If I asked you what your interior design style is, would you know?
Finding your individual style can take time and if it's something you haven't thought about before, it can feel daunting. When I ask my clients what their style preferences are, they often tell me one thing but as we start to delve deeper into colours, fabrics and pieces it often transpires that their tastes are very different to what they originally thought.
My personal taste when it comes to my own home, is eclectic, I enjoy bringing together the old and the new. Think 'old money' style interiors but with a modern twist.
This is the style I'm currently drawn to but honestly, things change over time. Taste is meant to evolve and change just as we ourselves evolve and change. There may be some interiors that you know aren't for you. I know that I'm not attracted to Industrial spaces, for example. I much prefer bringing vintage pieces, brass accents and cosy lighting over shiny, glossy surfaces and hard textures. That's not to say I don't enjoy designing them and see the beauty in those spaces, I just wouldn't want to live in one myself.
So, with this in mind, you might be asking why is finding your Design style important?
If you want your home to feel like you and make you happy, it's important to know what you love. Understanding your style will help you create a space that truly reflects who you are and it will feel authentic and unequivocally, you. I have worked with clients who have told me they like certain styles of object d'art, but when I ask what it is they like about it, they don't know. Sometimes when something is 'trending' or popular you trick yourself into thinking you like it without taking a pause and really wondering what it is pulling you towards buying it.
How can I find my Design Style?
Tip 1. A great way to get started is to mood board. I don't mean literally cutting out and sticking things to a board, unless you want to of course, you do you! If you don't have the time or budget to buy lots of magazines and materials, using tools such as Pinterest or Canva to bring images together is a great way to visualise different materials, colours and fabrics that you like all in one place. Add words, phrases or quotes that mean something to you and critically assess them. Ask yourself why you are drawn to certain colours or moods and why you would want them in your home. As you go through this process you will start to notice correlations and distinct themes emerging and you can then start searching for inspiration pictures of the kind of aesthetic you are drawn to help build out your preferences.
Tip 2 - Think about the colours you are drawn to, and why. Colour psychology* is fascinating - certain colours can make us feel calm, happy, sad and even hungry (McDonalds Red, I'm looking at you). When I speak to my clients, I often take a sneak peek at the colours they are wearing. More often than not, we subconsciously wear the colours we would like to see reflected in our homes. Is this true for you?
You may have heard of the phrase 'Dopamine Decor' which essentially means choosing colours for your home that spark joy and positivity, so my advice would be to sit and really contemplate how you want to feel in the room you are designing. For example, when considering a colour scheme for your home office, think about colours that inspire or energise you - this will help enhance your productivity and motivation throughout the day.
Whatever that colour may be for you, it's important that the room's ambiance aligns with the emotions you wish to evoke.
Tip 3 - investigate which patterns and prints you are drawn to. You will be able to get a real feel for your interior style once you start bringing prints and patterns together. Do you like delicate, subtle patterns or are bolder prints such as animal or colourful jungle foliage more your thing? Perhaps you are somewhere in between. Fabric retailers have made trying fabrics out easy for us, as most fabric samples are free or inexpensive, so why not pick a few that you are drawn to and see where it takes you? It's a great starting point when thinking about pairing soft furnishings with your selected colour scheme.
*If you are interested in the power of colour psychology, may I recommend The Little Book of Colour by Karen Hallen. A great starting place for those who want to know more about colour affects not just our mood but our lives in general - it's fascinating!
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