Summing up your interior stye can be somewhat intimidating. Especially when you like a little of everything and when it’s all plonked together in one room it doesn’t fit nicely into one ‘theme’.
Knowing what you like will help you navigate all the options when you are hitting the streets and purchasing furniture and accessories, and will also make creating a harmonious and stylish space so much easier. But loving a little of everything isn’t nearly as intimidating as not knowing what you like at all.
If you are sitting in this camp, then read on my friend because I have a few tips and tricks that will help you gain an understanding of how your personal interior style comes about.
Let’s start with Pinterest. Pinterest is an amazing tool (I like to think of it as a visual discovery engine) that helps you curate a bunch of images that you love but they don’t have to be limited to home interiors. When working with clients, I always start here. First up, make yourself an account (if you don’t already happen to be one of the millions of daily Pinterest users). Then make the following board:
Things I Love
Now click away and pin all of the images you like. Anything that catches your eye, it could be a colour, a room interior, a holiday destination, a font, a pattern, a piece of furniture or even a plant.
When you have spent an hour or so pinning hop up and make yourself a cup of tea, or a glass of something special. High five yourself in the knowledge that you are now on the way to knowing what you love. Done that? Good. Now we are going to dive in deeper.
When you pin something, below that image (when you scroll down) is a handy little cluster of suggestions for you…Pinterest, helpfully, has noticed what you have pinned and has rounded up a bunch of other like minded images that may resonate with you too. Start clicking on these. Now be warned, this is the start of a Pinterest tangent…once you start clicking on these images Pinterest suggests even more and then you can be gloriously lost in the world of interiors for hours…trust me, I’ve been there…many times.
When you have kept this up for as long as you can muster. Take a break. Like, a few days, your brain will need it.
Now sit back and take a long look and hard look at what you have pinned. Are there common colours? Similar styles of furniture, or types of room interiors you have clicked on. Are you drawn to natural textures, what are the common threads that tie all of your pins together? If this is all too much, then make the following boards and populate them with only the images you have pinned (don’t be tempted to add any more new pins at this stage).
Rooms
Furniture & Products
Exteriors
Colours
When thinking about what colours you like, one hot tip is to take a look in your wardrobe (the clothing inside, not the actual piece of furniture). Do you wear mainly neutrals? Black? Navy? Patterns? Bright colours? Pastel colours? Kate Watson-Smyth from Made About The House fame starts here too. When you consider what you wear daily, it’s easier to imagine what colours you’d feel most at home with.
Modern Interior Style
Now it is a case of assessing what you have pinned. Have your rooms got clean and crisp lines with a simple colour palette with metal, glass and steel? Then Modern may be what you like.
Minimal Interior Style
Neutral, airy and streamlined rooms and furniture void of clutter? You could be leaning towards Minimalism.
Industrial Interior Style
Unfinished, raw materials, old timber with exposed brick and lofty ceilings? Perhaps Industrial is where you feel most at home.
Mid Century Modern Interior Style
Fuss free, pared down forms with organic shapes and simple fabrications tickle your fancy? Sounds like your loving Mid Century Modern.
Scandinavian Interior Style
Simple, understated, light colours (ahem…let’s be honest, it’s probably only white) natural textures and wide plank flooring is distinctively Scandinavian.
Traditional Interior Style
Rooms with classic details, rich colours, ornate details with elaborate furnishings and lots of layering are very much a Traditional vibe.
Bohemian Interior Style
Can’t see any common themes, other than a riot of colour, mist mash of everything with vintage furniture and global influences (think loom rugs and Moroccan bits and bobs) then perhaps you like Bohemian styling.
Shabby Chic Interior Style
Feminine, soft, delicate spaces with distressed furniture and a bit of lace here and there? That’s known as Shabby Chic.
Hollywood Glam / Regency Interior Style
Perhaps the rooms are a little over the top with opulent and dramatic design and a little sparkle? Then that my dear is Hollywood Glam (or Regency).
Coastal Hamptons Interior Style
Or perhaps the rooms are light and airy with beachside blues and greens, striped cushions, white sofas and natural finishes. This is classic Coastal Hamptons.
Once you have decided which of the above styles you tend to lean towards (and it may be two or three) then type that description into Pinterest and see if the clever suggestions that pop up resonate with you. If the images make your heart sing, then you have found your style. If not, then try another. It’s all about trial and wrror until you find a look you can use as inspiration fro your own home. I tend to like a Scandinavian, Minimal, Parisian aesthetic. It’s something I refer to as ‘cool, calm and collected’.
Once final thing, it’s okay to change your mind from one day to the next. Style is something that evolves and changes depending on your lifestyle and the influences around you.
Feel free to pop over to Pinterest and follow my boards. I actively pin most days and am forever refining my style and falling in love with new goodies.
Enjoy!