How to Find Your Home Decorating Style and Get Inspired

January 19, 2024 Post a Comment

Do you want to transform your living space into a reflection of your personality, taste, and preferences? Do you feel overwhelmed by the plethora of decorating styles and options available? Do you need some guidance and inspiration to get started?

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then this article is for you. In this article, you will learn how to find your home decorating style and get inspired by various sources of ideas. You will also discover how to create a mood board, choose a color scheme, select furniture and decor, and incorporate personal touches to your home.

Understanding Your Personal Style

Before you dive into the world of home decorating, you need to understand your personal style. Your personal style is the expression of your individuality, preferences, and values through your appearance, behavior, and environment. Your personal style reflects who you are and what you like.

Why is it important to understand your personal style? Because it will help you create a home that suits your needs, desires, and lifestyle. It will also help you avoid wasting time, money, and energy on decorating choices that do not resonate with you.

How can you identify your personal style? There are several ways to do so, such as:

Taking a quiz or a test online that assesses your personality, preferences, and tastes.
Looking at your wardrobe, accessories, and jewelry and noticing the colors, patterns, fabrics, and styles that you gravitate towards.
Browsing through your photos and albums and observing the places, people, and things that make you happy and inspired.
Making a list of your hobbies, interests, passions, and values and thinking about how they influence your aesthetic choices.
Asking your friends, family, and colleagues for feedback and opinions on your style and how they perceive you.

Exploring Different Decorating Styles

Once you have a clear idea of your personal style, you can explore different decorating styles and see which ones appeal to you the most. Decorating styles are the categories or classifications of design elements, such as colors, shapes, textures, materials, and furniture, that create a specific look or feel in a space.

There are many decorating styles to choose from, and each one has its own characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. Here are some of the most popular decorating styles and their brief descriptions:

Traditional: This style is inspired by the classic European design, especially from the 18th and 19th centuries. It features elegant, formal, and symmetrical arrangements of furniture and decor, rich and warm colors, ornate details, and luxurious fabrics and materials. It is ideal for those who appreciate history, sophistication, and refinement.
Modern: This style is influenced by the modernist movement of the early 20th century. It emphasizes simplicity, functionality, and minimalism. It features clean lines, geometric shapes, neutral colors, and sleek and smooth surfaces. It is ideal for those who appreciate innovation, efficiency, and clarity.
Contemporary: This style is based on the current trends and preferences of the present day. It is dynamic, fluid, and eclectic. It features a mix of styles, colors, textures, and materials, often with a touch of whimsy and surprise. It is ideal for those who appreciate diversity, creativity, and flexibility.
Rustic: This style is inspired by the natural and rural environments, especially from the countryside, the mountains, and the forests. It features organic, rough, and rugged elements, such as wood, stone, metal, and leather. It features earthy, warm, and cozy colors, textures, and patterns. It is ideal for those who appreciate nature, authenticity, and coziness.
Industrial: This style is influenced by the industrial revolution and the urban loft spaces. It features exposed, raw, and unfinished elements, such as brick, concrete, pipes, and wires. It features cool, neutral, and metallic colors, textures, and materials. It is ideal for those who appreciate edginess, boldness, and contrast.
Coastal: This style is inspired by the seaside, the beach, and the ocean. It features light, airy, and breezy elements, such as sand, shells, coral, and driftwood. It features soft, soothing, and refreshing colors, textures, and patterns, often with a nautical theme. It is ideal for those who appreciate relaxation, calmness, and serenity.
Bohemian: This style is inspired by the bohemian lifestyle, culture, and art. It features eclectic, exotic, and colorful elements, such as rugs, pillows, tapestries, and lanterns. It features vibrant, lively, and expressive colors, textures, and patterns, often with a global or ethnic flair. It is ideal for those who appreciate freedom, individuality, and originality.
Mid-Century Modern: This style is inspired by the mid-20th century design, especially from the 1950s and 1960s. It features retro, futuristic, and playful elements, such as curved lines, tapered legs, and geometric forms. It features bright, cheerful, and contrasting colors, textures, and materials. It is ideal for those who appreciate nostalgia, fun, and optimism.
Scandinavian: This style is inspired by the Nordic countries, such as Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. It features simple, cozy, and functional elements, such as wood, fur, wool, and cotton. It features light, neutral, and muted colors, textures, and patterns, often with a touch of black or blue. It is ideal for those who appreciate comfort, warmth, and elegance.
Art Deco: This style is inspired by the artistic and cultural movement of the 1920s and 1930s. It features glamorous, sophisticated, and geometric elements, such as mirrors, chrome, marble, and glass. It features bold, rich, and dramatic colors, textures, and patterns, often with a metallic or glossy finish. It is ideal for those who appreciate luxury, glamour, and flair.
Minimalist: This style is inspired by the Japanese philosophy of Zen and the concept of less is more. It features essential, clean, and clutter-free elements, such as white walls, open spaces, and hidden storage. It features monochromatic, subtle, and harmonious colors, textures, and materials. It is ideal for those who appreciate simplicity, tranquility, and order.
Shabby Chic: This style is inspired by the vintage and cottage-style decor, especially from the French countryside. It features distressed, worn, and faded elements, such as antique furniture, floral fabrics, and lace curtains. It features soft, pastel, and romantic colors, textures, and patterns, often with a feminine touch. It is ideal for those who appreciate charm, nostalgia, and sweetness.
Eclectic: This style is inspired by the fusion and mix of different styles, cultures, and periods. It features diverse, unique, and unexpected elements, such as mismatched furniture, eclectic art, and quirky accessories. It features vibrant, expressive, and creative colors, textures, and patterns, often with a personal or sentimental meaning. It is ideal for those who appreciate adventure, individuality, and surprise.

Finding Inspiration

Now that you have explored different decorating styles and identified your personal style, you can start finding inspiration for your home. Inspiration is the spark that ignites your imagination and creativity. Inspiration can come from anywhere and anything, such as:

Online resources: There are many online resources that can provide you with inspiration, such as blogs, websites, podcasts, videos, and e-books. You can search for topics, keywords, or images related to your style and preferences, and browse through the results. Some of the popular online resources for home decorating are Houzz, Apartment Therapy, HGTV, and Pinterest.
Social media: Social media is another great source of inspiration, as you can follow, like, comment, and share posts from other people who share your style and interests. You can also join groups, communities, and forums where you can interact with other home decorators and get tips, feedback, and suggestions. Some of the popular social media platforms for home decorating are Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and Reddit.
Magazines: Magazines are a classic source of inspiration, as they feature beautiful photos, articles, and stories of different homes and styles. You can subscribe to magazines that cater to your style and preferences, or buy them from bookstores, libraries, or online. Some of the popular magazines for home decorating are Better Homes and Gardens, Elle Decor, Architectural Digest, and Country Living.
Home decor stores: Home decor stores are a fun and practical source of inspiration, as you can see, touch, and feel different products, furniture, and accessories that suit your style and preferences. You can also get ideas on how to arrange, display, and combine different items in your home. Some of the popular home decor stores are IKEA, Pottery Barn, Crate and Barrel, and Anthropologie.
Nature: Nature is a natural and abundant source of inspiration, as it offers a variety of colors, shapes, textures, and patterns that can inspire your home decor. You can observe and appreciate the beauty of nature, such as the sky, the sea, the mountains, the flowers, and the animals, and incorporate them into your home. You can also collect natural items, such as rocks, shells, leaves, and branches, and use them as decor.
Travel: Travel is an exciting and enriching source of inspiration, as it exposes you to different cultures, lifestyles, and environments that can inspire your home decor. You can visit and explore different places, such as cities, countries, or regions, and learn about their history, art, architecture, and traditions. You can also bring back souvenirs, such as photos, postcards, maps, and artifacts, and use them as decor.

Creating a Mood Board

A mood board is a visual tool that helps you organize and present your ideas, inspiration, and vision for your home decor. A mood board can include images, colors, textures, patterns, fonts, quotes, and anything else that represents your style and preferences.

How can you create a mood board? There are several ways to do so, such as:

Using a physical board, such as a cork board, a poster board, or a canvas, and attaching your items with pins, glue, or tape.
Using a digital tool, such as an app, a website, or a software, and uploading or dragging your items onto a virtual board.
Using a combination of both, such as printing your digital items and adding them to your physical board, or scanning your physical items and adding them to your digital board.

Some of the popular digital tools for creating mood boards are Canva, Adobe Spark, PicMonkey, and Moodboard.

Tips for creating a mood board:

Start with a theme, a concept, or a goal for your home decor, such as cozy, modern, or eclectic, and use it as a guide for selecting your items.
Choose a variety of items that showcase different aspects of your style and preferences, such as colors, shapes, textures, materials, and furniture.
Arrange your items in a way that creates balance, harmony, and contrast, and that highlights the focal points and the connections between them.
Experiment with different layouts, sizes, and positions of your items, and see what works best for you.
Review your mood board and see if it reflects your personal style and vision, and if it inspires you to decorate your home.

Choosing a Color Scheme

A color scheme is a set of colors that you use to decorate your home. A color scheme can create different moods, effects, and impressions in your space, such as warm, cool, bright, or dark. A color scheme can also enhance or complement your style and preferences, such as traditional, contemporary, or bohemian.

The importance of color:

Color can affect your mood, emotions, and energy levels, such as red can make you feel passionate, blue can make you feel calm, and yellow can make you feel cheerful.
Color can influence your perception of space, such as light colors can make a room look bigger, dark colors can make a room look smaller, and warm colors can make a room look cozy.
Color can create contrast, harmony, and interest in your space, such as complementary colors can create contrast, analogous colors can create harmony, and accent colors can create interest.

How to choose a color scheme:

Start with a base color, which is the dominant color in your space, such as the color of your walls, floors, or ceilings. You can choose a base color that matches your mood board, your personal style, or your existing furniture and decor.
Add secondary colors, which are the colors that support and complement your base color, such as the colors of your furniture, curtains, rugs, or pillows. You can choose secondary colors that create a balance, a contrast, or a harmony with your base color, depending on the effect you want to achieve.
Add accent colors, which are the colors that add pops of interest and personality to your space, such as the colors of your accessories, art, plants, or lighting. You can choose accent colors that create a focal point, a surprise, or a statement in your space, depending on your preferences.

Tips for choosing a color scheme:

Use a color wheel, which is a circular diagram that shows the relationships and combinations of colors, such as primary, secondary, and tertiary colors, and complementary, analogous, and triadic colors.
Use a color palette, which is a collection of colors that work well together, such as monochromatic, which uses different shades of the same color, or analogous, which uses colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.
Use online tools, such as websites, apps, or software, that can help you generate, explore, and test different color schemes, such as Coolors, Adobe Color, or Color Hunt.

Selecting Furniture and Decor

Furniture and decor are the items that fill your space and give it character, function, and comfort. Furniture and decor can include sofas, chairs, tables, lamps, rugs, pillows, art, plants, and more. Furniture and decor can also enhance or complement your style and color scheme, such as traditional, modern, or eclectic, and warm, cool, or neutral.

How to choose furniture and decor that fits your style:

Start with the essentials, which are the items that you need and use the most, such as a bed, a sofa, a dining table, and a desk. You can choose the essentials that match your style and preferences, such as the shape, size, material, and color of the items.
Add the accessories, which are the items that add interest and personality to your space, such as lamps, rugs, pillows, art, plants, and more. You can choose the accessories that create a contrast, a harmony, or a balance with your essentials, depending on the effect you want to achieve.
Add the finishing touches, which are the items that complete and polish your space, such as curtains, mirrors, candles, books, and more. You can choose the finishing touches that create a focal point, a surprise, or a statement in your space, depending on your preferences.

Tips for selecting furniture and decor:

Use a floor plan, which is a drawing or a diagram that shows the layout and the dimensions of your space, and the position and the size of your furniture and decor. You can use a floor plan to plan, measure, and arrange your furniture and decor, and to avoid overcrowding or underutilizing your space.
Use online tools, such as websites, apps, or software, that can help you visualize, design, and decorate your space, such as RoomSketcher, Planner 5D, or Homestyler.
Use your mood board, which is a visual tool that helps you organize and present your ideas, inspiration, and vision for your home decor. You can use your mood board to guide, compare, and select your furniture and decor, and to see how they work together in your space.

Incorporating Personal Touches

Personal touches are the elements that make your space unique, meaningful, and special to you. Personal touches can include photos, souvenirs, collections, hobbies, memories, and more. Personal touches can also reflect your personality, values, and passions, such as family, travel, or music.

How to add personal touches to your decor:

Start with a story, which is a narrative or a theme that connects your personal touches, such as a trip, an event, or a person. You can choose a story that inspires you, makes you happy, or represents you, and use it as a guide for selecting your personal touches.
Add the items, which are the objects that illustrate your story, such as photos, souvenirs, collections, hobbies, memories, and more. You can choose the items that relate to your story, and that showcase your personality, values, and passions.
Add the details, which are the features that enhance your items, such as frames, shelves, hooks, labels, and more. You can choose the details that match your style and color scheme, and that highlight your items.

Tips for incorporating personal touches:

Use a gallery wall, which is a wall that displays a collection of items, such as photos, art, or souvenirs, in a creative and organized way. You can use a gallery wall to showcase your personal touches, and to create a visual impact in your space.
Use a display case, which is a cabinet, a shelf, or a table that displays a collection of items, such as books, figurines, or trophies, in a neat and attractive way. You can use a display case to showcase your personal touches, and to create a focal point in your space.
Use a personal corner, which is a small and cozy area in your space that is dedicated to your personal touches, such as a desk, a chair, or a window sill. You can use a personal corner to showcase your personal touches, and to create a relaxing and comfortable spot in your space.

If you’re looking for inspiration on how to decorate your sitting room, look no further than this blog post. It has everything you need to know.

Conclusion

Finding your home decorating style and getting inspired is a fun and rewarding process that can help you create a home that suits your needs, desires, and lifestyle. By understanding your personal style, exploring different decorating styles, finding inspiration, creating a mood board, choosing a color scheme, selecting furniture and decor, and incorporating personal touches, you can transform your living space into a reflection of your personality, taste, and preferences.

We hope this article has helped you find your home decorating style and get inspired. If you have any questions, comments, or suggestions, please feel free to contact us. We would love to hear from you. Happy decorating! 😊

DMA Homes