Beachy, breathtaking, and luxurious – Miami is the ultimate in upscale coastal living. Yet, a lively cultural medley peeks through in these sleek and sophisticated spaces. That’s part of what makes this Floridian metropolis so alluring. Read on as we decode the Miami decorating style below!
What is Miami Decorating Style?
Sunny beaches and beautiful architecture aren’t the only things going for Miami. It’s also home to its own architectural style, dubbed MiMo, or Miami Modern. This unique take on contemporary modern design also features distinct Latin American references. As a result, it’s undeniably alluring.
Not sure if Miami Modern interior design is right for you? Take our Free Interior Design Style Quiz to help discover your perfect style today!
As such, a Miami decorating style follows suit. It’s a mingle of ultra-modern design, glam room ideas, and vibrant elements. All of these are set against a neutral backdrop, often characterized by glossy marble and bright white palettes. That said, a hint of nature shines through even the most luxe space.
Pro Tips for Pulling Off Miami Interior Design Style
One of the top Miami interior designers can certainly pull off the high-end decorating style. But there’s more than one way to get a swoon-worthy home. With a few tips, you’ll have the basics to unlocking your dreamy coastal oasis.
1. Pick a Light Base
A Miami interior design style often encompasses a neutral, mainly white, palette. White, off-white, and various shades of gray make a good base for walls and surfaces. That said, contemporary Miami homes are not all cool or austere.
Warmer wood and metal tones are also welcome! In the end, the overall color scheme should be airy and light but also layered to encourage dimension and depth.
Our Picks
Here are a few of our favorite pieces that build that airy, light-toned base while keeping the layered depth Miami calls for.
- Off-white modular sections on the Fraser sectional let you configure the seating to the room’s layout, keeping the palette neutral and the footprint flexible.
- The Faith trunk by Four Hands offers concealed storage with a light-toned finish that holds its place in a white-on-white Miami living room.
- Eichholtz stretches the Pioneer chaise into a long, low upholstered form that reads as relaxed luxury against a bright, airy backdrop.
2. Add Smooth & Sleek Surfaces
New Miami properties diversify their color and texture use, but polished surfaces remain. Marble is a favorite, but other stones are also gaining popularity with the global shift toward more rustic, organic interiors. Traditional and local options are among the best-loved options in Miami furniture stores. Go for stone countertops or marble accents, like fruit bowls or vases.
Our Picks
Polished and stone-based, the picks below bring that signature texture into the room.
- Crystal facets on the Reynolds lamp by Port 68 catch and scatter light across polished surfaces nearby, reinforcing the reflective quality Miami interiors depend on.
- A marble top on a slim metal frame gives the Turino end table the kind of cool, hard-surface presence that anchors a Miami living room beside upholstered seating.
- White marble sits on a gold metal base in the Teton console, pairing two of the most characteristic Miami materials in a single hallway or living room piece.
3. Add Flora One Way or Another
Palm trees are almost emblematic of Florida. A home encompassed in a grove of palm trees may be ideal, but it’s not always possible. The good news is you can evoke the easy Miami beach vibe in your interior design style.
Take the White Lotus resort as an inspiration. If possible, go big with massive potted indoor palms. They also work well in a double-volume great room. Alternatively, create a feature wall with a monochromatic, tasteful palm-themed wallpaper.
Our Picks
Whether you go for a towering potted palm or a tropical print, these finds capture that easy Miami greenery.
- The Fabricut Floral Wallpaper brings botanical density to a feature wall, establishing the tropical layer that Miami interiors use to offset all that white and marble.
- Brass leaves rise from a black granite base on the Tropical Grande floor lamp as a sculptural interpretation of palm fronds.
- The faux Pachira Money Tree fills a corner with vertical green and handles the indoor environment year-round.
4. Highlight Culture
Miami is a cultural melting pot. It is home to Hispanic, African American, Jewish American, Caribbean, Haitian, Asian Pacific heritage, and many more! As a result, these upscale glam interiors also have a one-of-a-kind identity. So be sure to add global flair to your Miami decorating style too! Think pottery, patterns, and bold colors – but in small doses.
Our Picks
Each one adds a dose of global flair used in measured amounts.
- Carved wood detailing on the Balinese end table by Surya brings Southeast Asian craft into a Miami room.
- Stitched brown leather on the Posta dining chair by Moe’s carries a handworked quality that references legendary Italian style.
- Port 68 casts the Dragon Bookends in a non-skid base carry enough sculptural detail to read as decorative objects on a shelf.
5. Sprinkle on Neon Bright
Whether royal purple or fire-y red, a pop of color is a must. That said, a touch of color goes a long way in a light color scheme. Embrace the Miami decorating style with one or two accent pillows or chairs in your favorite vivid hue. It will certainly elevate the look and feel of the interior.
Our Picks
Saturated and lively, the picks below deliver that single jolt of color a light Miami scheme thrives on.
- A saturated pattern on the Miranda accent pillow by Surya delivers a concentrated color hit to a neutral sofa or armchair at 18-inch scale.
- The tangled, abstract form of the Tangle Filler sculpture by Cyan Design introduces a bright accent at shelf or console scale.
- Bold color across a round field makes the Evergreen handmade rug the single largest color statement in a room.
6. Maximize Indoor-Outdoor Living
A sleek Miami-style house interior may be luxe, but it also boasts a harmonious outdoor-indoor feeling. These spaces, as a result, have an undeniable magnetism and are surprisingly inviting. Far from stark, these interiors feel alive. And its connection to nature is to thank for the welcoming air.
You can extend the outdoor reach by opting for grand-scale windows and organic fibers with a lovely raw texture. If you have an outdoor area, make the most of it!
Our Picks
These finds blur the line between inside and out through natural fibers and raw, organic texture.
- The Branford outdoor chair by Four Hands is built for weather exposure with materials that transition visually from a covered patio to the interior seating area.
- A flat-weave construction on the Chasen outdoor rug by Four Hands handles foot traffic and moisture, defining the outdoor seating zone the way an indoor rug would.
- Cream upholstery on the Sylvie outdoor swivel dining chair by Moe’s keeps the outdoor palette consistent with the light indoor base.
7. Be Inspired by the Coast
Miami-inspired décor often echoes seaside hues. Opt for calming and subtle motifs. Watercolor splashes fading into white or sandy tones are neutral to suit the theme of a modern space but still enough to evoke the coastal air.
Our Picks
Each one echoes seaside hues in the soft, watercolor tones that suit a modern coastal space.
- Azure blue glass with a textured fringe detail on the Fringe Vase by Global Views brings coastal color to a console or coffee table in a single object.
- Tropical patterning on the Grenada euro sham by Eastern Accents layers coastal imagery into the bed at pillow scale, sitting behind smaller accent cushions.
- A slipcovered frame on the Delray swivel chair by Four Hands carries the relaxed, beachy quality Miami coastal rooms are built around, and the slipcover pulls off for seasonal cleaning.
8. Welcome Eclectic
Miami is well known for its designer buildings. In fact, from South Beach to Little Havana and the Art Deco district, colors and striking silhouettes take precedence. So, incorporating different styles with Miami-inspired décor is cardinal. Let the city prompt you to use more iconic modern themes and patterns in unexpected places – like a bed base or kitchen backsplash.
Our Picks
Mixing eras and silhouettes, the picks below bring that unexpected Miami edge into everyday pieces.
- Peacock-patterned fabric on the Knuffle by Eastern Accents introduces bold color and an exotic motif to upholstered pieces or window treatments.
- A glass top on a sculptural base gives the Wilmette end table by Port 68 the kind of unexpected form that eclectic Miami interiors thrive on.
- Bouclé faux wool on the Gigi chair by Regina Andrew brings a textural contrast to a room already mixing metallic, marble, and leather surfaces.
9. Add Fun, Quirky Decor
Miami interiors show its exclusive and luxurious decorating style can be fun too. Of course, living in paradise with an everlasting summer has something to do with it. Capture the playfulness of beach days in your interior with fun Miami décor. This can mean artwork, sculptures, or even figurines – whatever puts a smile on your face.
Our Picks
Playful and unexpected pieces capture the lighthearted side of Miami’s luxe look.
- Brass palm leaves on a black granite base make the Tropical floor lamp by Currey and Company a sculptural conversation piece that happens to light the room.
- Mind the Gap prints floating objects across the Nouvelle Pop Flying Objects wallpaper in a surrealist composition that turns an accent wall into a talking point.
- The Tamarin bookends by Villa & House use a monkey figurine form that adds playful personality to a shelf or console, keeping the Miami interior from taking itself too seriously.
10. Be Bold with Artwork
Bigger is best when it comes to artwork in Miami. Whatever theme or style you prefer, go all out with one statement piece. It will make for a showstopper entryway or focal point in a lounge design. That said, practicing moderation is a good idea. A bold Miami-inspired décor piece will make a greater impact, especially set in a neat color scheme, than many bits and bobs.
Our Picks
Here are a few statement pieces scaled to anchor a wall the way Miami artwork is meant to.
- Amanda Snyder’s California, Aug. 1970 print fills a wall with a single large-scale image rooted in the warm, sun-bleached palette Miami rooms gravitate toward.
- The Surya Wall Decor piece at 48 by 72 inches commands a feature wall on its own, scaled to the oversized artwork Miami interiors use as focal points.
- Caroline Pinney’s Blue Eyed Snake Woman by Four Hands brings a figurative, slightly provocative image and the edge that keeps a glam interior from feeling predictable.
11. Think Glossy
Metallic finishes and reflective surfaces provide a sense of glam and opulence in these coastal interiors. Try something similar at home with metallic or shimmery side tables or Miami-inspired décor – think luxe mirror or gold punched side table.
Our Picks
Reflective and metallic, the picks below add that final layer of glam and shine.
- Mirrored door panels on the Ophelia accent cabinet by Worlds Away reflect the room’s light and geometry, turning a storage piece into a glam surface.
- The Laurier mirrored accent table by Uttermost multiplies ambient light at side-table height, sitting beside a sofa or bed where the reflective surface catches lamps and candles.
- Faux snakeskin texture on the Valentina pillow by Eastern Accents adds a glossy, exotic surface to seating at arm’s reach.
Let’s start your Miami design!
If you want an airy, plush Miami-inspired interior, Decorilla can help! Schedule a Free Interior Design Consultation to start your dream design today!
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