Years ago, I ran a blog series titled She’s Got Style, celebrating unique approaches to home decor. Though that series has concluded, its spirit recently resurfaced. After sharing my thoughts on assigning a distinctive name to your decorating style, I received a heartfelt email from a reader. She resonated with the concept but confessed to struggling with defining her own preferences, let alone articulating a personal style or giving it a name.
Her query was direct: could I offer practical advice to help her unearth her unique decorating aesthetic, build confidence in her choices, and ultimately claim a style that is authentically hers?
This article aims to do just that. Further down, I’ll introduce you to six influential home decorating bloggers who exemplify personal style. Their homes are visual testaments to individuality – the kind of personal style that immediately captivates and inspires emulation. Continue reading to embark on your journey toward discovering and naming your truly unique decorating style.
Decorating Inspiration vs. Imitation: Cultivating Authentic Style
Before we dive deeper into the realm of decorating with distinct personal style, it’s crucial to distinguish between “inspiration” and “imitation” when sourcing ideas for your home. Understanding this difference is the first step toward genuine self-expression in your living spaces.
The advent of platforms like Instagram and Pinterest revolutionized how we consume home decorating content. While initially intended as sources of inspiration, these visual feeds have, for many, subtly shifted the meaning of being truly “inspired.” Instead of sparking unique ideas, they’ve inadvertently fostered a widespread trend towards uniformity. Homes, once diverse reflections of individual tastes, have increasingly begun to look identical, mirroring popular aesthetics and trending products.
We’ve collectively fallen into a “groupthink” mentality—a powerful, often subconscious, urge to conform and adopt what everyone else is doing to feel accepted. In the context of home decor, this means gravitating towards popular color palettes, furniture arrangements, and decorative objects simply because they are widely showcased and approved by online communities.
However, when it comes to developing your personal style in decor, or indeed in any aspect of life, the most impactful approach is to do the opposite of “groupthink.” Look inward. Authenticity is not just a buzzword; it’s the bedrock of a truly meaningful and comfortable home. Copying a look might seem like an easy path to a beautiful room, but this shortcut often leads to spaces that lack depth, personality, and genuine soul. Ultimately, you might find yourself in a home that feels foreign, rather than a sanctuary that truly reflects who you are.
“Personal style isn’t something that can be found through a quiz or curated by a professional designer. Cultivating your own requires being curious about what you love—even the things that surprise you—and then experimenting. That’s actually the point of true style, and the antidote for falling into the sameness trap in our own lives”. – Kate Arends of Wit & Delight
Finding Inspiration in Decorating Photos or Rooms: A Practical Approach
Ready to uncover what truly resonates with you? Here are several actionable strategies to help you discern your unique preferences when it comes to decorating your home:
Whether you’re flipping through a decorating book, scrolling through a magazine or social media feed, shopping for new furnishings, or simply visiting a friend’s home, pause and ask yourself these critical questions:
What catches your eye? Be attentive to the specific elements that draw your gaze. This could be anything from the overall mood of a room to the intricate details of a single decorative item. As you identify furnishings, unique decorative pieces, appealing color schemes, or desirable atmospheric qualities, start gathering them in one dedicated place. This could be a physical mood board, a Pinterest board, or a collection of saved images on your phone. Crucially, as you collect, describe each item or scene in detail. Jot down words that come to mind: “glossy,” “rustic,” “vibrant,” “serene,” “vintage,” “modern.” Include observations about colors, textures, feelings evoked, perceived age, condition, patterns, materials, and any other distinctive attributes. It could be something as subtle as the sheen on a cabinet handle or the gentle drape of fabric over a curtain rod. The goal is to capture every detail that makes your brain “light up.”
Is there a common thread among these items? Once you’ve amassed a collection of inspirations, step back and look for recurring themes. Do you consistently gravitate towards a specific color or a particular color palette, such as muted earth tones or bold jewel hues? Perhaps it’s a material, like aged metallics, distressed wood, or soft linens. Is it a certain texture that consistently appeals to you? Or maybe it’s not about specific items but more about the overarching feeling or ambiance the items, room, or decor evokes. Pay close attention to these feelings and list them. Identifying these common threads helps reveal your underlying aesthetic preferences.
Is everything new, old, or a mix of both? Consider the age and origin of the items that attract you. Do you prefer strictly contemporary pieces, a blend of antique and modern, or a room filled with vintage finds? Examine the color palette: is it strong and vibrant, or soft and subdued? Is your ideal space neutral, eclectic, rustic, traditional, minimalist, or perhaps a fascinating mishmash of various styles? Remember, it is perfectly acceptable if your preferences don’t neatly fit into a single, conventional decorating category. Releasing the pressure to conform to popular decorating style labels—like “Boho,” “Farmhouse,” or “Mid-Century Modern”—will liberate you to embrace what you genuinely love.
Once you’ve identified the items, colors, and feelings you gravitate towards, it’s equally important to consider what you *don’t* love. Actively remove or ignore anything that doesn’t align with your developing aesthetic, as these elements can interfere with the cohesive “look” you’re striving to create.
Whatever items, colors, and feelings you consistently lean toward, recognize that these preferences collectively define your unique style! Trust your instincts, embrace these inclinations, and continue to build upon them. The confidence to decorate in a way that feels inherently right for you, even if it diverges from current trends or the dictates of self-proclaimed design authorities, will allow your true personal style to emerge and flourish.
She’s Got Style: Inspiring Home Decor Bloggers Who Define Personal Aesthetic
Many home bloggers craft beautifully decorated spaces, but a select few manage to infuse their homes with an unmistakable sense of personal style that goes beyond mere aesthetics. The bloggers I’m featuring in this post possess this quality in spades. Each approaches decor with a distinct vision, creating environments that are truly individual—which, to my mind, is the very essence of personal style.
Their homes are so distinct that a quick glance at their photos in a feed immediately tells you whose space it is. This level of unique identity is what makes me think, “She’s Got Style,” and compels me to learn more about their approach.
What’s truly remarkable about these women is that none are celebrity designers with HGTV shows, best-selling decorating books, or unlimited budgets. Yet, their homes are consistently beautifully decorated, inviting, interesting, and, most importantly, stylishly unique to them. They demonstrate that authentic style isn’t about fame or fortune; it’s about thoughtful curation and confident self-expression.
These women possess an innate confidence that allows them to spot an item—whether at a flea market or HomeGoods—and immediately know it’s perfect for their home. They have no need to seek external validation, such as asking a friend, “What do you think of this?” Their internal compass guides them; if they love it, that’s all that matters. This cultivated self-assurance enables them to seamlessly integrate their unique stamp into every decorating choice, resulting in harmoniously styled homes.
Even when they invest in designer furnishings, they never simply replicate a catalog photo from floor to ceiling. Instead, they select one or a few key pieces and skillfully infuse them with their personal flair, ensuring the item becomes part of their unique narrative, not just a carbon copy.
Beyond personal taste, these bloggers have also mastered the fundamental elements of design. They intuitively understand how balance, symmetry, proportion, texture, contrast, emphasis, repetition, rhythm, pattern, white space, variety, and unity contribute to a well-composed space. This foundational knowledge allows them to arrange and incorporate every item into their homes in a way that is not only stylish but also visually intelligent and appealing.
Don’t Do This: Maximizing Your Decorating Inspiration
When you’re browsing blogs, magazines, or social media feeds, resist the urge to immediately dismiss a blogger’s style or an image simply because the overall aesthetic, colors, or specific items aren’t to your taste. This is a common mistake that can limit your growth and understanding of design.
Instead, adopt a more analytical approach: even if the overarching style isn’t for you, scrutinize the details. Observe how they utilize color, layer patterns, or combine different style items. Pay attention to the arrangement, grouping, and styling techniques. Think about how you could apply similar principles—the way objects are balanced, grouped, or presented—to your own possessions, even if your items are vastly different. This practice helps you extract valuable lessons and techniques that transcend specific decor trends.
Take your time to explore the posts on the blogs I’ve featured below (links are conveniently placed under each photo). I’m confident you’ll agree that each blogger offers a uniquely authentic take on decorating a room. You won’t find anything “cookie-cutter” or imitative; only genuine, personal decorating style shining through.
Emily A. Clark – Style: Colonial Glam
Emily’s approach to decor masterfully blends classic traditional elements with a touch of modern glam. Her signature style is vibrant, incorporating a spectrum of colors and a rich tapestry of patterns, all harmoniously mixed. Her homes feel both timeless and fresh, demonstrating a sophisticated yet lively aesthetic.
Emily’s Decorating Style Tips:
“I’m a bargain hunter, a devoted pattern lover, and a habitual re-arranger. My passion lies in taking the grand decorating ideas I encounter online and in magazines, and then dissecting them into manageable, less intimidating, and more achievable details for everyday homes.”
Kelly Elko – Style: Collected Eclectic
Kelly Elko’s home is a treasure trove of character, reflecting her love for collecting vintage items and her keen eye for finding unique pieces at tag and yard sales. She effortlessly blends old, quirky finds with new, trendy elements. Her spaces always feel perfectly curated, a testament to her ‘Eclectible’ style – a delightful fusion of eclectic and desirable elements.
Kelly’s Decorating Style Tips:
“If you truly want to create a decorating style that reflects your personality, my best advice is to start collecting something you genuinely love! One of my favorite techniques is to display cherished collections together. This creates a maximal impact and tells a compelling story. I have a particular fondness for vintage collections, far too many to count.”
“Some of my favorite collectibles include demijohns (large glass wine jugs), engraved loving cups (two-handled trophies), various ashtrays (which make fantastic trinket dishes), vintage cocktail shakers, unique drinking glasses, and old globes. There’s such joy in moving my collections around the house and weaving them into my seasonal decorating schemes.”
Julia at Cuckoo for Design – Style: Vintage European Boho
Julia from Cuckoo for Design aptly describes her decorating style as Vintage European Boho. Hailing from Germany and sharing my background in retail display, Julia possesses a fearless approach to DIY, enabling her to achieve her desired looks without breaking the bank. Her distinct European flair is evident in everything she creates. Beyond her design prowess, Julia is also celebrated among cat lovers for ingeniously crafting stylish and comfortable spaces for her beloved feline companions throughout her home. Just observe the charming hanging macrame basket in front of the window – a perfect example of her creative and animal-friendly design.
Julia’s Decorating Style Tips:
When asked about her decorating philosophy, Julia consistently advises friends and readers to focus on pieces that genuinely make them happy and feel comfortable, regardless of current trends. “For me,” she explains, “it’s about my family’s heirlooms. These foundational pieces can seamlessly integrate with modern or trendy decor, adapting to whatever future aesthetics may bring.”
“Currently, I’m very much into macrame because I enjoy creating it, but I’m quite sure my passion for it will evolve at some point, and that’s perfectly fine. The core foundation of my family heirlooms and favorite pieces will always remain, ready to harmonize with whatever new interests capture my attention down the road. I also always tell my friends and readers that buying a full furniture set from a store is unlikely to bring lasting happiness. Such purchases rarely reflect your true personality or personal style. It’s the unique pieces you collect and discover over time that truly make a house feel like a home.”
“As I grow older, I find myself wanting to change less in my home and buy fewer new items because I’ve curated and found pieces that I genuinely adore. I’ve reached a level of contentment when it comes to my home decor, a sense of having arrived at my authentic aesthetic.”
Ashley at The Handmade Home – Style: An Artful Mix
Ashley’s home is a vibrant showcase of her background as a graphic designer, with her colorful artwork often taking center stage in every room. The decor in her spaces thoughtfully complements her art, adhering to a carefully chosen, cheerful color palette. Her style is a harmonious blend of creativity and bold color, making her home a truly artful and inviting space.
Ashley’s Decorating Style Tips:
“I am incredibly passionate about decorating with personal style. It’s just as vital to absorb everything that genuinely resonates with you as it is to fearlessly edit out what doesn’t. The greatest gift you can give yourself in this process is to consciously take in all the beauty that speaks to your soul, while simultaneously letting go of anything you might be holding onto, even subconsciously.”
“Seek inspiration everywhere: observe set designs in movies and television shows, wander through flea markets, browse Pinterest, and flip through magazines—even pay attention to advertising. You never know when a spark of inspiration will strike. Actively collect ideas and elements that speak to you on a deeply personal level, and don’t be afraid to say no to those that don’t. (For example, you can absolutely let go of that ‘guilt dresser’ a relative gifted you because they ran out of space, especially if they won’t even let you paint it!) Boldly curating a home you love is the ultimate act of self-love, not just for yourself but for everyone who dwells there. Break the rules, do what truly makes you happy, and let your home tell your unique story.”
Donna at Funky Junk – Style: Repurposed Industrial Farmhouse
Donna at Funky Junk Interiors, a professional sign maker by trade, brilliantly merges her artistic skills with her passion for repurposing discarded items. She crafts unique furnishings and decor, often decorating her entire home with “junk” she transforms, making her style both distinctive and incredibly budget-friendly. She truly captured the essence of her aesthetic when she named her blog years ago: Funky Junk Interiors – a perfectly apt descriptor for her inventive and rustic approach.
Donna’s Decorating Style Tips:
“In all honesty, I don’t even know what to call my style! I simply combine elements that I genuinely love. It’s a distinct mix of antiques and rustic pieces, and I get there by repurposing collected items. This approach ensures my home is unique, features higher-quality pieces, and remains affordable for everyone. It’s truly a style that speaks to the heart of sustainable and creative living.”
“My drive to repurpose stems from a deeply ingrained belief that it’s an affordable way to live beautifully. This ethos traces back to my roots when I simply couldn’t afford to buy new items. That mindset will always be a part of me, no matter what. What’s ‘in’ or ‘out’ of style holds no meaning for me; the only rule I adhere to is making my home uniquely mine. For instance, notice the clever use of a yardstick incorporated into the mirror molding in my bathroom – it’s these personal touches that truly define my space.”
Yvonne at StoneGable – Style: Redefined Country
Yvonne at StoneGable eloquently calls her style Redefined Country. She has an unparalleled talent for creating elegant yet casual rooms predominantly in a neutral beige and white palette. Far from being monotonous, her interiors are always captivating, demonstrating a masterful ability to blend various shades of beiges and whites. Her secret lies in her astute understanding of contrast—balancing lighter tones with darker accents—and her expert integration of diverse textures, often punctuated by seasonal greenery or floral arrangements for a subtle pop of color.
Yvonne’s Decorating Style Tips:
“Transitioning from a large farmhouse to a downsized home on a golf course, though still in the same beautiful area, represented a monumental shift in my personal style. My new home simply didn’t align with the farmhouse aesthetic I had grown accustomed to and deeply loved. It has taken me nearly four years to truly discover and embrace my evolved style. However, now that I’ve grown more comfortable with my new transitional style in our ‘Tanglewood House,’ I feel confident in calling it ‘Redefined Country’!”
“Our home still respectfully nods to the beautiful bucolic area we reside in, but it now perfectly suits our more contemporary, open-concept living space. Sometimes, life changes necessitate a redefinition of your style, making it uniquely your own! And truthfully, we are never truly finished decorating—it’s an ongoing, joyful evolution.”
“Stay in your lane! Don’t let all the amazing and beautiful home decor tempt you to off-road and make unwise decor decisions. And don’t let trends trick you! Only use those you love and will work with your style!” – Yvonne Pratt
Now It’s Your Turn: Embrace Your Decorating Journey
As illustrated by the inspiring bloggers above, each has cultivated a uniquely individual decorating style that profoundly sets them apart. Like me, they are deeply passionate about expressing themselves through their home decor and would never consider doing it any other way. Their spaces are not just visually appealing; they are authentic extensions of their personalities.
If you’re currently wrestling with the challenge of pinpointing your personal decorating style, rest assured that you’re not alone. By diligently applying the tips and insights shared by these experienced bloggers, you will draw closer to understanding your core preferences. This process will, in turn, empower you with the freedom to style the items you love in fresh, innovative ways, fostering a deeper appreciation for your own curated collections. The journey of discovering what truly works for you may take time and require patience. You might not even perceive your style evolving in real-time, but others around you will undoubtedly notice, and they may even instinctively come up with a name that perfectly encapsulates your emerging aesthetic. So, commit to the process and keep exploring!
Finding a Name for Your Personal Decorating Style
The act of creating a name for your decorating style is more than just a playful exercise; it’s a powerful tool for maintaining focus as you define your unique aesthetic. Instead of attempting to force your preferences into a broad, pre-existing decor category, a personal name liberates you to combine the elements you love in novel and interesting ways.
When you sit down to brainstorm a name, don’t overthink it. Allow yourself to be both serious and silly. Jot down all the words you’ve used to describe items, feelings, and textures that appeal to you. Experiment with combining these words, playing with adjectives and nouns, to articulate what your personal decorating style truly looks and feels like. Is it “Cozy Maximalism,” “Industrial Botanical,” “Modern Vintage Farmhouse,” or “Eclectic Global Traveler”? The possibilities are as endless as your imagination.
Once you’ve settled on a name, it will serve as a guiding principle, helping you stay focused and consistent when you add new items, refresh spaces seasonally, or simply make daily decorating decisions. With your own unique style defined and named, you’ll no longer need to worry about common decorating trends—like Traditional, Modern, Boho, or Scandinavian—falling out of fashion. Your personal, unique-to-you style will transcend these categories.
There’s an incredible sense of freedom and contentment that comes with knowing what you love will never truly be out of style. Your personal aesthetic will continue to evolve and grow stronger as your confidence in your choices deepens, always staying true to your authentic likes and dislikes.
“Have courage in your vision, embrace the process, and relish the art of making a house feel like a home.” – Shea McGee
While this list showcases some truly exceptional examples, I’m sure you could add many more. To keep this post concise, I’ve highlighted a few more decorating bloggers whose personal style unmistakably shines throughout their homes:
- Tasha, with her vibrant ColorPop Modern style.
- Sarah, who masterfully crafts an American Classic aesthetic.
- Deb, whose home reflects an Old World Reinvented charm.
These, and many others, are testament to the endless possibilities of authentic home design.
More Personal Decorating Style Posts to Inspire You
- Why Rearranging Your Living Room Furniture Can Transform Your Space
- The Single Best Decorating Advice I Ever Received
- Mastering Your Signature Decorating Style
- Embracing Decorating Mistakes: Why They Can Be a Good Thing