How to Find Your Home Decorating Personal Style

We live in a world where the latest trends and popular shopping choices are shoved into our face daily, but is that really you and what you want? Let’s talk about how to find your home decorating personal style so you can create a space that you truly love.

Defining our personal taste

Let me start by saying, I’ve never been a fan of following the herd. When a particular style becomes popular, I don’t always run to it.

But as I’ve lived and worked around others the last three decades plus, I have noticed many are split on this. Some race to grab the newest thing being shared on social media. Others never bother to make any changes toward an updated personal decorating style at all.

Where lies the happy medium? You know, the one that would have you living in a home that didn’t go out of style every few years? Or the place that helped define you really living in your space instead of “living with it”?

The truth is, we all change. Time simply does that for us. Sure, would I love my young, non-wrinkled healthy body again? But needing to give up the wisdom I have accrued over the years? Mmmm, a few extra pounds aside, I’ll stay where I am thank you.

Time has made me who and what I am today, and for the most part, I’m okay with that.  I know myself, and understand my life’s needs and desires. And I feel like that is the beginning to bringing that confidence into our home style as well.

Change is good

Time changes everything, and so should our own home be made to fit who we are and how we live today. Too many live in a time capsule that doesn’t work for them now.

Finding your personal style is a bit about discovering what truly resonates with you and creating a great place to live that reflects your individuality and unique style.

In the past, I have had a few ask me “what if I don’t really have my own personal style?” and my answer is always (and forever will be) YES, you do! Your style is YOU. So let’s talk about how we can discover and define our home’s style and maybe learn a bit about ourselves along the way.

Discovering your true personal style

I wouldn’t really call this a “home decor style quiz” as much as I would say, let’s engage in a bit of design therapy.

When you can define what it is you really want, it will be easier to translate what is truly needed and make any design process part of your classic style…the style of YOU. One that is personal and not just the latest trend.

Home is more than a physical space

A house is four walls, but a home is more than that physical space. A home is the backdrop to your life. It is the set design to our life’s movie and allows us to live in a way that will be comfortable or not. So it’s important to ask yourself some questions to discover what you want and how to get it!

Start with a bit of self reflection. Here are a few prompts to ponder. Be completely truthful, and even take some notes. This will help you in that quest for creating a true living space.

• What is your ‘stuff’ situation? Are you a minimalist or a maximalist or somewhere in between?
• Who lives in the space and how do you spend time at home?
• How do you want your rooms to feel? Write down adjectives.
• Are you more focused on design elements or only being comfortable? Although you can be both. How you have your space feel directly relates to what it can and will look like.

Think about what you love

I’m assuming that you are at the point in life where you have a bit of worldly possessions. But even if you’re not there yet, it’s time to do some pondering again. 

• What items do you have that are meaningful to you? If they are “things” or furniture pieces like sentimental family heirlooms, then they will need a place to be to help you create a style you love. Or maybe they are items like musical instruments that will drive you to create a space to do what you love. These will be the things that help you define your own style.
• What types of rooms are you continually drawn to? Does contemporary style strike your fancy or do you love the rich colors and classic feeling found in a traditional style. We are not trying to define any interior design styles for you, but use them as your guide to create the best version of the style that is ultimately YOU. Not the boring you, but the vibrant alive one. We all have many sides. You pick your favorite.
• What textures and natural materials would you be comfortable living around?
• Do you have collections that you want seen?

Search for what you think is beautiful

Now is the time to do a bit of homework. This is the time that you are looking to be inspired.

I have found the best ways to discover what you truly want are to observe different home decor styles, but never copy any. There will be common elements you are drawn to, and this is what you want to discover.

A great way to keep track of these are to write them down, but don’t take pictures yet. Taking photos sometimes makes us think that we have to copy that style, rather than incorporate the feeling it first brought to us.

Remember, the overall style you are looking to achieve is the best version of YOU and not an interior style that was copied from anyone else. Try gathering some insights in this way:

• Visit local shops or showrooms to experience the feeling within that space. Note textures, colors, architectural features and keep track of things that speak to you.
• Buy and devour print magazines and read the stories! Find out what made people create their spaces and why they made some choices. Check out design books from the library and do the same. Read the stories. Personal style is more about the why than the what.
• Read home decor blogs (like this one – thank you) frequently so you can see the thought process that went behind decisions that you like.
• Good design will always be just good design. Even if it isn’t your style. Note ideas that you like that can be incorporated into a version for you and your style.

Get inspired

I love making an actual mood board where I can tack up images, swatches, samples, and inspiring graphics so I can create an eclectic style that is me.

Don’t worry about searching for traditional interiors as much as finding the visual inspiration of single items that will add to the mood you want. Pull things together to get inspired and let it lead you to your own path.

• Cruise through Pinterest and make boards that pinpoint the different elements you are drawn to. Check out my boards to see how you can define your personal preferences within your focused board titles.
• Grab paint swatches, fabric samples, and other items that will inspire you to curate the look you love.
• Gather pictures of anything that brings you joy. A meadow, a sunset, a gorgeous couture gown. Whatever curls your toes is a good thing so take a picture of it to inspire a color scheme, clean lines or a shape, and much more.

Be realistic with your budget

First let me say, style has very little to do with money. If you’re not old like me and never saw the 80s movie “Pretty in Pink” starring Molly Ringwald, then it’s time you take a break and go find it.

Also, creating a home full of personal style DOES NOT happen in a weekend. I know HGTV has made you think that you can have the living room of your dreams over a long weekend, but truthfully, the best style takes a long time.

You can buy the right color sofa and pair it with your favorite antique furniture, but pulling it all together into a cohesive look that exudes personal style and functions beautifully takes some time.

If you don’t know what you want yet, I’d suggest you set your budget for some paint and give yourself a blank slate. I’d rather live with white walls and some natural light while I take my time discovering how I want to live and use my space.

As you discover your needs you can then begin choosing those colors that make your soul sing. And please note, I did mean to use the word COLOR! No one ever got excited about bland. You are too good to live a sad beige life!

When the time is right, set a realistic budget for what you want. Learn a useful skill in creating the home you want, and make it happen. You can do this!

You are the only one stopping you. Learn a bit of DIY and upcycling and you can be on your way to your own personal style.

Try some new things

When you are discovering yourself and how you want to live, you may just find that you have a bit of a wild side. Or maybe not. Either way, think outside the box and experiment with bold colors or natural elements. Even a more subdued neutral color palette can incorporate patterns and textures.

Search the flea market and find that thing that you don’t want to go home without. Quit asking yourself where you will put it. If you love it, I promise you, you will find a place. Think outside the box.

The easiest way to allow others in your home to experiment with their own spaces is with paint. Paint and decluttering (or restyling) will make the biggest changes to your space and allow you the backdrop to create a space that is a true reflection of your own personal style.

Function first, then beauty

As a decorator, when working with a client, I generally go to the husband first (only because his requests are usually a very short list compared to the wife). I often hear words like “comfortable” and hear about a specific task that needs to be done in a certain area, not to mention budget.

I want to hear about the basic function needed before we fine tune and add the stuff that matters, along with making everything pleasant to look at. Your home should first be practical for who lives there and for your lifestyle. If you can’t function properly in a space, it will never feel like you.

You will also need proper storage, lighting, and seating for all you want to do and for all who reside there, pets included. This allows you to not fight against the grain of everyday life. That doesn’t mean that these practical solutions for living have to be boring. Quite the contrary!

But first define your function, and then make beautiful choices as a solution.

Evolve your space as you do

Life is moving at a crazy speed these days, and time changes your circumstances. Continue to reevaluate your own space, and don’t be afraid to change as you go.

There should be NO ROOM in your house that nobody ever uses, unless you are living in a mansion and can readily afford wasted space. Most of us cannot.

Think of new ways to use your space so it can be used for how you live NOW. Update pieces of furniture as needed, and declutter storage space so it can function properly. You won’t always have young children, or whatever the circumstances of your living needs.

Evolve as time goes by and make your space work for what is needed most in your current life.

Trust yourself

The most important thing I can share with you about defining your personal style is to trust yourself. You know you and your families needs the best. Your goal is to create a space that will bring you peace and happiness at home.

Surround yourself with things you love (photos, artwork, quilts made by Grandma, treasures gathered through life’s journey, etc.). This will not be something that happens overnight. It can be a lovely process where the true reflection of you and your philosophy on living can shine. 

Write down some adjectives that are meaningful to you on how you want your home to feel. Be true and realistic. Make goals to get where you want to be.

If you envision a cozy space full of joyful laughter and good smells wafting from the kitchen then you must visualize how to get there. Are you actually a cook? If not, sign up for some cooking classes. If you don’t have peace in your home, then maybe it’s time to address somethings in therapy. Then come to a place that the feeling you want in your space can be a reality in your head space as well. 

The point is, trust yourself enough to know what you want, then make a plan to make it happen. I know that sounds simplistic, but if you aren’t able to define what you want for your home then you will never be able to get it.

You might continue to follow the current trends, never stopping to think if it really serves your purpose. There is an ultimate, and some of it will always be obtainable if you want to work for it, but you must define it first.

I may say I’d love an oceanfront mansion on Cape Cod. But I know I never will live in Massachusetts and don’t have the budget for that frivolity. But there are elements of that which can be incorporated into my reality. When I trust myself enough to really define what is important to live with, then I can focus on getting those things.

Be your own interior designer

The best (and worst sometimes, hahaha) design clients are the people I know the best…my family. I can guide my children to make choices for their homes (if asked) because I know them, love them, and most importantly know their needs.

When designing for ourselves, I let the house guide me to what it wants. Because an industrial style is going to go against the grain of a french chateau. I can then come up with the color schemes, open spaces, storage, and style of living needed to have us be comfortable and show who we are.

You can do the same. No designer will ever know you as well as you know you. Sure, you can receive guidance on the best shade of a color for the light and space it will go in. But only you really know how you want it to feel.

Come up with your “buzzword” for your home and let it guide you when you have to make a decision about something. Currently I have been working with a client on a full house renovation and her word has been “seamless”. Each time we have come up against the next step and have a choice, we can usually see which one falls under that guide of seamless that she desires.

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Find Your Home Decorating Personal Style

When you evaluate, put it all together, and discover what you really need, your personal style will emerge. Remember, you can still be practical while being stylish. You never have to be boring. Life is too short to play it safe.

If you’d like to get inspired about more stuff for your home, let’s hang out more. Follow along on these platforms. Tell me in the comments, what do you feel brings your personal style to your space?

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