Discovering Your Interior Design Style
When it comes to your home, you don't want it to look like the neighbors down the street. And, the good news is… if it's truly designed for you + your family, it won't!
If you’ve ever wondered what a home that’s 1000% YOU might look like, today’s your lucky day, friend! We’re going to help you discover your design preferences.
P.S. Here’s a quiz we made especially for you which based upon how you answer will kick out a few different design styles that will get you headed in the right direction. >>> What Interior Design Style Are You?
What Is An Interior Design Style
At Elegant Simplicity, we’re very clear — most people are not one style. And if you think about it, that makes a whole lot of sense, doesn’t it? We’re human beings — we like a little this + a little that.
An interior design style to us, is merely a jumping off point; it's not a final destination. It’s a cohesive approach to designing a space around specific aesthetics. But it’s really just a label, that’s all because interior design should be customized, influenced + fit your needs.
Defining Home
Home is a reflection of the people who live there, your style, your memories, pieces from your travels + experiences… which means, asking yourself what your dreamiest, guiltiest pleasure home would look like, can rarely be described with one word, like "modern” or “traditional.” Hence, why style in the traditional sense is very limiting.
At its core, home is a place where you feel a sense of comfort, belonging, and safety. It is a place where everyone can relax, unwind, and be themselves. It is a place of personal expression, where you can design your environment to reflect your habits, routines, personality, style, and of course values.
Assess Your Vision So Your Home Will Reflect What Matters Most To You
We like to say, your home is more than a four letter word, it’s a love investment.
It’s a reflection of your personality, style, and your values. But you don’t get to any of these things if you’re trying to recreate what you found on pinterest or instagram in your home. So, where do you begin with identifying what matters most?
Consider How You Want To Feel At Home
Emotionality is SO important in determining your interior design style. In fact, one the things we do with our design membership clients is focus on the feelings + tyou want to evoke when you’re at home.
Do you want your home to feel adventurous, glamorous, calm, or welcoming?
Once you begin to put some context to how you want to feel — you can begin to use this as a litmus test for designing your home with cohesiveness + continuity.
Identify Your Core Values
What matters most to you?
Is it family, community, sustainability, or perhaps creativity? Once you’ve identified your core values (psst… check this out) think about how you can incorporate them into your home.
For example, if sustainability is integral to who you are, consider incorporating not only energy-efficient appliances, or low-voc paints but using eco-friendly materials throughout your home. From your remodels to how you furnish + style your home.
Assess Your Current Home
Before making any major changes to your home, it’s essential to assess your current home.
What do you like and dislike about your current home?
What aspects of your home align with your core values, and what doesn’t?
Taking the time to assess your current home can help you identify areas that need improvement and guide your decision-making process as well as help you prioritize changes.
Create a Plan
If you’ve done these steps, then it’s o-f-f-i-c-i-a-l-l-y time to create a plan.
You know around these parts we say, “Plan Your Work, Work Your Plan” which is a nod to our CEO (John’s) mentor, Dennis Green.
But no great goal comes to fruition without a plan — especially in your home.
Determine what changes you want to make to your home, how much you’re willing to spend, and what timeline you want to follow.
If you need resources, we’ve got you covered. Check out our Free Resource Library.
Consider The Functionality For Each Space
When it comes to interior design, considering your lifestyle is crucial to creating a functional and comfortable space that is everything you need + nothing more®.
Here are some key considerations that ensure your interior design style is truly functional for your home.
Family and Children
If you have young children or a large family, your home likely needs to be designed with some practicality + durability.
So how does this show up as an interior design style? Well, we’d choose fabrics that can withstand spills, stains, and frequent use, such as leather or performance fabrics.
Psst… check out our furniture upholstery guide.
With young children, you might opt for furniture with rounded edges, and avoid sharp corners that could cause injury. Now, that might not be a huge concern because perhaps you’re passed this stage in life. Then, consider adding storage solutions that can help keep toys and clutter organized.
You see — functionality is rooted in the interior design style for your home.
Pets
If you have pets, you’ll want to choose materials that are easy to clean and can withstand some level of pet wear and tear.
Nothing is going to be completely indestructible but there are good performance fabrics for pet-friendly furniture.
Entertaining
If you love to entertain, your home might be designed to accommodate guests.
Consider an open floor plan that allows for easy flow between rooms and ample seating for family + friends.
Make sure there’s plenty of space for serving food and drinks, and consider adding a bar area or beverage station.
Create a cozy and inviting atmosphere by incorporating soft lighting, comfortable seating, and decorative touches like candles and flowers.
Again — this is where your interior design style is rooted not in merely how it looks but in how it functions.
Work from Home
If you work from home, it’s important to create a designated workspace that’s separate from your living areas.
Choose a quiet and private space that’s away from distractions, such as a spare bedroom or home office.
You’d likely want to invest in a comfortable and supportive chair, a desk that fits your needs, and good lighting to avoid eye strain.
Find Your Design Themes
NOW as you start to consider design themes, what do colors you gravitate towards? Is there more of one color or a particular palette that you feel fits the emotionality you’re after?
What about the textures or wood tones that you prefer?
Take some notes on a high-level about what you discover (+ love), or, if you're working with our team at Elegant Simplicity, we’ll help you do this *wink*.
Make Your Interior Design Style Unique To You
Home is about the layers of you + your family's personality. So whether that’s bringing in some of what you’ve collected in your travels or incorporating some of what you’ve gathered throughout your life — making your interior design style unique to you is integral.
And this not only comes out as — what you like, collected or family heirlooms but it also comes out in your routines for day-to-day life.
Better yet, that home is going to not merely be a dumping ground for your belongings, it’s going to WORK for you. Because we're all about function meets productivity over here.
Need a short + clear path to your espresso machine in the AM? We got you.
Need a bathroom that's going to pamper you and help you feel organized and clear-headed? Check and check.
Whichever way you spin it, creating your interior design style isn’t an “exact” science. If you like it, it’s not right or wrong… it’s simply you. But having confidence in curating a home with an interior design style that comes from understanding of the emotionality you’re after, core values, functionality + then of course design themes.
In other words, it comes from taking the time to actually assess, curate + then transform your home.
Not to worry boo — we’re here. If you haven’t already, check out our 4 Days To A More Beautiful + Functional Home and when you’re ready to begin your transformational journey — let’s chat.
Psst... Here’s a quiz I made especially for you >>> What Interior Design Style Are You?