Buying new furniture and making big changes to your home is a financial investment, but it’s also a labor of love that requires time and effort. Making these decisions can be challenging, especially if you’re not quite sure what type of interior design style suits you best. Whether you’re buying a new home or planning to remodel, it’s important to know how to figure out your design style so that you can make the right choices. From finishes and colors to furniture styles, read on to discover how you can determine your own unique design style.
Think About the Room’s Overall Aesthetic
Perhaps you want your home to feel cozy and welcoming, or maybe you’d rather have a home that’s edgy and cool. Some people prefer to mix and match textures and colors, while others want a home that’s formal and sophisticated. The goal is to determine what you want the vibe of your home to portray. Take a look at several different designs online to help you “weed out” the ones that just don’t suit you. Whether it’s a home with an industrial edge or a space with soft neutral colors and hardwood floors, the feeling you get when you walk into the room is the first step in learning how to figure out your design style. You might have a eureka moment as soon as you see a room that really speaks to you, which is a great way to get the foundation of what you want.
Explore Furniture Options
While flooring, paint color, and finishes are all important, the furniture you choose will have a huge impact on the overall design style of your home. Look at a variety of styles to help you determine which one inspires you. You might love the idea of solid hardwood furniture with a distressed whitewash finish. Or, you could be drawn toward leather furniture that helps you create a warm, inviting space. It’s important to note that you’re not just limited to pre-made furniture. In fact, you can design custom furniture in the Bay Area using our Design Center, so that your home has a look that is unique to you. Ultimately, you want to select furniture that helps you express yourself while bringing the style together with the rest of the space.
What Colors Speak to You?
One crucial way to understand how to figure out your design style is by selecting a color palette that you enjoy. Soft, neutral colors like gray, light brown, and cream tend to lean more toward a rustic or farmhouse style. Bright, bold colors in jewel tones or neon are much more suited for people who prefer ultra-modern looks. Darker tones in black, metallics, or deep brown are often best suited for industrial-inspired homes. Earthy colors of green, light blue, and tan are a classic color palette for boho-chic and eclectic homes. Take a closer look at a variety of colors and see how they play together. This will help you get a clearer vision of how your home will be designed when all is said and done.
Let Your Personality Shine
The key to great interior design is allowing your home to become a part of your personality. If you adore bright colors and funky artwork, you likely lean toward a modern style. Those who appreciate floral patterns, soft colors, and natural materials may prefer their homes to be farmhouse-inspired. An affectation for rugged designs using metal and glass could mean that you’re better suited to design an industrial home. Think about the things in life that inspire you, and use them as a guide when you develop your unique taste. Remember, your home is your personal oasis, so it should be a place where you can express yourself in a way that makes you feel happy and fulfilled. Don’t be afraid to go bold and choose unique artwork or funky furniture when designing a room.
Start with What You Have
A great way to figure out your design style is by starting with what you already have. Go through each room individually and decide which items you love and want to hold onto, and which ones you think can go. Eliminating the furniture, accessories, and colors that don’t suit you will help to reveal your true design style. Anything that you think should remain will be a great foundation as you build upon what’s already there. If you absolutely love your solid wood dining table but don’t care for your metal dining chairs, you’re well on your way to figuring out that classic or rustic design might suit you better than modern.
Try Some Trial and Error
Sometimes, learning by trial and error is the best way to determine your design style. For example, you can paint one wall in a new color, then let it sit for a month before you decide whether or not it’s the right palette for you. Try rearranging the furniture you already have to help you decide which pieces you want to update. Maybe your light yellow, current three-cushion sofa is outdated and too small and upgrading to a modern sectional is the perfect way to elevate your living room. Re-style your wall art by moving things around. This is a great way to help you get clarity about how things should look, and which items might not be serving you in the best way. This trial and error practice will help to open your eyes to new ideas and new products that you might not have realized you needed before.
Whether it’s a color palette, custom furniture, or looking for new ways to show off your personality, discovering how to figure out your design style should be a fun process. Explore different options by slowly trying new things, and eventually, you’ll discover exactly which interior design style is made for you.