The Path to Finding Your Decorating Direction
Need help figuring out your interior decorating style? Here are 8 simple tips to put you on the right path
Laura Gaskill
22 February 2016
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance checklist. My favorite pieces to write center around the emotional aspects of home and savoring life's simple pleasures. Decluttering course + discount for Houzzers: https://www.lauragaskill.com/welcome-houzzers
Houzz Contributor. I cover decorating ideas, Houzz tours & the monthly home maintenance... More
Knowing what you love (and what you don’t) is the first step in creating a home you love spending time in. Instead of starting out with formal names of decorating styles, which can be a bit restrictive, it often helps to first do some pondering about what you love and are drawn to in general. Once you’ve gathered enough information, you can look over your findings and come up with a creative name for the style that’s all yours – pulling features from different looks is what makes a place your own.
1. Notice your long-term preferences
Do you still love some of the same things you did as a kid? Many of us do, and these long-term preferences are extremely important to pay attention to. For instance, when I was a child I loved blue and white, and surrounding myself with these colours still feels the most authentically me.
ASK YOURSELF: What colours, objects, materials or themes did you love when you were a kid? Do any of these still resonate with you today?
Do you still love some of the same things you did as a kid? Many of us do, and these long-term preferences are extremely important to pay attention to. For instance, when I was a child I loved blue and white, and surrounding myself with these colours still feels the most authentically me.
ASK YOURSELF: What colours, objects, materials or themes did you love when you were a kid? Do any of these still resonate with you today?
2. Consider the mood you want to create
Thinking about how you want to feel at home is a way of approaching the style question from the inside out. First imagine what mood you’d love to create, then work backward, imagining what style of furnishings, colours, textures and so on you’d use to bring that mood to life.
ASK YOURSELF: How do you want to feel when you walk in the door at the end of a long day? What three words would you love to hear friends use to describe how your home feels?
Mood-boosting colours for your home
Thinking about how you want to feel at home is a way of approaching the style question from the inside out. First imagine what mood you’d love to create, then work backward, imagining what style of furnishings, colours, textures and so on you’d use to bring that mood to life.
ASK YOURSELF: How do you want to feel when you walk in the door at the end of a long day? What three words would you love to hear friends use to describe how your home feels?
Mood-boosting colours for your home
3. Photograph your most cherished objects
If you’re currently working on tweaking your decor, you may not love everything in your home – but you probably do have some favourite, cherished objects. Go around the house and snap photos of the items you love. When you look at the photos as a group, see if you can determine a common thread in what you’re drawn to.
ASK YOURSELF: What words would you use to describe the objects in your home that you love? What do they have in common?
If you’re currently working on tweaking your decor, you may not love everything in your home – but you probably do have some favourite, cherished objects. Go around the house and snap photos of the items you love. When you look at the photos as a group, see if you can determine a common thread in what you’re drawn to.
ASK YOURSELF: What words would you use to describe the objects in your home that you love? What do they have in common?
If you’re just starting out in a new home, or feel that what you have doesn’t represent what you love, take yourself on a little field trip with your camera. Keep an eye out wherever you go, whether it’s window shopping, trying a new restaurant or visiting a friend’s home, and snap pictures of the things you’re drawn to.
What’s your wall gallery personality?
What’s your wall gallery personality?
4. List the sort of things you’d choose if price were no object
Go on an imaginary shopping spree and list all the items (be as specific as possible) you’d love to buy for your home if money were no object. Sometimes this exercise helps free us to think outside the box. Even if you never end up buying anything from your dream list, it should give you a clearer picture of what you really love.
ASK YOURSELF: How would you describe the items on your dream list? If they come from certain shops or designers, how would you describe the style these shops or designers are known for?
Go on an imaginary shopping spree and list all the items (be as specific as possible) you’d love to buy for your home if money were no object. Sometimes this exercise helps free us to think outside the box. Even if you never end up buying anything from your dream list, it should give you a clearer picture of what you really love.
ASK YOURSELF: How would you describe the items on your dream list? If they come from certain shops or designers, how would you describe the style these shops or designers are known for?
5. Look outdoors
If you love to garden or otherwise enjoy the outdoors, it might be easier to start your style search outside the home. Look to your own garden, as well as public spaces, local businesses and enviable front yards in your neighbourhood.
ASK YOURSELF: What do you love about these outdoor spaces? How would you describe the style of your favourite garden or outdoor space?
101 things to do outdoors
If you love to garden or otherwise enjoy the outdoors, it might be easier to start your style search outside the home. Look to your own garden, as well as public spaces, local businesses and enviable front yards in your neighbourhood.
ASK YOURSELF: What do you love about these outdoor spaces? How would you describe the style of your favourite garden or outdoor space?
101 things to do outdoors
6. Look to your wardrobe
Think of style as a common thread running through your life – we may have our style figured out in one area of our lives more than another, but they’re all related. One way to tap into this is by looking at the styles you gravitate toward when it comes to clothes, since this can have a direct bearing on the decor styles you love.
ASK YOURSELF: What do you love to wear? How would you describe your personal style? Who are your top three style icons?
Think of style as a common thread running through your life – we may have our style figured out in one area of our lives more than another, but they’re all related. One way to tap into this is by looking at the styles you gravitate toward when it comes to clothes, since this can have a direct bearing on the decor styles you love.
ASK YOURSELF: What do you love to wear? How would you describe your personal style? Who are your top three style icons?
7. Consider your dream destination
Where we dream of travelling (or long to return to) can say a lot about our style. Take a moment to list both the places you’ve been and loved as well as your ‘someday’ destinations.
ASK YOURSELF: Would you prefer jetting off to a casual, breezy beach house, or a Parisian hotel? If there’s a particular country you’d love to visit, would you rather go to the big city or stay in a charming countryside village?
Where we dream of travelling (or long to return to) can say a lot about our style. Take a moment to list both the places you’ve been and loved as well as your ‘someday’ destinations.
ASK YOURSELF: Would you prefer jetting off to a casual, breezy beach house, or a Parisian hotel? If there’s a particular country you’d love to visit, would you rather go to the big city or stay in a charming countryside village?
8. Pay equal attention to what you don’t like
Sometimes naming what you don’t like can break the ice and get you thinking about what you do like. For instance, while I love the clean, minimalist look of the space shown here, perhaps you’re thinking, “Ugh – where’s all the stuff?!”
ASK YOURSELF: What sort of living space would you find unappealing? Now flip that around and describe the opposite.
TELL US
What existing decorating style suits you to a T, or do you have a style that’s uniquely yours? Tell us all about it, or share photos of your space in the Comments below.
MORE
6 Tactics to Help You Discover Your Personal Decorating Style
How to Matchmake Two Completely Different Decor Styles in One Abode
How to Take Your Indoor Decorating Style Outside
Sometimes naming what you don’t like can break the ice and get you thinking about what you do like. For instance, while I love the clean, minimalist look of the space shown here, perhaps you’re thinking, “Ugh – where’s all the stuff?!”
ASK YOURSELF: What sort of living space would you find unappealing? Now flip that around and describe the opposite.
TELL US
What existing decorating style suits you to a T, or do you have a style that’s uniquely yours? Tell us all about it, or share photos of your space in the Comments below.
MORE
6 Tactics to Help You Discover Your Personal Decorating Style
How to Matchmake Two Completely Different Decor Styles in One Abode
How to Take Your Indoor Decorating Style Outside
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@Dura Supreme Cabinetry
That's a fun idea for August and/or football season. Perhaps entertaining for football watching parties or tailgating.
@Tcufrog thanks! It'd be fun to see someone try it. Mandi @ Dura
Thank you. This was helpful!