its heart and focuses on the balance between inside and outside, making beautiful use of neutral colours and natural materials; it’s all about avoiding ‘noisy’ design, making it the perfect inspiration for ‘Insta-worthy’ homes.

France: The French are famous for their bold fashion choices and daring art scene, and French décor is no different. If you’re looking to inject a bit of fun into your home, checking out French-inspired interior design is the way to go. Championing an anti-décor approach, French styling is about being playful with your colours and decorating your home in a way that is simply enjoyable to you, while looking for eclectic, second-hand pieces and inspiration wherever you can find it.

Denmark: With the Scandinavian hygge concept rooted at its core, Danish interior design is super popular on TikTok at the moment, particularly its use of pastels. If designing your home with quiet nooks for privacy, whilst embracing open, flexible space for socialising is your scene, Danish décor will inspire you no end. It focuses on practicality and versatile spaces to make the most of your surroundings; along with introducing some playfulness through pastel hues.

Brazil: Known for its bustling lifestyle and vibrant carnival, the homes of Brazil mirror its lively atmosphere with a focus on socialisation spaces and big pops of colour. Being bold is key, with bright reds, yellows and oranges embodying Brazilian design. And no Brazilian home would be complete without a colourful fun outdoor terrace to keep the party going.

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Mexico: Mexican interiors are all about embracing your heritage, with hand-crafted and locally sourced pieces incorporated into home design as a way to celebrate your home country. To replicate Mexican design, choose warm colours like reds, oranges and browns across your walls and prints, as well as introducing terracotta features through accessories such as pots, vases and tiles.

Molly Freshwater, Co-founder of Secret Linen Store, comments: “We hold the places we’ve visited with family and friends close to our hearts, and naturally the sights and scenes we see across the world inspire us in how we design our spaces at home. The patterns, colours and furniture that we see in international interiors are so evocative of a time and place. By incorporating them into how we style our homes it helps us to either relive treasured memories or dream of new exciting adventures.

It’s easy to see why Japan’s interior design came out top, as its principles align to how so many of us want our houses to be – light, airy and simple with no clutter. It’s exciting to see a contrast of designs inspiring people, with the heady colours and patterns of Morrocco and Mexico also making the top ten.”

To see the full top twenty list of countries inspiring international design, with more details and tips on how to achieve the top countries’ aesthetics visit: secretlinenstore.com.

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