Designing With the Stars: Cancer
Decorate your home to perfectly suit your taste with help from your star sign
Kate Macdessi
22 June 2016
Houzz Australia Contributor. I am a freelance writer and live in Sydney's beautiful inner west. I fell in love with interior design and architecture back in 1978 when I first caught a glimpse of Mike Brady and his funky split-level den. That Carol was one lucky lady.
Houzz Australia Contributor. I am a freelance writer and live in Sydney's beautiful... More
According to astrologers, our personalities can be shaped by the way the stars, moon and sun are aligned at the time of our birth. That makes the zodiac a great resource to consult when defining your personal style and designing your home.
Sign at a Glance
Dates: June 22 to July 22
Architectural style: Country or Hamptons
Character traits: Sensitive, nurturing, imaginative and sentimental
Likes: Cooking, dining, water, hospitality, time with family, photos, home-based hobbies
Dislikes: Change, conflict
Favourite decorating colours: Neutrals, light blue and silver
Sign at a Glance
Dates: June 22 to July 22
Architectural style: Country or Hamptons
Character traits: Sensitive, nurturing, imaginative and sentimental
Likes: Cooking, dining, water, hospitality, time with family, photos, home-based hobbies
Dislikes: Change, conflict
Favourite decorating colours: Neutrals, light blue and silver
Cancer is the fourth sign of the zodiac. It is represented by the image of the crab and ruled by the moon. Many believe this explains why some Cancerians are moody; like the moon, they are changeable. This moodiness may also derive from their highly sensitive and empathetic natures. Cancer is one of the kindest and most caring of all the star signs. Cancerians feel things very deeply and have a heightened awareness of their own and others’ emotions. They are very nurturing to those around them and care greatly for their family and friends.
Their intense emotional life can lead Cancerians to be insecure if they don’t learn to take good care of themselves. Cancerians reflect their symbol of the crab well – they are often a little harder on the surface in order to protect their softer inner self. As such, the home is very important to Cancerians; it is like their ‘shell’ and is therefore often a refuge.
Their intense emotional life can lead Cancerians to be insecure if they don’t learn to take good care of themselves. Cancerians reflect their symbol of the crab well – they are often a little harder on the surface in order to protect their softer inner self. As such, the home is very important to Cancerians; it is like their ‘shell’ and is therefore often a refuge.
Architectural style: Country
For Cancerians, home is where the heart is. This is their sanctuary and they need it to be comfortable. For this reason, the country style suits them well. It provides a relaxed, casual style that exudes warmth and charm. It also gives a subtle nod to yesteryear, which appeals to sentimental Cancer.
Browse more country-style homes
For Cancerians, home is where the heart is. This is their sanctuary and they need it to be comfortable. For this reason, the country style suits them well. It provides a relaxed, casual style that exudes warmth and charm. It also gives a subtle nod to yesteryear, which appeals to sentimental Cancer.
Browse more country-style homes
Hamptons
Cancer is a water sign and Cancerians have a deep connection to the sea; they therefore often like coastal styles. An oft preferred example of this is the Hamptons style. Its casual elegance and sophisticated beachiness appeal perfectly to Cancerians. The style relies on a lot of natural light and a sparing use of colour, which suits Cancer well; and it favours a lot of timber and natural finishes and fibres, which also appeals to the down-to-earth Cancerian.
Cancer is a water sign and Cancerians have a deep connection to the sea; they therefore often like coastal styles. An oft preferred example of this is the Hamptons style. Its casual elegance and sophisticated beachiness appeal perfectly to Cancerians. The style relies on a lot of natural light and a sparing use of colour, which suits Cancer well; and it favours a lot of timber and natural finishes and fibres, which also appeals to the down-to-earth Cancerian.
Hamtry (fusion of country and Hamptons)
Alright, so I just made that word up, but let’s just pretend that it’s a thing, because it is a style of decorating that could really suit Cancer. By mixing the casual elegance and coastal vibe of the Hamptons with the comfort and relaxed warmth of country furnishings, you can create a melded look that Cancerians would love. Think vintage lights, airy spaces, a neutral colour palette with blue accents and a mixture of textures.
Alright, so I just made that word up, but let’s just pretend that it’s a thing, because it is a style of decorating that could really suit Cancer. By mixing the casual elegance and coastal vibe of the Hamptons with the comfort and relaxed warmth of country furnishings, you can create a melded look that Cancerians would love. Think vintage lights, airy spaces, a neutral colour palette with blue accents and a mixture of textures.
Character traits: Sensitive
Cancer is nothing if not sensitive. They are emotional and empathetic, and find it very easy to put themselves in other people’s shoes, as well as often taking on others’ emotions. This can be exhausting for Cancer, and they really need to practise self care so that they don’t become emotionally overwhelmed. A beautiful bathroom with a soaking tub might encourage Cancer to take some time out for themselves and relax.
Cancer is nothing if not sensitive. They are emotional and empathetic, and find it very easy to put themselves in other people’s shoes, as well as often taking on others’ emotions. This can be exhausting for Cancer, and they really need to practise self care so that they don’t become emotionally overwhelmed. A beautiful bathroom with a soaking tub might encourage Cancer to take some time out for themselves and relax.
Nurturing
Cancerians are natural parents. They have a very nurturing personality and would love to create a home that is both healthy and happy for their children. Cancerians might enjoy carving out special places in the home that are fun for the kids, like this lovely cubby and outdoor tea-party setting.
Cancerians are natural parents. They have a very nurturing personality and would love to create a home that is both healthy and happy for their children. Cancerians might enjoy carving out special places in the home that are fun for the kids, like this lovely cubby and outdoor tea-party setting.
Imaginative
Cancerians are a very imaginative lot. They are prone to indulge in flights of fancy and should have many corners of their home decorated to inspire and delight their imaginations. This kitchen would be great for a Cancerian. It is beautifully styled with a country look. It is a little quirky, but also has a whimsical feel – see the chalkboard above the bench for inspirational quotes and ideas. This one reads, “Always be yourself, unless you can be a unicorn. Then always be a unicorn.” Gorgeous!
Cancerians are a very imaginative lot. They are prone to indulge in flights of fancy and should have many corners of their home decorated to inspire and delight their imaginations. This kitchen would be great for a Cancerian. It is beautifully styled with a country look. It is a little quirky, but also has a whimsical feel – see the chalkboard above the bench for inspirational quotes and ideas. This one reads, “Always be yourself, unless you can be a unicorn. Then always be a unicorn.” Gorgeous!
Sentimental
A love of history and a tendency toward sentimentality means that Cancerians are quite a nostalgic lot. They would do well to fill their homes with much-loved treasures from their childhoods and other fondly purchased or found items gathered throughout their lives. Their architectural style of country or Hamptons suits their predisposition for collecting. A country home looks beautiful with old wares on display.
A love of history and a tendency toward sentimentality means that Cancerians are quite a nostalgic lot. They would do well to fill their homes with much-loved treasures from their childhoods and other fondly purchased or found items gathered throughout their lives. Their architectural style of country or Hamptons suits their predisposition for collecting. A country home looks beautiful with old wares on display.
Likes: Cooking
Because of their nurturing nature, Cancerians are at home in the kitchen and love cooking for family and friends. It is a very tangible way for them to show that they care about their loved ones. They should aim to have a kitchen that is big enough to house a large stovetop and a pantry to hold their copious cooking supplies. Glass cabinets can display collected kitchen wares like beautiful tea sets or family cookbooks.
See more country kitchens
Because of their nurturing nature, Cancerians are at home in the kitchen and love cooking for family and friends. It is a very tangible way for them to show that they care about their loved ones. They should aim to have a kitchen that is big enough to house a large stovetop and a pantry to hold their copious cooking supplies. Glass cabinets can display collected kitchen wares like beautiful tea sets or family cookbooks.
See more country kitchens
Family dining
Similarly, Cancer needs a large and functional dining space, as they are likely to entertain friends and family with big, delicious feasts of home-cooked comfort food. An extension dining table could be a good investment for Cancerians. They can dine cosily with their family on most occasions, and extend it out to include guests when necessary.
Similarly, Cancer needs a large and functional dining space, as they are likely to entertain friends and family with big, delicious feasts of home-cooked comfort food. An extension dining table could be a good investment for Cancerians. They can dine cosily with their family on most occasions, and extend it out to include guests when necessary.
Water
As a water sign, those born under the sign of Cancer feel a strong affinity with the ocean, or any body of water really. If possible, they will do well living by the sea, a lake or a river. If not, Cancer could try to include a pool or even a small water feature on their property. Even artwork depicting water could help to evoke the calm that water brings to Cancerians.
As a water sign, those born under the sign of Cancer feel a strong affinity with the ocean, or any body of water really. If possible, they will do well living by the sea, a lake or a river. If not, Cancer could try to include a pool or even a small water feature on their property. Even artwork depicting water could help to evoke the calm that water brings to Cancerians.
Hospitality
As part of their catering nature, Cancer loves to accommodate guests in their home. If you’re lucky enough to be a house guest of a Cancerian, you will likely be treated to a beautiful meal and a guest room and bathroom equipped with all the creature comforts of home. Cancer would like nothing more than to make you feel cosy and welcome!
As part of their catering nature, Cancer loves to accommodate guests in their home. If you’re lucky enough to be a house guest of a Cancerian, you will likely be treated to a beautiful meal and a guest room and bathroom equipped with all the creature comforts of home. Cancer would like nothing more than to make you feel cosy and welcome!
Time with family
Cancerians cherish their time surrounded by family members and would likely make their home as appealing to family as possible. Cancer is not a sign that wants to kick the kids out when they turn 18. They’ll be wanting to keep them at home for as long as possible. This games room with a pool table, and happy memories of family games nights, might be just the trick!
Cancerians cherish their time surrounded by family members and would likely make their home as appealing to family as possible. Cancer is not a sign that wants to kick the kids out when they turn 18. They’ll be wanting to keep them at home for as long as possible. This games room with a pool table, and happy memories of family games nights, might be just the trick!
Photo gallery
A family gallery adorning the walls of the home would be comforting to Cancerians. As well as current photos, their interest in history and sentimentality would have them display old photos and important documents from the past lives of ancestors.
A family gallery adorning the walls of the home would be comforting to Cancerians. As well as current photos, their interest in history and sentimentality would have them display old photos and important documents from the past lives of ancestors.
Home-based hobbies
Because Cancerians are essentially homebodies, they are attracted to many home-based pastimes. Many of these are also of a nurturing nature, and therefore can really suit Cancer on a number of levels. If they have enough room in their home, a dedicated craft room or hobby space would delight Cancerians. This one seen here provides a lot of scope for the imagination and looks like a beautiful place to work.
Get creative with a craft nook
Because Cancerians are essentially homebodies, they are attracted to many home-based pastimes. Many of these are also of a nurturing nature, and therefore can really suit Cancer on a number of levels. If they have enough room in their home, a dedicated craft room or hobby space would delight Cancerians. This one seen here provides a lot of scope for the imagination and looks like a beautiful place to work.
Get creative with a craft nook
Dislikes: Change
Cancer is not a star sign that embraces change. They prefer classic styles that will stand the test of time, because they don’t like to have to replace or update their things. This can be applied to the architecture of their home and the decorations they use to personalise it. Cancerians should be wary of trends and fads and invest in beautiful furniture and furnishings that will keep them happy for years to come.
Cancer is not a star sign that embraces change. They prefer classic styles that will stand the test of time, because they don’t like to have to replace or update their things. This can be applied to the architecture of their home and the decorations they use to personalise it. Cancerians should be wary of trends and fads and invest in beautiful furniture and furnishings that will keep them happy for years to come.
Conflict
Cancerians dislike arguing and will withdraw from conflict. This man cave or she shed could be just the thing to escape to in a Cancerian’s backyard. Imagine banishing daily stress by cracking into some woodwork or painting in this outdoor room? This particular one even has an underground cellar – that could really help to unlock that creative spirit!
Cancerians dislike arguing and will withdraw from conflict. This man cave or she shed could be just the thing to escape to in a Cancerian’s backyard. Imagine banishing daily stress by cracking into some woodwork or painting in this outdoor room? This particular one even has an underground cellar – that could really help to unlock that creative spirit!
Favourite decorating colours: Neutrals with blue and silver
The subtle suggestion of the sea makes Cancerians love blue and silver accents in their home, which they find very soothing. These hues look great when set against the background of a neutral palette in a country- or Hamptons-style home.
TELL US
Is your star sign Cancer? Do you think your decorating style fits the profile here? Please share your thoughts or images in the Comments.
MORE
So Your Style Is: Country
So Your Style Is: Hamptons
Designing With the Stars: Gemini
The subtle suggestion of the sea makes Cancerians love blue and silver accents in their home, which they find very soothing. These hues look great when set against the background of a neutral palette in a country- or Hamptons-style home.
TELL US
Is your star sign Cancer? Do you think your decorating style fits the profile here? Please share your thoughts or images in the Comments.
MORE
So Your Style Is: Country
So Your Style Is: Hamptons
Designing With the Stars: Gemini
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Thanks Kate for the comment on my mudroom...we did an IKEA hack with some villa board, a lot of painting & handles from Bunnings! And yes Katrina the crab is a bell...(I use it to call the kids in for dinner). Sorry I'm not sure if Im suppose to reply this way.
Seems to have worked k4thleen! x
This describes me so well, it’s amazing