Decorating
Myers-Briggs: Decorating for Your ENFJ and INFJ Personality
Let your home interiors reflect and complement your Myers-Briggs personality type
In this second part of our ongoing series on decorating for your MBTI personality type, let’s look at:
The ENFJ Type: You’re a natural leader and motivator. People look to you for guidance, and you step up to the plate effortlessly. As a leader, you listen to people’s problems and lend a willing ear to dissenting opinions because you believe in working together to reach a higher goal. Sometimes, though, you may take on too many of others’ problems and spread yourself a little too thin emotionally. When this happens, you need space to think.
The INFJ Type: You’re soft-spoken, but strong-willed – though not many people get to see that side of you, as you tend to be the quiet observer in social gatherings. The ability to listen is one of your biggest advantages, and people often seek your counsel. The friendships you choose to form and cultivate are deep, strong bonds that last a lifetime; superficial interactions can exhaust you easily. Having privacy of space to retreat into is very important to you, as is order and organisation in your domain.
Check out these decorating tips for these personality types.
The ENFJ Type: You’re a natural leader and motivator. People look to you for guidance, and you step up to the plate effortlessly. As a leader, you listen to people’s problems and lend a willing ear to dissenting opinions because you believe in working together to reach a higher goal. Sometimes, though, you may take on too many of others’ problems and spread yourself a little too thin emotionally. When this happens, you need space to think.
The INFJ Type: You’re soft-spoken, but strong-willed – though not many people get to see that side of you, as you tend to be the quiet observer in social gatherings. The ability to listen is one of your biggest advantages, and people often seek your counsel. The friendships you choose to form and cultivate are deep, strong bonds that last a lifetime; superficial interactions can exhaust you easily. Having privacy of space to retreat into is very important to you, as is order and organisation in your domain.
Check out these decorating tips for these personality types.
Drawer organisers are also crucial for desk organisation, and prevent those bits and bobs from rolling all over the place. You can get separate compartments for your needs, or even use a cutlery tray. It helps to keep the measurements of your drawers on a note in your phone, so that you can look them up when you’re shopping, or when you stumble across a beautiful organiser.
Organisers don’t all have to be the exact same type, however. A collection of beautiful old wooden boxes works well as a whole, or even patterned boxes. For small items you reach for frequently, such as paper clips or pens, it may be best to keep them in a clear container where they are easily visible.
Opaque compartments keep the clutter away behind a smooth facade, but it can be tough to find what you need. This is easily solved with labels – chalk on any matt, dark surface works well, or get chalkboard sticker-labels that you can change any time.
Browse more inspiring home offices
Browse more inspiring home offices
Keep your work and rest areas separate
Often, the distinction between work and personal life can be blurred for many NFJs, who carry thoughts and emotions over to both sides. It can be hard for them to truly stop working and take a much-needed rest, as they’re mentally still preoccupied with work.
To prevent this, keep work out of the bedroom – preferably in a separate study. Physically transiting through these areas helps you to reset your focus.
Often, the distinction between work and personal life can be blurred for many NFJs, who carry thoughts and emotions over to both sides. It can be hard for them to truly stop working and take a much-needed rest, as they’re mentally still preoccupied with work.
To prevent this, keep work out of the bedroom – preferably in a separate study. Physically transiting through these areas helps you to reset your focus.
If you don’t have a separate study, consider carving out a space in your bedroom either with a sliding door or curtain. A concealed sliding door like this one gives you privacy and focus while working, but also opens up for a more expansive space when needed.
Concealing the desk behind a partition helps to keep work out of sight – and out of mind – when resting. You can also consider using stacked bookshelves, or even your wardrobe, as an alternative to a wall partition.
See more grey-toned bedrooms
See more grey-toned bedrooms
If all you need is just a small space for occasional work, consider a concealed nook behind a curtain – with its own task lighting, of course. In these cases where space is tight, make full use of vertical space by using shelves and hooks to store your things.
Seating should be unobtrusive – an office chair would look out of place in this situation. Choose a transparent acrylic chair, like the Ghost chair, or even a stool that can be tucked under the desk, if you don’t need to sit for long periods of time.
Seating should be unobtrusive – an office chair would look out of place in this situation. Choose a transparent acrylic chair, like the Ghost chair, or even a stool that can be tucked under the desk, if you don’t need to sit for long periods of time.
A creative solution for low-frequency work is to have a pull-out desk from a set of drawers or a platform, as in this picture. A lightweight reading chair can be pulled up when needed, and everything can be put back into place afterwards.
Make your office bedroom combo work
Make your office bedroom combo work
Use a soothing palette in the bedroom
Possibly the most important room in the house to an NFJ type – particularly to INFJs – the bedroom is a haven from the outside world.
Keep the main bedroom colours neutral and soft – but keep it from looking too cold by adding touchable textures, such as a pile rug or a few cushions.
Possibly the most important room in the house to an NFJ type – particularly to INFJs – the bedroom is a haven from the outside world.
Keep the main bedroom colours neutral and soft – but keep it from looking too cold by adding touchable textures, such as a pile rug or a few cushions.
Deeper hues lend a bedroom an air of hush and tranquility, but can sometimes make the room look too dark. To avoid this, ensure there’s plenty of natural sunlight by using lighter curtains, and balance the look with some metallic accents, like a copper lamp. Its reflective quality bounces some light around the room, and the tone injects warmth.
White curtains immediately introduce a breezy vibe into a room, allowing plenty of natural light through. They don’t have to come at the expense of your privacy, though – consider a thicker layer over sheers, so you have the option of a barrier from the outside world without blocking out the light.
Have a dedicated hidden storage space for cleaning supplies
While the NFJ type likes neatness and organisation, seeing your cleaning supplies piled in a corner can be an eyesore. Opt for a hidden storage space where you can tuck away your vacuum cleaner and mop; a shelving system also provides a place to store those bottles of cleaning fluids. A slim bathroom caddy, attached to the inside of the door, is another good way to maximise vertical space for small items.
While the NFJ type likes neatness and organisation, seeing your cleaning supplies piled in a corner can be an eyesore. Opt for a hidden storage space where you can tuck away your vacuum cleaner and mop; a shelving system also provides a place to store those bottles of cleaning fluids. A slim bathroom caddy, attached to the inside of the door, is another good way to maximise vertical space for small items.
Even the slimmest of cabinets can be put to good use, like this one in the kitchen. A holder helps to keep brooms and mops in check, and off the floor.
If you have the luxury of space, consider having a larger storage option that can house your washer and dryer – as well as the bottles and boxes of detergent and fabric softener. This one-stop cleaning solution lets you tuck absolutely everything out of sight when guests arrive.
Where can I hide my laundry?
Where can I hide my laundry?
Keep your living space cosy
The idea of having a nice evening, for NFJ types, often involves a quiet, intimate setting – while they do enjoy the occasional night out on the town, they often prefer sharing a drink and meaningful conversation with close friends in the comfort of home.
Create a cosy, intimate atmosphere in the living space with informal seating options such as floor cushions, and touchable textures like throw rugs – all the better for comfortable heart-to-heart sessions.
The idea of having a nice evening, for NFJ types, often involves a quiet, intimate setting – while they do enjoy the occasional night out on the town, they often prefer sharing a drink and meaningful conversation with close friends in the comfort of home.
Create a cosy, intimate atmosphere in the living space with informal seating options such as floor cushions, and touchable textures like throw rugs – all the better for comfortable heart-to-heart sessions.
Another way to create a more relaxed social setting is adding plants and natural materials like wood. Here, they help to soften the sleek lines and chrome accents of the room.
Ambient lighting is also crucial in creating a cosy atmosphere. Consider adding multiple lighting options so you can adjust or dim as needed – a table lamp or group of candles, for instance, instantly creates the perfect setting for a relaxed evening in with a bottle of wine and great conversation.
Tell us
Are you an INFJ or ENFJ? What are your tips for decorating? Share with us in the comments!
More
Decorating for your INFP and ENFP personality
Tell us
Are you an INFJ or ENFJ? What are your tips for decorating? Share with us in the comments!
More
Decorating for your INFP and ENFP personality
Organisation is very important to the NFJ type, even though they struggle with mess like everyone else. Although they theoretically can work with piles of paper and cups of cold coffee on their desk, it’s very hard for them to focus properly or be at peace. Setting up a proper system for their desk, with an inbox and folders with actionable labels to sort out all that paper, is essential. The NFJ must also learn to be ruthless when triaging paper: if the information’s not needed, or can be found online, recycle it. Or if it’s necessary, scan it beforehand.
One type of paper the sentimental NFJ can’t bear to throw away, though, is mementoes: notes from friends, letters, children’s drawings. The NFJ values emotional connection deeply, and where they are normally efficient at processing paper, they may let these pile up over time. The solution to this is to create a dedicated board for these; while providing a space to display these mementoes, it also keeps them off your desk.