Discover Your Unique Decorating Style: A Timeless Guide to an Authentic Home
Have you ever wondered what your true decorating style is? Is it uniquely yours, reflecting your personal tastes, lifestyle, and aspirations? Embark on a journey to uncover the “just-right-for-you” decorating style – one that will transform your house into a truly authentic home, a sanctuary that resonates with your spirit and story.
The Journey to Your Signature Home Style
The quest for an authentic decorating style is a deeply personal and often evolving one. Recently, I was reminded of this when a new reader stumbled upon an article I penned back in 2011. This forgotten piece, buried deep within over a decade of blog archives, sparked a question about vintage decorating books featured in one of its images. Retrieving and rereading it brought a wave of personal satisfaction. It became clear that the aspirations I held a decade ago, the visions I cherished, had slowly but surely materialized without conscious effort.
What truly struck me about that old post, beyond my initial thoughts and accompanying images, was the realization that I had instinctively adhered to what always felt right. Over the years, as I approached decorating each room in my home, I simply stayed true to my innate preferences. The images I sourced online, long before platforms like Pinterest became ubiquitous, might be considered “old,” but their classic vibe transcends time, remaining as inspiring today as they were then. It’s this timeless approach to creating a home that I wish to share and update, offering inspiration to anyone who revels in the beautiful process of making their living space truly their own – in their unique style!
My decorating philosophy is simple: I love what I love because it makes perfect sense to me. While my style has seen minor tweaks and refinements over the years, it has never strayed far from the essence I captured in that ten-year-old post. Others may not understand or even appreciate my aesthetic, and that’s perfectly fine. My ultimate goal in decorating my home isn’t to please others, but solely to create an environment that reflects my genuine preferences and needs. This commitment to authenticity ensures that my home is truly my own, a perfect fit for my family and our way of life.
Unearthing “The House In Your Head”: Learning from Vintage Wisdom
Like many of you, I’ve always been a collector of inspiration. From physical clipping files brimming with magazine cutouts to meticulously curated Pinterest boards, these repositories overflow with ideas for decorating and living that resonate with my desires. Some of these are grand, aspirational dreams, but most are entirely achievable concepts that simply require focus, patience, and time to bring to fruition.
I fondly refer to these collections of magazine clippings and Pinterest boards as The House In My Head. This evocative title is inspired by the vintage Dorothy Rodgers book, prominently displayed on my bookshelf. Rodgers’ book beautifully chronicles her journey of building a dream home – a space designed not only to perfectly accommodate her family’s lifestyle but also to be an impeccable setting for entertaining. Given her husband was the renowned Rodgers of “Rodgers and Hammerstein,” entertaining was a significant part of their lives. I was immediately drawn to the title when I discovered the book at a thrift store many years ago.
Reading it proved to be a delightful experience. While many aspects of home decorating have undoubtedly evolved over the decades, it’s equally fascinating to see how many fundamental principles have endured. If you were to peruse my actual House In My Head file today, even without any prior knowledge of my blog or personal style, you would unequivocally grasp the essence of my personal decorating aesthetic. This file isn’t just a collection of images; it’s a tangible representation of my evolving design narrative, a testament to what truly captures my imagination and feels inherently right.
Decoding Your Aesthetic: How to Define Your Personal Decorating Style
My decorating style is best described as a harmonious blend of various influences, yet it’s far from eclectic in the traditional sense. Instead, it’s a meticulously curated aesthetic, precisely tailored to my unique tastes and functional needs. I am neither strictly shabby nor overtly chic. While I adore living near water, my style isn’t explicitly “beachy.” I appreciate modern design, but it must always incorporate soft, inviting lines that prioritize comfort. My ideal spaces feature natural textures like stone, set within open, airy environments, and I frequently employ a calming white palette punctuated with thoughtful pops of color.
Ultimately, my decorating style is precisely that – my style. And the same principle applies to you: your personal decorating style should be an authentic reflection of you. If you often find yourself paralyzed by choice when decorating, if you frequently bring home a piece of furniture or an accessory only to realize it feels entirely wrong, or if you simply struggle to make decisions amidst a myriad of decorating options, then it’s time to try one simple yet profoundly effective exercise.
The Art of Naming Your Style
Can you articulate your decorating style with a distinctive name? Move beyond generic classifications like “traditional,” “farmhouse,” “eclectic,” or “modern.” Instead, aim for something far more descriptive – a phrase that further refines these general terms by adding one or two illustrative words that truly capture what you love. Better yet, invent a decorating style name that is wholly and uniquely your own. Once you conceive of this name, make sure to write it down to solidify it in your mind.
Consider these examples of how other bloggers have successfully defined their specific decorating styles:
- Collected Eclectic
- Vintage Modern
- Cottage Farmhouse
- Transitional Neutral Farmhouse
- Fresh Flower Vintage Beach House
Give it a Try – Name Your Decorating Style
This process may take some time, so there’s no need to rush. Dedicate some thoughtful consideration until you arrive at a name that feels authentically right for your specific decorating tastes and preferences. This unique name will serve as your personal decorating compass, a guiding principle that helps you stay on course as you navigate the countless design decisions that arise when furnishing and styling your home.
For instance, back in 2011, I hadn’t yet coined a specific name for my decorating style. Today, I proudly call it White and Woodsy. Now, when I’m out shopping and encounter items I find appealing, I instinctively pause and ask myself, “Will this truly complement my ‘White and Woodsy’ style?” If it aligns, I consider the purchase. If not, I confidently move on. Adding a key color to your decorating style name can further streamline decision-making, particularly when faced with a spectrum of color choices. Imagine the clarity of a “Blue & White Refined Ranch” or a “Turquoise Boho Beach Shack” – these names immediately evoke a clear aesthetic, simplifying your selections.
From Vision to Reality: Achieving Your Decorating Dreams
What I’ve ultimately created in my home may not be exact replicas of the inspirational photos I saved a decade ago, but I’ve successfully brought to life a strong resemblance within my available means and resources. The elements I envisioned – living by the water, incorporating white, and embracing natural textures – have all wonderfully materialized.
Even though I hadn’t named my decorating style when I first penned that post ten years ago, looking back at those early photos now, I can clearly see the nascent emergence of my “White and Woodsy” aesthetic. It’s a powerful testament to the idea that our authentic style develops organically, even before we consciously define it.
What I Wrote in 2011: “The most important decorating element to me – is all about ‘the view’. I would love to look out to this, but as long as I have something far and wide to look at out my windows I am pretty happy. It could even be an apartment on 5th Avenue overlooking Central Park – I’ll take it.”
How I Made it Happen: We moved to live on the picturesque shores of a large lake, fulfilling my longing for an expansive view.
What I Wrote in 2011: “To enjoy ‘the view’ I like lots and lots of windows. My style is all about light.”
How I Made it Happen: I consciously avoided covering any doors or windows with heavy drapes or treatments that would obstruct the natural light or the precious view. Instead, I opted to create my own affordable, custom-made extra-wide white drapes, strategically positioned to frame the glass without impeding it.
What I Wrote in 2011: “This is my kitchen in my next house. I really love this white counter/cabinet window combo and lots of light!”
Fun fact: Just the other night while watching Longmire on Netflix, I instantly recognized a similar kitchen window in a house scene featuring the character Cady. My eyes were drawn to it immediately, a testament to how deeply ingrained certain aesthetics become.
How I Made it Happen: This particular vision for an expansive kitchen window remains a goal I’m actively pursuing, hoping to bring it to fruition should we undertake an addition to our current kitchen.
What I Wrote in 2011: “The style of the exterior of The House In My Head would look something like this. Plain and simple with lots of windows and classic trim.”
How I Made it Happen: I did have the exterior of my house painted a neutral color. While it may not be an exact match to my original vision, I ensured it stayed true to the desired color palette and classic aesthetic.
What I Wrote in 2011: “My style consists of white or light-colored walls with pops of color strategically placed.”
How I Made it Happen: I have consistently maintained my interior color palette over the years, primarily using white as a base and incorporating intentional color pops in shades of green, pink, blue, and purple.
What I Wrote in 2011: “My decorating style is pretty casual. It is all about enjoying the simple pleasures in life – an outside swing really makes me happy. It is the best way to enjoy ‘the view’.”
How I Made This Happen: While the dream swing isn’t installed yet, my husband Ed and I are actively working on it. For now, I find immense joy and peace sitting in this tranquil spot, taking in the view.
Cultivating an Authentically “YOU” Home Environment
If your home doesn’t currently evoke the look and feel of the inspirations you’ve been diligently collecting and saving over the years, it might be a gentle nudge to take action. It’s an opportunity to create a home you will genuinely adore, a space that feels utterly right for you and your family.
When was the last time you revisited your old decorating clipping files or scrolled through the Pinterest boards you created years ago? This seemingly simple act is an incredibly insightful way to observe how your personal style has naturally evolved over time. It can reveal if you’ve been unconsciously working towards and even achieving your decorating goals, often without fully realizing it. This reflection should undoubtedly instill a sense of pride and satisfaction in your decorating efforts.
As you embrace the role of a curator for everything related to your home – from what you envision creating to what you bring into your living space – you’ll increasingly witness a distinctive decorating style emerge. This style will be uniquely yours to claim, a true reflection that no one else can replicate in quite the same way. The ultimate reward? That wonderful moment when someone walks into your home and exclaims, “That is so YOU!” In that instant, you’ll know you have masterfully refined and articulated your authentic decorating style, creating a home that tells your unique story.
Photo Credits: Cohen & Hacker Architects, House and Home, Beautiful Homes, Atlanta Homes Magazine
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