How to Find Your Interior Design Style
How to Find Your Interior Design Style: A Classic Guide to Creating a Home You Love
Finding your interior design style can feel overwhelming, especially with so many beautiful options available. But the key to creating a home that feels truly you is to focus on what you love—not just what’s trending.
As an interior designer with a love for timeless, classic spaces, I believe every home should reflect both elegance and personality. Whether you're furnishing a new home or refreshing a room, here’s a thoughtful guide to help you uncover your signature interior design style.
1. Start with Your Inspiration
Look at what consistently catches your eye. Pull together images from Pinterest, Instagram, magazines, or even favorite hotels or historical homes. Ask yourself:
Are you drawn to symmetry and structure?
Do you love soft, neutral palettes or bold, saturated colors?
Are there certain materials—like wood, marble, brass, or linen—you keep gravitating toward?
Create a mood board or folder where you can start to see patterns emerge.
2. Audit Your Closet (Yes, Really!)
Your wardrobe often reflects your design style. Are your go-to pieces tailored and timeless? Do you favor natural textures like cotton, wool, or leather? The colors, patterns, and silhouettes you wear can offer unexpected insights into your aesthetic preferences.
3. Define How You Want Your Home to Feel
Design isn’t just about how your home looks—it’s about how it feels to live in it. Ask yourself:
Do you want your home to feel serene and sophisticated?
Comfortable and inviting?
Polished with a sense of history?
The mood you’re trying to create will help determine the direction of your style.
4. Identify Your “Forever Pieces”
Think about the furniture or decor you’ve owned the longest or loved the most. Chances are, those pieces reflect your enduring tastes. Whether it’s a French bergère chair, an antique dresser, or a classic blue-and-white ginger jar, these treasures help anchor your style.
5. Know the Design Vocabulary
Understanding the general language of interior styles can be helpful. You might relate to one of these classic styles:
Traditional – Elegant, timeless, and formal. Think antiques, symmetry, and layered textures.
Transitional – A blend of traditional and modern. Clean lines with classic touches.
Modern Classic – Sleek with a historical nod. Neutral palettes, refined finishes, and a less-is-more mindset.
You don’t have to fit into a single category, but knowing the terminology can help guide decisions and conversations.
6. Experiment Slowly
Start small—refresh a vignette on a console, swap out throw pillows, or restyle your shelves. Living with subtle changes lets you fine-tune your taste and make sure your style feels right in your space.
7. Trust Your Gut
Timeless design isn’t about chasing perfection or copying a Pinterest board. It’s about trusting your instincts and choosing pieces that speak to you. If you love it, it will never be out of style.
Final Thoughts
Discovering your interior design style is a journey, not a destination. As you evolve, your home will too—and that’s a beautiful thing. Whether your style leans fully traditional or mixes in some modern charm, the goal is to create a space that feels warm, welcoming, and uniquely yours.
Need help pulling it all together? I’d love to work with you to design a home that reflects your personal style with timeless elegance.