Pick the Decorating Style Which Truly Reflects Your Inner Self
Our homes are more than just places we live in. They are the reflections of ourselves, our personal canvases we get to paint over using all our creativity and imagination. From walls and floors to furniture and decor, every inch of our living space represents the perfect blank slate we can use to express ourselves. The question is, how do you know which style best fits you? And what do you do if you’re drawn to more than one decorating style? The answer lies within you. To help you find it more easily, here are a couple of guidelines you can follow.
Look for Inspiration - In Your Closet!
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Clothes don’t make the man, but they can definitely tell a lot about someone’s personality and taste. Take a look at your closet. Is there something that immediately grabs your attention or do you like to keep things casual and subdued? Are there certain colors that repeat? What about the color palette, the textures, the materials and fabrics of the clothing? Also, what do you look for when choosing clothes? Do you like to keep things simple and have a uniform, or do you like to play around and experiment? Try to answer all these questions and be as detailed as possible. Then, use those answers as guidelines for figuring out your style. Once you have a general idea of what you like, you can start incorporating your personal style into your living space by relying on decor, furnishings, colors, fabrics, textures, and patterns.
Use Your Floors as a Blank Canvas
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Your floors are the perfect blank slate you can use to showcase your personal style and taste. A quintessential decor element, area rugs are a powerful design tool that can completely transform the feel of a space, tying the room together and creating a sense of cohesiveness. When selecting the right type of underfoot for different rooms in your home, you have to pay attention to its size, shape, color, pattern, and style. Will it be something timeless like a traditional rug, something more contemporary, or a transitional rug that’s a mixture of both? Maybe it’ll be a colorful or patterned Boho rug that will show off your relaxed spirit, or maybe you’ll be attracted to a neutral Scandi rug due to its beautiful simplicity. Whichever style of rug you choose, make sure it fits with the style of the room as well as its color scheme. When in doubt, go monochromatic – you can’t go wrong!
Make a Statement with Your Furniture Pieces
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What you furnish your home with can say a lot about your personality. The choice of shapes and design of your furnishings will influence the feel of the room and send a powerful message about your character without you even saying a word. The style of the furniture you select for your home is also one of the easiest ways to determine your decorating style. If you’re drawn to the elegance of stained wood, rich design, and carved pieces, you might prefer the traditional style. If your motto is ‘less is more’ and you prefer to keep things simple and functional, you’re most likely a minimalist. And if you prefer to shop at thrift stores, like vintage pieces, and are drawn to unconventional design, retro style might be the right one for you.
Inject Some Personality with Colors
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Your choice of colors can also help you make a style statement and showcase your personality. Neutral, subdued hues such as whites, beiges, and grays are usually used in spaces where the aim is to create a relaxing environment (think spa salons). If you find yourself being drawn to these colors, you probably value simplicity, like to keep things clean and organized, and may be leaning towards minimalism. Lively hues such as reds and yellows reflect passion and creativity, blues are associated with harmony and serenity, and purples are the perfect choice for those who are both energetic and calm as it is a mixture of reds and blues. Using a mixture of colors is characteristic of eclectic design style, while a restricted color scheme consisting of cooler tones is often used in industrial interior design. Use the color palette that reflects your personality and rely on it to add visual interest to your living space.
Let Your Decor Speak for You
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Regardless of how big your decorating budget is, your accessories can be an effective way to determine your decorating style. Gallery walls full of different pictures have a nostalgic feel to them and are perfect for eclectic spaces. Clean, organized desks with little decor pieces and artwork on display signify a person who likes to keep things minimal, while layers, greenery, and handmade decor pieces made from natural materials are staples in homes decorated in a Bohemian design style. Whichever your personal favorites, the decor pieces you select will be powerful indicators of your design style. Use them strategically throughout your space, and your decor will be telling your story for you.
Now that you have some guidelines to follow, it’s time to start narrowing down choices and figuring out your decorating style. Try different things, experiment a bit. When you find something that speaks to you and matches your character and personal values, you’ll be able to create a space that will truly reflect your inner self.
About the Author: Lilly Miller is a freelance writer, who focuses on interior design, well-being and sustainable living. She loves to experiment on daring new home decor trends and write about it as a regular contributor on Smooth Decorator. Settled in Sydney for the time being, Lilly shares home with two loving dogs and a gecko named Rodney. You can find her hanging out on Twitter.
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