Decorating your living space is an exciting and creative process that allows you to transform a house into a home. However, with an overwhelming variety of design styles and trends available today, it can be challenging to pinpoint your personal decorating style. Whether you’re moving into a new place or simply looking to refresh your current space, finding your decorating style is crucial to create a cohesive and harmonious atmosphere. In this blog post, I will guide you through a step-by-step process to help you discover your unique decorating style.
Finding your decorating style involves looking for inspiration, identifying personal preferences, assessing existing belongings, defining a color palette, aligning with lifestyle, seeking consistency, and experimenting to create a cohesive and personalized space that reflects your unique personality.
1. Seek Inspiration
Start by immersing yourself in inspiration. Browse through interior design websites, magazines, and social media platforms like Pinterest and Instagram. Collect images and create mood boards of spaces that catch your eye.
Pay attention to and make a mental note of things that resonate with you in:
- Color schemes
- Patterns
- Furniture styles
- Overall aesthetics
Save Your Ideas to a Pinterest Board
A Pinterest board is a great tool to collect and keep track of all your ideas. Feel free to use my Pinterest boards as a starting point and save things that you like: LuminoOne on Pinterest.
This initial exploration will help you identify recurring elements that attract your attention.
2. Identify Your Style Preferences
Reflect on your personal preferences and lifestyle. Consider the activities you enjoy, your hobbies, and the atmosphere that makes you feel most comfortable. Do you prefer a cozy and warm environment, or are you drawn to minimalistic and clean spaces? Are you inspired by nature and organic materials, or do you prefer sleek and contemporary designs? Identifying these preferences will provide valuable insights into your decorating style.
Here is a list of most common home decor styles, which one do your feel most drawn to?
- Minimalistic: A preference for clean lines, simplicity, and a clutter-free environment.
- Bohemian: Embracing a free-spirited, eclectic style with vibrant colors, mixed patterns, and a relaxed, unconventional vibe.
- Contemporary: Favoring sleek, modern designs characterized by clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and a focus on functionality.
- Rustic: Appreciating the charm of natural elements, earthy tones, and a cozy, country-inspired aesthetic.
- Industrial: Embracing exposed brick, metal accents, and utilitarian elements for a raw and urban look.
- Traditional: Valuing classic and timeless designs, rich textures, and symmetrical arrangements.
- Scandinavian: Emphasizing simplicity, natural light, and a blend of functionality and aesthetics.
- Coastal: Drawn to a beachy and relaxed atmosphere with light colors, natural textures, and nautical elements.
- Vintage: Appreciating retro styles and incorporating elements from different eras to create a nostalgic and unique ambiance.
- Eclectic: Enjoying a mix-and-match approach, combining various styles, patterns, and eras to create a personalized and vibrant space.
3. Assess Your Current Belongings
Take a close look at your existing belongings, such as furniture, artwork, and accessories. Evaluate the pieces that you genuinely love and consider why you are drawn to them. Identify common themes, colors, and styles that emerge from your collection. These cherished items can serve as a foundation for your decorating style and guide your future design choices.
👉 Quick Tip: Take photos of your most loved items and add them to your Pinterest board!
4. Define Your Color Palette
Color plays a significant role in defining the atmosphere of a room. Consider the colors that evoke positive emotions and resonate with you. Do you prefer bold and vibrant hues, or are you more drawn to soft and muted tones?
Look for color inspiration in nature, art, and your favorite places. Create a color palette that reflects your personal style and can be used as a guide for selecting paint, furniture, and accessories.
👉 Quick Tip: Take a look at your closet and see what colors dominate your clothes choices – we are often drawn to our favorite colors when we buy clothes and looking in your closet can help you find your favorite color palette.
5. Embrace Your Lifestyle
Your decorating style should align with your lifestyle and practical needs. Consider how you use your space and the functionality that is important to you.
If you have young children or pets, durability and easy maintenance may be essential factors to consider. If you love to entertain, creating an inviting and open floor plan might be a priority.
By incorporating your lifestyle into your decorating style, you can ensure a space that is not only visually appealing but also functional and tailored to your needs.
6. Look For Consistency
As you continue to refine your style, look for consistencies in your design choices. Pay attention to recurring patterns, materials, and furniture silhouettes.
Whether it’s a preference for natural textures, clean lines, or a particular design era, identifying these consistencies will help you develop a cohesive and personalized style.
7. Experiment and Refine
Don’t be afraid to experiment and step out of your comfort zone. Try incorporating elements from different styles to create a unique blend that reflects your personality. Take small steps, such as adding new accessories, rearranging furniture, or painting an accent wall, to test out different aesthetics.
As you experiment, take note of what works and what doesn’t resonate with you. Refine your style based on these experiences and continue to evolve your space.
Conclusion:
Finding your decorating style is a creative journey that allows you to express your personality and create a space that truly feels like home. By exploring inspiration, identifying your preferences, assessing your belongings, defining a color palette, embracing your lifestyle, seeking consistency, and experimenting, you will gradually uncover your unique decorating.
Check out my shop for wall art ideas and inspiration:
Blue Botanical Wild Flower Wall Art, Watercolor Print | Framed Vertical Poster
A delicate wild flower print in a soothing watercolor palette, available in various sizes and frame colors.
