Discover Your Design Style, in 5 Steps!
That, “Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder,” is a saying that speaks to how personal design style or aesthetic is. It explains that, what appeals to one person, might do nothing for another and probably is the reason why there is an ever growing list of trends and styles, in the Interior Design world. While this is a sign of creativity and some translate to absolutely beautiful spaces, many people may never know how to identify their style.
An Interior Design Style or Aesthetic, describes the mood that emerges when a selection of; finishes, furnishing, furniture or accessories, with common attributes are presented together. That objects can elicit feelings, is interesting and true. How they are pieced together, is what reveals a certain style. Here’s the thing, your style may be unknown because it is vague or undiscovered but we all have a design aesthetic. With a little skillful investigating, thinking through your likes and dislikes, you can uncover what was known to you all along but not so obvious.
Why you need to know your design style
Can you successfully decorate your space without knowing your style? Absolutely! You do not need to know your design aesthetic to decorate your home. However, though it may be unknown to you, it will influence every decision you make in the process. If creating a space that you love is important, you’ll be well on your way if you understand your aesthetic. The aim of knowing your style is not to restrict or put you in a ‘style box,’ but will be to your benefit because:
a). Knowing where to look for inspiration will lead to a more rewarding research experience and a better outcome.
b). You will be in control of the process rather than keeping your fingers crossed hoping for the best.
c). You will save time. The variety and choice of materials available for interiors today is impressive and wide. What is not so impressive however, is the length of time it takes to make well-considered choices. Knowing where and what to look for will save you time and energy.
d). It will guide and make the selection of material or accessories easier.
e). You will maximize on elements that resonate with you resulting in a more impactful design.
f). You will save money because you will make considered purchases.
g). Setting a tone creates order and keeps everything from feeling confusing especially when there are many passions and ideas.
h). It will help your Interior Designer understand what makes you happy and the mood they will need to create in your space.
In short, knowing your aesthetic will make the process of creating a space that you love easier, faster and more enjoyable.
5 steps to discovering your design style!
evocative, maximalist, full of pattern and texture. Images from Pinterest and Architectural Digest.
“I have no idea what my design style is.” If you share similar sentiments or feel unsure about your style, the following exercises that guide you to make that discovery.
1. Look Inward
The first thing that you want to do is to clarify the feeling you want associated with your space. No one knows more about your likes or dislikes than you do, so inward, is the first place we should direct the spotlight. Answer the question, “How do I want my space to feel?” Take some time to think about it then use as many words as you want to describe the key emotions you’d like each room to evoke e.g. comfortable, elegant, calm, light and airy, artsy, happy, fresh, contemporary etc. Note this down – you will need to refer to it later.
2. Look Outward
Pick a few items that you love from your home or a familiar hang out e.g. art, a floor or wall tile, coffee table etc. Whatever you choose, it should be something that makes you smile every time you see it. Then ask yourself, “why does this appeal to me?” One of the pieces that I am really drawn to, is a mirror that sits at the entry in my home. It is set on a circular frame that is covered in animal print fabric and finished with beads. I like the unlikely mix of bead, fabric and mirror. The print and beads bring in a strong ethnic vibe yet it’s not overpowering. It brings in beauty, elegance and we are constantly using it. This one piece embodies my aesthetic. Do the same with your items, identify then note down why you are drawn to the items and you’ll begin tapping into your design aesthetic.
3. Explore
By the time you complete exercise no.2 a clear picture of what you gravitate towards will begin to emerge. Now you need to expose yourself to as many different styles as possible. Find out what other styles there are and if they appeal to you or not. Do this by browsing through the many galleries and images available online e.g. on Pinterest. Compile images of your dream space, referring back to the notes you made as often you need to but still being open to new ideas. After a while, you’ll automatically know which ones conform to your style. When you’ve gathered enough images, try and identify the common traits or elements that you see e.g. color, clean lines, minimal furniture, a type of finish, texture, pattern etc.
Congratulations! You have just identified the basic elements that make up your style. Check the feelings they evoke against those that you described in exercise no.1. You want the two to be in sync.
4. Colour is Key
Color is very important to a personal style or aesthetic. Its power lies in its ability to make us feel. Each time you come across color, it will evoke an emotion: joy, anger, calm, warmth etc. It carries energy into a space, without which a room will feel dead. Find the color that you love to be surrounded by – it is usually the one that you choose instinctively – because it will bring that same energy into your space. If knowing your favorite color is a challenge here’s one way to tell, look in your closet! Majority of your cloths will be in that color. It is possible not to have a favorite color, in that case focus on identifying the feeling you want to create and let that point you towards the colors to incorporate into your space e.g. If you want to create a feeling of warmth go for oranges, pinks or reds. Bring in a happy sunny feeling with yellow and gold etc.
5. Take a Quiz
Alternatively, you could take a quiz. Home Aesthetic Quizzes are another way to find your Design Style. Within a few minutes of selecting images and answering questions you can put a name and ‘face’ to the style that tugs at your heart strings. Bear in mind that the objective of these tools is to help you narrow down from the many styles that are out there, so do not panic if some of the tests do not prove to be accurate or different quizzes give varying results. I like to sift the results through the information obtained in the exercises 1-3. Here are links to some quizzes that you may want to try out.
https://thegingerhome.com/interior-design-style-quiz
https://havenly.com/interior-design-style-quiz
Getting to know your style is an exercise that will not only allow you to get a little more acquainted with yourself but will make getting the space of our dreams possible. Understand that your style may change as you grow, become more refined or you may incorporate more styles that speak to you as you journey through life. Use the same process to understand or keep track of how it is evolving so that your interiors can truly mirror who you are becoming.