What is your interior decor style? Many people have told me that they don't know their interior decor style? After years of decorating, I have discovered that beauty really is in the eye of the beholder. What one person thinks is so beautiful another may find tacky.
After years of designing homes and decorating my own home I have found to focus on what makes you feel special and content in your home. This is the beginning of finding your interior decor style.
Let's dive into tips on finding your interior design style one that is unique to you and makes your home feel comfy and cozy.
TIPS FOR FINDING YOUR DECOR STYLE
Here are a few tips to find your style. People find they are one exact style or eclectic. There are no wrong answers when finding who you are. What is right is finding what makes you happy.
Gathering Inspirations
To begin start with some magazines or Pinterest. If you are more fond of decorating magazines, I have a post featuring the 10 favorite home decor magazines. Curious if your favorite is on the list?
Also, feel free to use my Pinterest page to search for ideas. I have many interior design boards to choose from.
Find some time to have fun and rip pages out or re-pin what you love. Don't think about what others think or how much it cost just have fun. And make notes on the pages of what you liked.
I can't tell you how many times I went back and couldn't remember why I chose that page.
Here are a few pictures I pulled of ideas I loved. I made notes on each one to give you an idea of what to write on them.
Analyze Your Favorites
Now look for common elements in your pictures. Look at colors, style, patterns. What are you gravitating to the most in these interiors? Are the fabrics rustic like burlap or fancy like velvet or natural materials. The textiles can tell you a lot about the space.
Also, look at the accessories and what style they are expressing.
Do you see it? There is always a common thread.
Write down what those common threads are. Are you a less is more person or lots of stuff person. Do you gravitate more towards relaxing, energized or a nostalgic!
The photos above reflect a relaxed, casual, less is more look with blue, white and cream.
Consider Your Lifestyle
Next, take a close look at your lifestyle. Do children or pets influence how you decorate? Think about how you use your space daily.
Your decor should reflect your way of living. For example, if reading is a passion, incorporate plenty of bookshelves or create cozy reading corners in your home.
Mood Board
Our next step is to create a mood board. If you’re confident in your style at this stage, you can skip this step, unless you’re gearing up to decorate—then I highly recommend making a mood board.
You can create one digitally using a program like Canva, or go the traditional route by cutting out or printing photos and arranging them on a board. Here’s a mood board I made for my niece’s bedroom.
She shared some photos of bedrooms she liked, and most of them were soft neutrals of off-white spaces with a warm and cozy vibe.
When we began her bedroom makeover, she wasn't sure about her home decor style, but by the time we finished filling up her mood board, it was clear that she loved boho, neutral color palette—with her own unique twist. She loved the warmth of all the rooms she showed me.
Home Decor Style Quiz
Another way to determine your decor style is with an interior design style quiz. They usually ask you lots of questions such as design preferences and then pops out your decor style. There are loads of them on the interior simply search in google or Pinterest to find one.
Experiment with Small Changes
Now that you have a clearer sense of what you love, it’s time to test it out by making small changes around your home.
Start with a specific area, like a cozy corner with a chair and side table. Swap out the decor on the table, and add a new throw pillow and blanket to the chair. Live with the changes for a few days and see how they feel.
It’s normal to not immediately fall in love with a new look, especially if you’ve had the same style for years. Give yourself time to adjust and discover if it’s truly right for you.
Sometimes, what we admire isn’t always what feels right in our space so by not investing in expensive larger furnishings will make this process less stressful.
Embrace the Unique
Don’t be afraid to mix different styles, textures, patterns, and colors. For example you can mix modern farmhouse with french country, vintage and antiques. If you blend styles it can build character in a room.
This is where your unique decorating style can really stand out. Remember, your home should reflect who you are, not just follow a single design trend.
Trends may come and go, but by staying true to yourself, your home’s style will remain timeless—unless you decide to change it up later. It’s perfectly okay to change your mind and refresh your space whenever you feel inspired.
Commit to Larger Pieces
Now that you’ve discovered what you love and identified your design style, it’s time to start decorating with larger, more significant furniture pieces such as upholstery furniture such as chairs and sofas, rugs, light fixtures and dining tables.
Keep paint swatches of your favorite colors handy for reference while shopping, and continue to refer back to your mood board to stay on track.
Also, selecting one item as an inspiration piece for a room can make decorating much easier. For example select a piece of artwork that you love and work around those colors and style.
Remember, there’s no need to buy everything at once. Rome wasn’t built in a day, and neither will your home. Taking it room by room allows you to enjoy the decorating process and savor the journey over time.
Final Thoughts
Discovering your decorating style is a journey that’s as unique as you are. Embrace the process, experiment with different ideas, and remember that your home should be a reflection of your personality and lifestyle.
Take your time, enjoy the creative process, and let your style evolve naturally. In the end, the most important thing is that your space feels like home to you.
Here is a list of decorating styles you can look up and learn more about. This will help you write on each page what is going on in the photo:
- Modern Farmhouse
- Farmhouse Style
- French Country
- English Country
- Mid-Century Modern
- Coastal Style
- Scandinavian Design
- Bohemian Design (also known as boho)
- Art Deco
- Country
- Traditional Interior Design Style
- Modern Design
- Hollywood Glam
- Cottagecore
And the list goes on and on.
Now that you have a list of your style. A great beginning is to start a decorating project.
Share your decor style in the comments! Let us know about the colors, decorations, and unique touches that make your design style truly yours.
Happy Decorating!
