How to Find Your Decorating Style

Traditional decorating style

You don't need a decorator to turn your house into a home. It just takes ideas and a clear direction to decorate a house. To do this you will need to know your decorating style. It will determine which stores you shop at and what the finished product looks like. Once you know your decorating style, you'll be able to easily tell salespeople what you are looking for. If you don't think you have a design style, you may just need to take a closer look.

Things You'll Need

• Color swatches
• Decorating magazines

Instructions

1. Check out your closet. Pick out a few of your favorite items to wear. This will indicate which colors you gravitate toward and whether you like pattern. A little black dress may invoke a classic, traditional feel. If your favorite item is blue jeans, it suggests that your overall style should include comfort and durability.

2. Keep a scrapbook. You might be overwhelmed when designing a room from scratch. Draw inspiration from experienced professionals. When you see a picture that you love in a magazine, cut it out and put it in a file folder. Look back through the pictures and see if there are any emerging themes among your dream rooms.

3. Carry through the style of your home. Let the architecture of your home decide your decorating style. You probably chose the house because you liked the look of it. If you have a condo, try out a sleek modern style. This allows every room in your home to relate to each other. There is a lot of leeway in each style to personalize it and add your favorite colors.

4. Look through photos of your favorite vacations. Where you go to spend your free time says a lot about you. Think of how your favorite hotels or resorts are decorated. You may want a style that reflects the beach, mountains or city.

5. Consider maintenance. You should be able to live in your decorating style of choice. Think of how you actually live on a day-to-day basis. If you have kids or pets you may want a style that uses durable fabrics or worn furniture.

6. Experiment with paint. If you can't pick out an exact decorating style, start with paint. Paint is inexpensive to change. Save the investment pieces like furniture for later when you have a clear design direction. If you choose a country blue for the walls and hate it, you always can change it.

7. Gather your favorite items together. They don't have to be home-decor items. They can be anything from Christmas ornaments, shoes or hair accessories. See what the styles have in common. Are they trendy and contemporary? Do the items have a lot of sparkle or filigree work? Your decorating style may lie in your favorite era, such as the vintage 1930s, retro 1950s, or hip 1970s.

References

• Interior Decorating Styles
• 10 Tips to Find Your Style