5 Easy Ways to Find Your Interior Design Style -

Explore these 5 easy ways to find what your interior design style is, and starting decorating your home to truly make it your own.

Having a hard time figuring out what interior design style you like best? Or feeling overwhelmed by all the pretty images out there? There is definitely such a thing as inspiration overload!

Keep reading to discover how to cut through the confusion and find clarity if you’re feeling stuck, lost, or overwhelmed while finding your interior design style and decorating your home—or even just one room.

1. Take a Moment Just To Think

Your home is the place where you’ll most likely spend the most of your time, so it’s important that it makes feel warm, cozy, brings you joy, and reflects your personality. These feelings are key when deciding on an interior design style.

Additionally, just take a moment to yourself, and just think of inspiration within yourself, before you start looking for external inspiration and get bombarded and overwhelmed with outside visuals.

Identify the words that express what type of feeling you want to feel in your home.

2. Pick Your Feeling Keywords

What are a couple of keywords that express the way you want your home to feel? It can be whatever you like. It can be things like cozy, calming, happy, airy, vibrant, classy, and peaceful.

Pick your top 2-3 feeling keywords, so every time you’re looking for visuals and other inspiration, you can refer back to your keywords, and see if your visual inspiration matches your keywords.

Understanding the feelings you want your home to express is crucial, because it will serve as your key guide throughout the entire decorating process.

3. Take Note of What You Love in Your Everyday Life

Now that you’ve identified feelings you want your home to evoke, it’s time to explore what you love in your everyday life. Pay close attention to what you naturally gravitate toward in your everyday surroundings. Is it a certain colors or textures you love? Starting to figure out what you already like, can help you can slowly piece together a style that feels authentically you. Here’s how:

Check Your Wardrobe: Take a look at the colors, fabrics, and patterns in your clothing. Do you prefer neutral tones, bold pops of color, or soft pastels? Your fashion choices often reflect your design preferences. For instance, if you love flowy dresses and earthy tones, you might enjoy a bohemian or rustic vibe in your home.
Notice Your Favorite Spots: Think about places where you feel the most comfortable or inspired. Is it a cozy coffee shop with warm wood tones and vintage decor? Or a sleek, modern hotel lobby with clean lines and metallic accents? These preferences can help guide your style.
Reflect on Travel Experiences: Recall places you’ve visited that left a lasting impression. Maybe it was a Mediterranean villa with airy, natural materials or a chic Parisian apartment with elegant details, or even a cozy country cabin. Incorporate elements from these spaces into your home to evoke the same feelings.
Identify Your Favorite Colors and Patterns: Do you love floral prints, geometric shapes, or solid colors? What hues do you find calming or energizing? Your preferences here can shape everything from your wall colors to your furniture upholstery

Furthermore, by reflecting on these elements of your daily life, you can connect with what makes you feel happy and comfortable, which will naturally translate into discovering your interior design style.

4. Identify Key Interior Design Styles That Resonate With You

After you’ve identified your feeling keywords, and have taken note on your everyday preferences, the next step is to explore specific interior design styles that align with what you love. Understanding the characteristics of different styles can help you pinpoint what speaks to you, and guide your design decisions. But where do you begin?

Research and learn about some common interior design styles to understand their defining features and characteristics. Here’s a few interior style examples:

Modern: Modern interior style has clean lines, minimalist decor, neutral palettes, and functional furniture.
Bohemian (Boho): Think layered textures, vibrant colors, natural materials, free spirit vibes, and an eclectic mix of patterns.
Farmhouse: Rustic finishes, distressed wood, cozy textiles, and vintage-inspired accents.
Cottagecore: Think romanticized rural aesthetic with soft colors, floral patterns, vintage or antique-inspired furniture, and rustic natural materials like wood and linen. It’s cozy, nostalgic, and brimming with charm.
Eclectic: Eclectic design uses a mix of styles me is all about combining contrasting elements like bold colors, unique patterns, and unexpected decor pieces. It’s expressive, playful, and highly personable.

If you don’t fully connect with one specific style, that’s okay! It’s perfectly fine to mix and match. Many people prefer a blend of styles. For instance, you might combine the whimsical charm of cottagecore with eclectic’s bold statement pieces, creating a dynamic yet cozy look.

Pay Attention to Overlapping Elements

Additionally, as you explore different interior styles, you may notice recurring themes in what you’re drawn to. For instance, you might love the natural wood of farmhouse design, the pops of color from boho decor, and the clean lines of modern spaces. Be on the lookout for ways these elements can complement each other.

Begin by visualizing and imagining how different styles might look in your home. Consider the size and layout of your rooms, the natural lighting, and the existing furniture and decor you already own.

Starting experimenting with different styles by swapping out decor items or rearranging furniture to mimic the look you’re going for. You can start with items like throw pillows, artwork, or a rug to see how the style feels in your space before fully committing to a design style.

By familiarizing yourself with different decor styles, you’ll have a clearer idea of what aligns with your personality, makes you feel cozy, and brings you joy. The goal isn’t to box yourself into a single style, but to create a space that reflects your unique taste.

A farmhouse inspired kitchen dining space

5. Start Decorating with Different Styles

Finding your interior design style doesn’t have to be overwhelming or require a complete home makeover right away. By starting small and experimenting with different elements, you can gradually refine your style and see what works best for you. Here’s how to ease into it:

Start with One Room or Area
Choose a single room or even a small corner of your home to experiment with. For example, redesign your entryway, set up a cozy reading nook, or refresh your bedroom decor. This allows you to focus on creating a cohesive style in one manageable space without feeling overwhelmed.
Play with Accessories and Decor
Begin by adding small decor items like throw pillows, rugs, artwork, or vases in colors or patterns that align with the style you want to explore. These are easy to switch out if you want to try something new and don’t require a big financial commitment.
Test Different Textures and Materials
Experiment with a variety of fabrics and materials to see what feels right in your space. For instance, add a chunky knit blanket for a cozy vibe, a sleek metal lamp for a modern touch, or a natural jute rug for a bohemian or rustic feel.
Incorporate Statement Pieces Gradually
Once you feel confident about your preferences, consider investing in a statement piece that reflects your style, such as a bold piece of artwork, a colorful sofa, or a unique coffee table. These larger pieces can set the tone for the rest of the room.
Experiment with Color
Introduce your preferred color palette in subtle ways, such as painting an accent wall, adding colorful curtains, or incorporating decorative items like candles and books. You can build up the palette as you gain confidence in your style choices.
Rearrange What You Already Have
Before purchasing anything new, try rearranging your existing furniture and decor to see if you can create a new look that resonates with your desired style. Sometimes, simply moving pieces around can completely transform a space.
Evaluate Your Space and Make Adjustments
After trying out different elements, take a step back and assess how the space feels. Does it align with the mood and aesthetic you were aiming for? If not, adjust things until it feels just right. Remember, finding your style is a process, and it’s okay to make changes along the way.

By starting small and experimenting with different styles, you can refine your interior design taste at your own pace. This method not only helps you avoid costly mistakes, but also ensures your home evolves into a space that truly reflects your personality and feelings you want your home to evoke.

Conclusion – Bring Your Style to Life

Discovering your interior design style is an exciting journey that allows you to create a home that is uniquely yours. It’s not about following trends or achieving perfection. It’s about creating a home that reflects your personality, makes you feel cozy, and lifts your spirits.

To summarize briefly, finding your interior style involves gathering inspiration, reflecting on what you love, defining how you want your space to feel, exploring different design styles, and experimenting with small changes. These 5 simple steps will guide you toward a home that feels cohesive, comfortable, and authentically you.

Remember, your style doesn’t have to fit neatly into one category, and it’s okay if it even evolves over time. The decorating process is meant to be fun and creative, so don’t be afraid to take risks, try new things, and make adjustments as you go.

By embracing the design process, and staying true to your preferences, you’ll find your style and create a home that’s as beautiful as it is meaningful.

Ready to get started? Take the first step by creating a mood board or experimenting with a corner of your home today. Share what inspires your design journey. Let’s inspire each other!

Happy decorating!

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