Escape Chaos: How to find Your Personal Design Style

Picking an interior design style can feel super daunting. I can totally understand! I remember feeling overwhelmed when I started my first design project. Like many, I too felt lost amidst the plethora of options, unsure of where to begin. However, I discovered a roadmap that helped me navigate this maze. Finding Your Personal Design Style for your dream home is like being tossed into a maze of options, not knowing which way to turn. With so many interior design styles to love and appreciate, it’s easy to feel torn between them, constantly wondering if you’ve made the right choice.

In today’s post, I’m thrilled to offer insights from my own experience in discovering interior design styles. I’ll be sharing some tips I’ve learned along the way to help you navigate this exciting process.

As professional designers with years of experience, we often have an intuitive understanding of what clients will like. Therefore, we typically finalise design styles within 2 or 3 meetings.

However, as your eyes may not be trained in the same way, I recommend taking your time with the process.

Spend more time crafting your vision and revisit it after a week to ensure it still resonates with you. It’s all about finding a style that feels right for you and your space.

How to find Your Personal Design Style:

First things first, it’s essential not to be too judgmental or quick to decide what you do or don’t like.

Often, we tend to dismiss a particular style based on a single image, overlooking the diverse variations within that style. Keeping an open mind is key, as the same design style can be interpreted in numerous ways in interior design.

The Essence of Interior Design Style

Choosing an interior design style isn’t just about picking what looks pretty; it’s about finding a style that speaks – who you are as a person and how you live your life.

Here’s a deeper dive!

(1) Going Beyond Aesthetics:

Beyond just looks, prioritizing functionality in your design choices is crucial. Tailoring each space to suit your daily activities ensures that every room serves a practical purpose while remaining aesthetically pleasing.

It’s the basics of good design.

(2) Reflecting Your Lifestyle:

Your home is more than just a place to live; it’s where you spend your time, relax, and engage in activities that are meaningful to you. Therefore, your interior design should complement and support your lifestyle.

For example, if you’re someone who loves to entertain guests frequently, you might lean towards an open and inviting layout with ample seating areas. On the other hand, if you’re a busy professional who values tranquillity and relaxation, you might opt for a more minimalist and clutter-free design that promotes a sense of calm.

(3) Expressing Your Personality:

Your home should be a reflection of who you are as an individual. Your personality traits, interests, and passions should shine through the design choices you make.

If you’re someone who loves bold colours and eclectic decor, your interior design style might lean towards bohemian or maximalist. Alternatively, if you prefer clean lines and more understated aesthetic, you might be drawn to modern or Scandinavian design.

Ultimately, your home should feel like a true representation of your unique personality.

(4) Honouring Your Preferences:

Your interior design style should cater to your likes and dislikes, creating a space that you genuinely enjoy spending time in.

This means paying attention to details such as colour schemes, furniture styles, and decorative accents that resonate with you.

For instance, if you have a preference for earthy tones and natural materials, you might opt for a rustic or farmhouse-inspired design.

Conversely, if you love vibrant colours and details, you might choose a mid-century modern design and should resist the temptation to go for an ‘Industrial design style’ that might momentarily catch your eye.

In short, stay true to your long-term vision and resist the fleeting temptation of other design style, even if it momentarily grabs your interest.

Find Your Interior Design Style – Where to Start:

Choosing an interior design style is about creating a home that not only looks beautiful but also feels authentically yours.

By considering how your design choices align with your lifestyle, personality, and preferences, you can create a space that truly reflects who you are and enhances your overall well-being.

Here’s how to begin:

(1) Explore Online Quizzes:

Discovering your interior design style can be fun and insightful with the help of free quizzes available online.

Yes! Online fun quizzes are not just for figuring out which Hogwarts house you belong to—they can also help uncover your unique design style.

These quizzes are designed to uncover aspects of your preferences and personality. While they may not provide a definitive answer, they serve as a starting point, by shedding light on the design elements that resonate with you.

Give them a try and see what insights you uncover!

(2) Refining Your Vision:

After taking the quizzes, you’ll receive results such as “boho,” “industrial,” or “eclectic,” which serve as keywords to search for inspiration.

Avoid generic terms like “bedroom interior” or “kitchen design ideas” for an Instagram-worthy look or interior design trends in 2024 at this stage. Instead, plug these style keywords into search engines like Google or Pinterest to gather images that resonate with your own design style.

This targeted approach will help you refine your vision and find your design style preferences.

(3) Look in Your Wardrobe:

Looking into your wardrobe is a valuable step in discovering your design preferences.

Take note of the patterns, colours, and overall design trends that dominate your clothing choices.

Are you drawn to clothes with simple designs and neutral colours? indicative of a contemporary design style? Or perhaps you prefer classic and timeless dresses, suggesting an elegant aesthetic.

If your wardrobe is filled with bold prints and bright colours, you might lean towards a vibrant and eclectic style.

By recognizing these patterns in your clothing, you can gain insight into the design direction that resonates most with you.

(4) Consider Other Family Members’ Wardrobes:

Recognize that household members may have different style preferences.

Take note of what each individual loves and hates in terms of design elements.

(5) Create Pinterest Boards:

Time to dive into the wonderful world of Pinterest!

Create a Pinterest account and start pinning images that catch your eye. Try to gather at least 100 pics for each space like living rooms, bedrooms, bathroom and kitchen.

Create and organize your boards according to your preferences, including ideas you love, ideas your family likes, and elements you want to avoid. Save images you like in respective boards.

These are going to be your inspirational images.

(6) Analyse the Images:

As you pin, keep an eye out for patterns. Pay attention to the mood each image evokes, whether it’s casual, relaxed, happy, or boutique like.

Notice any design style, themes, or furniture type that keep popping up every now and then!

This will give you a solid idea of what you’re into and help shape your dream space! Note the predominant colour palettes and identify recurring colours.

Make a chart to categorize your findings, including wall colours, sofa colours, furniture colours and fabric patterns.

(7) Evaluate Furniture Styles:

Take a moment to think about whether you prefer furniture that’s big and robust or sleek and modern.

Consider if you’re into contemporary designs with innovative touches or if you lean towards the simplicity of Scandinavian pieces.

Also, decide whether you’re more drawn to the warmth of wooden furniture or the clean look of white-coloured pieces.

Understanding your preferences in furniture styles will help you create a space that feels just right for you.

(8) Consider Accessories:

Take a moment to think about what catches your eye when you’re browsing through images. Do you find yourself drawn to specific accessories, like throw pillows or unique lamps, or is it the overall vibe of the room that appeals to you? Sometimes, it’s not just one element but how everything comes together that creates a space you love.

For example, if you’re pinning a bedroom image, ask yourself if it’s the cozy mattress or the stylish side table that’s grabbing your attention. Take note of these details as you pin images and jot them down in your chart. Understanding what specific accessories or details you’re drawn to will help you pinpoint your style preferences more accurately.

(9) Revisit and Refine:

Once you’ve gathered a collection of inspirational images on Pinterest, it’s important to revisit them with a fresh perspective. Take some time to go back through your boards and carefully reassess each image. Be critical and trust your instincts—delete any images that no longer spark joy or resonate with you upon a second look.

As you revisit your inspirational images, pay attention to how each one makes you feel. Do they still evoke the same excitement and inspiration as they did initially? Are there any images that no longer align with your vision or style preferences?

(10) Embrace Your Design Freedom:

Don’t be too tough on yourself.

You don’t have to follow all the design rules perfectly.

It’s okay to mix things up a bit. But it’s best to have one main design style to keep your space from looking messy. Try to focus on or take inspiration from at least one style.

Wrapping Up:

In your search for the perfect design style, remember it’s all about you. Trust your instincts, create mood boards of various styles, and find what resonates with you, while also considering what fits within your budget.

And finally, stay tuned for more blog posts featuring tips and suggestions on interior design. We’ll make the design process easy, even if you’re not hiring professional services.