Are you starting to plan your home renovation or decoration project and a bit lost trying to discover your design style? Well, you’ve come to the right place!!
As you start exploring different styles, we know it’s easy to become quickly overwhelmed…. just a quick flick through Pinterest or Instagram can easily send you into a tailspin if you don’t know where to focus and what to consider!
Most importantly, we believe that your home should reflect your personality and feel like an extension of YOU, a space that feels harmonious, purposeful and nourishing. So, as you plan your home design project, knowing your design style will give you an excellent foundation to build from!
Our 5 steps will help you connect with a style that lights you up. Plus our design expertise will help you curate a look and feel that’s unique for you and your home!
And trust us, this is a FUN process, so take your time and enjoy it.
Step 1 – Identify what you’re drawn to!
Easier said than done right?! This is because most of us are drawn to more than one design style, so our biggest piece of advice is… You don’t need to commit to just one design style and feel constrained by it!
By identifying the elements of different design styles that resonate with you, you can create your own unique style. And in our experience, the best interiors often combine a mix of styles to create layers of interest that reflect the homeowners. A good rule of thumb is to apply the ‘70:20:10 rule’- 70% of one style, 20% of another and then a few accents to make up the 10% balance.
To start the process of understanding the design styles you love, we’ve provided some images below, to represent some different styles…. Consider, which of these images really appeal to you and what specifically in them lights you up. Once you’ve selected your images, have fun by creating a name for your personal style…. for example, if you’ve selected…
- Majority coastal designs with a touch of contemporary, create your unique ‘Contemporary Coastal Curation’
- Majority modern farmhouse with some organic minimalist, your unique style could be ‘Modern Organic Farmhouse’
Step 2 – Delve deeper!
Delve deeper into the design styles that resonate with you from Step 1. You may like to do some more research to understand the elements of the design styles you love and what makes them unique from other styles. For instance, what are the signature elements that make a space Mid-century Modern or Scandi or Contemporary. This will help you flesh out your own style further.
Once you understand the styles you love a little more, go to Pinterest and Instagram to specifically search for interiors using these design styles and descriptions, and enjoy the process of being inspired by what you find!
Step 3 – Pin and review!
Save or pin the images that you love into a style board, so you build up your own ‘Style Library!’
Pay close attention to how your design styles are executed in each image and what the specific elements are that you love in that style.
For instance, you may find a gorgeous kitchen that’s done in a Transitional design style. Scrutinise what it is exactly that you love about the kitchen…. it might be everything and the sum of all the parts… but also consider if it’s just specific elements that resonate with you – the benchtop, the floor plan, the pendant light, the colour palette, the joinery finishes.
Step 4 – Step back and curate!
Step back and review the images you pinned into your style board. No doubt you’ll see lots of consistencies coming through in your selected images…. But here’s the interesting part – you’ll start to see unique elements popping in, from other design styles.
This is also the time to identify the existing pieces in your home that you want to keep in your refreshed style. It could be a special piece of artwork or furniture or decorative ornaments you’ve perhaps collected on your travels over the years…. pieces that are sentimental and have special memories attached to them! Photograph them or find similar items online and upload them to your style board too, so they form part of your developing design style.
Having all these unique design elements and special personal items in your design style, is where the magic happens and you start to truly curate your own style – one that’s soulful and nourishing to you!
For some extra inspo, click here to check out our portfolio and how we’ve curated beautiful design styles for our clients.
Step 5 – Have confidence and keep building!
By now, you’ve collated all your imagery and can hopefully see your design style emerging. Be confident in the style you’re curating, and allow it to gently build as you move through your project, so it evolves even more to suit your lifestyle and truly reflect who you are!
As we always say ‘good design takes time’ so don’t rush this process. Take your time and keep coming back to build on your personal design style.
We hope you’re now feeling confident and excited about how to discover your design style!
If the process still sounds too daunting for you, grab the support of an Interior Designer to help you uncover the design style you didn’t know you had, and help you make it your own.
We’d love to chat with you and help you unlock YOUR design style! Simply click here to book a complimentary 20min Discovery Call.
If you’d like some more clever ideas to plan a home that reflects your style and is highly liveable, download our FREE guide to create a home that nourishes your soul here.
Anna x