Your home is your own personal sanctuary – a place for you to unwind, relax and spend time with loved ones. Whether you prefer minimalist designs or brighter patterns, it should be a space that reflects your personality, promoting comfort and joy.
Finding your own interior design style isn’t about following trends, it’s about creating a space that resonates with you. From playing with colours and textures to displaying items you love, here are some tips to discover your unique personal style.
Start with what you love
Consider those treasured items that you already have and what it is that you love about them. Look at what they add to the space and how they make you feel. Here are some questions to ask yourself:
- What do your favourite items have in common?
- Is there a particular style you gravitate towards?
- Are there certain colours that you love?
- What mood do you want to create in your space?
- What practical needs do you need your space to cater to?
Asking yourself questions like this can help you narrow down the mood or feel of the space you want to create.
Experiment with textures and patterns
Layering patterns and textures can help elevate the overall look of a room, adding depth, character, and visual interest. The right textures can invite touch and evoke sensory experiences.
Start with the foundations like your flooring. A smooth wood-look flooring can pair well with a tactile material like a textured jute rug. You can also balance patterned wallpaper with cabinetry painted in a solid colour.
If you’re looking for a smaller update, then your soft furnishings can be a great way to add visual interest. Pair a fluffy throw blanket with a sleek leather armchair, or pick pillows with different textures like velvet.
The key lies in achieving balance between the textures and patterns to create a cohesive look. Try experimenting with different combinations, making sure to offset bold statements with subtle accents to create a cohesive look.
Explore different colours
Colour has the ability to influence the overall mood of a room. Do you want an energising, warm space? Or prefer a calm and serene design? Think about the atmosphere you want to create.
The warm embrace of red, orange, and yellow can help create a warm and cosy feel – perfect for living rooms. Cool colours like blue and green, on the other hand, can create a calming and relaxing ambiance, ideal for a serene bedroom. From paint and furniture colours, to soft furnishings and accessories, there are plenty of ways to add colour to your space. Be brave, be bold and experiment with colour palettes that resonate with your personal style and the feeling you want to evoke in your home.
Mix, not match
Embrace the beauty of eclecticism in interior design by mixing and matching different elements from different eras, trends, and influences. Instead of a perfectly coordinated look, blend elements that resonate to create a space that is uniquely yours. Focus on finding common threads between seemingly unrelated pieces to maintain a cohesive feel. For example, when combining modern and traditional styles, look for shared design elements such as clean lines or similar colour palettes. By starting with a neutral base and layering in different styles and textures, you can create a harmonious and visually interesting space.
Functionality meets fun
Transforming a house into a home is about more than just aesthetics; your space should also be functional for your lifestyle. When designing your space, think about your daily habits and activities. From here, you can adjust your layout with furnishings to suit. Here are some things to consider:
- Ensure your furniture placement works with the traffic flow and doesn’t block doorways or entry points.
- Look at multifunctional furniture options like modular couches with storage, fold-out couches or ottomans with blanket storage.
- Consider items that you need regularly and where you store them. Other items that you might not need on a regular basis can be stored away.
A well thought-out and organised space where everything has its place helps tasks and daily life flow seamlessly.
Include sentimental items
While trends and design elements are important, so are the items that showcase your personality. Personal mementos, heirlooms and even photographs are more than just decorative items, they can be used to evoke memories and add a unique touch to your space.
To blend them seamlessly into your design, consider using them as accent pieces or focal points. For example, create a mini gallery wall of your favourite photos in stylish frames, mix vintage furniture with your modern décor, or use objects of interest as statement pieces to draw the eye. By combining these sentimental items into the overall vision, you can create a space that is evocative and full of personal history.
Break the rules
Your home should be a reflection of who you are, so trust your instincts when it comes to design choices. While trends and advice are useful, the ultimate goal is to create a space that feels authentic to you. If the clean lines and simple shapes of minimalism resonate with your personality, embrace it. If the comeback of the Victorian Era aesthetic of eclectic maximalism speaks to you, don’t be afraid to explore expressive design choices like striking colours, large-scale patterns, and textured wallpapers. Step outside conventional guidelines and design rules to create a space that is truly you.
Experiment with what makes you happy
Finding your interior design style is an ongoing journey, not a destination – embrace this journey of self-discovery and creativity. Be patient and open to change as your style evolves over time, knowing your home can grow and transform with you. Remember, there are no strict rules when it comes to design, so trust your instincts and enjoy the process of making your house a home that truly reflects who you are.
