Unsure of your design or decorating style? It is easier to find than you think. It’s a matter of assessing your belongings and your tastes and asking a series of questions. Once you ‘find’ your style, does it best suit the actual style or architecture of your home? And, yes, it is okay to have several styles.
Take this easy interior design style quiz and follow these five steps to find your style so you can create a meaningful home you love. This quiz is a great way to figure out which style you might gravitate towards, so get inspired!
BLOG POST BY:
Carla Gentle with Design Realign, Inc.
HOW TO FIND YOUR INTERIOR DESIGN STYLE
If you’re unsure of where to start, THIS BLOG POST WILL PROVIDE YOU WITH A 5-STEP GUIDE TO FINDING YOUR STYLE based on assessing your current decor and considering your lifestyle and budget. Taking the time and finding your unique decorating style is key to creating a home that truly reflects your personality and makes your space feel more meaningful.
Our personal style is determined by our experiences, our culture, the personalities in our family, and on a basic level, our personal preferences. It can shape the emotion of how we feel in our home, even subconsciously. This explains why sometimes we feel a little uncomfortable in someone’s home. It can be their furnishings or wall color that throws things off and triggers negative emotions in us. This happens to me all the time. Between my design work and being a former Realtor, I have been in A LOT of homes. 😊
It’s Unlikely You Have Just One Design Style
It’s important to remember that when it comes to interior design, it’s unlikely you have just one style. Everyone’s taste is unique, and yours will likely be a combination of different looks and styles. THAT IS NORMAL, and it is important. It is good to have a mix of styles to make things interesting and keep the eye moving along in your space. The problem is people don’t know how to pull it all together.
PERFECT EXAMPLE OF MIXED STYLES
The decor to the right is boho style mixed with modern farmhouse with the neutral color palette and wood pallet box. However, the design itself is a mix of rustic with the natural elements of the wood chip wall and industrial with the metal beams.
They took the design of the room and filled it with a different style of decor. It works for boho style!
Photo: Anthropologie
COZY CONTEMPORARY ... A PEEK AT MY DESIGN STYLE
The picture above is the epitome of my tastes and style and can be best described as 'cozy contemporary'. This is through a combination of contemporary, modern farmhouse, and rustic design and decor. Below is a more detailed description of each style and my typical percentage of each.
My decor has always been a blend, but with a heavier emphasis on one particular style and throwing in pieces here and there from other styles. For example, for 20 years I was HEAVILY into contemporary, but then Joanna Gaines entered into our lives and homes through HGTV showcasing her impeccable talent designing with modern farmhouse style. Her popularity exploded, and I found myself drawn to every single one of her designs; and I started introducing some of those organic and rustic elements you find in farmhouse décor like wood (or metal) beams, shiplap, and more black. LOTS of wood, love the organic look and feel of bringing the outdoors in. And, of course, this includes greenery!! I also love industrial elements like metal and piping.
This is why I have recently labeled my style as ‘Cozy Contemporary’. Contemporary at the core with those warm, organic elements thrown in. Here is a quick glance and description of my design styles and what percentage I rate them for my personal style:
CONTEMPORARY (70%) interior design is a sleek and simple space. It has a lot of similarities to Mid-Century Modern, which I lean towards, and uses different features like open layouts and organic accessories to create an interesting and distinct space. Typical contemporary furniture shows exposed legs and clean lines to give a light and airy feel. I gravitate towards a neutral color palette with fun pops of color.
RUSTIC (20%) is a design aesthetic that celebrates the natural elements of the outdoors. This style focuses on incorporating natural materials, such as wood, stone, and metal, and incorporating them into the design of a home. Rustic style incorporates a lot of earth tones, and the overall feel of the design should be warm and inviting. This style is often associated with cabins, log homes, and farmhouses, but it can also be used to create a comfortable and stylish city home. People have the misperception that rustic does not mix with city life or modern style. Let me tell you, rustic mixes with EVERY style beautifully!
MODERN FARMHOUSE (10%) takes its connection to nature seriously. It’s essential to have raw wood elements and greenery that can be found in every room. Consequently, color palettes in modern farmhouse interiors are always on the neutral side. When you want to add that extra pop of color it’s important to pull from nature. For example, try adding deep navy, sage green, or burnt orange. Don't forget the common element of black metal window frames.
Interior Design Style Quiz
This is an excellent quiz. I encourage you to answer each question of this quiz thoughtfully for the most accurate results! However, don’t overthink it or spend too much time on any one question. Go with your gut and not with what you think you should select for your answers.
Once you take the quiz, that is not it. You need to learn the five steps below to assist in finding your decorating style. You can then begin to shop for furniture, accessories, and decor that reflect your style. HERE IS THE QUIZ.
ABOVE: MID CENTURY MODERN - I have always loved mid-century modern, and it is one of my favorite design styles. It is defined by having large sliding doors and picture windows left bare (shown above sofa) to emphasize the connection to nature. Mid-century modern interior design strikes a delicate balance between form and function, combining timeless elegance with forward-thinking innovation. Its enduring appeal combines a blend of retro charm and contemporary flair in homes.
ABOVE: Transitional (a mix of traditional and contemporary styles) on the left; and a mix of boho, modern farmhouse, rustic, and industrial styles on the right.
5 STEPS TO HELP YOU FIND YOUR DECORATING STYLE
These five easy steps, in combination with the quiz above, will help you identify and create the perfect style for your space. With these guidelines, you can take the guesswork out of decorating and create a space you’ll love.
1. Do a Visual Brainstorm.
For several years now, I have been very active on Pinterest, but I personally do it incognito. If you are like me, I don’t like nosy people; so if you aren’t currently on Pinterest, I suggest you open an account. You don’t have to use your name or even follow anyone; just start pinning boards and saving ideas of what you like to help you visualize what you want to do with your space.
2. Assess and Look Through Your Home at What You Already Own.
What do you have that you love? Make a collection of these items, because seeing them all together will help you see your style(s) and which one dominates. If you don’t have anything yet, don’t worry! Just skip this step.
You can also do the reverse. What do you have that you don’t like anymore or that doesn’t go with your style? There’s no reason to keep the things that you no longer enjoy displaying. That’s how clutter builds up! Either donate or sell it.
3. Ask These Questions and Consider Your Current and Desired Atmosphere.
How does your home currently feel? How do you want it to feel for yourself and others? Does it feel warm and welcoming? Cool and minimalist? Determine the current mood and the desired mood of your space.
Do you like the feel of organic with lots of plants and wood elements? If so, your style is not modern but could be boho, rustic, or farmhouse for example. Do you like clean lines but not minimalist or hardcore straight lines? If so, you sound like your style may be contemporary, but not modern. It is important to understand what the different styles entail, so you can identify your own or what décor is involved in your style.
4. Look to See What Your Closets Reveal.
You would be surprised, but sometimes it’s easier to figure out your home decor style by looking at the things you choose to wear. Do you tend to wear more neutrals? If so, you can be certain that your interior décor style is not eclectic. Looking through your closet can also help you in choosing a color palette in your home.
5. Find the Common Threads.
It is time to bring all of your things together! This would also be a good time to do a final assessment, scan, and ask yourself some additional questions, once you have completed steps 1-4 above:
Is there a particular color or texture that stands out?
Are you more into furniture with clean lines or curves?
Are you into the sleek look or do you prefer more ornate items?
Do you like to bring the outdoors in with lots of plants, wood, and organic items?
Are the spaces minimal or are there more 'things'?
IN CONCLUSION
IMPORTANT SUMMARY: Overall, you’re looking at the entire picture and trying to figure out what you like. There isn’t necessarily a need to put a name to it, as long as you know what you’re aiming for and it’s cohesive.
In the end, this post along with the quiz are meant to serve as a jumping off point to finding your decorating style. Once you have a better understanding of your style, focus the core of your décor around that style, while mixing other elements tied to other design styles that define you. Just make sure the other styles you incorporate are touches here and there.
As always, my main advice will be to fill your home with what you love, what’s meaningful, and what makes you happy. Just be sure to do it with style!
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