Defining Your Style

As I began to study interior design I quickly realized I needed to define my very own style. This wasn’t the easiest thing for me because I tend to fall in love with beautiful things on a daily basis. In fact it took a few months to figure it out but I finally realized that the things I see in design stores, on instagram and in magazines might be items I like, or even love, but they aren’t always items I can live with for a long time. For myself, this comes down to a feeling, or a mood as they like to call it in design school. At the end of the day, I need my own home to feel very calm, serene and harmonious. In the past I would often go out and buy a bunch of new items to decorate a room, only to edit and remove about half of them six months later.  Furthermore, I realized that for me, that editing process feels WONDERFUL. I just love getting rid of stuff. I dislike clutter and think everything looks a lot cleaner without it. Not to mention it just feels better - calm and relaxing. 

So, after all of my research and soul searching, I came up with these words to describe my own personal design and decorating style – clean, minimalist, calm, elegant, timeless. This is especially true for the bones of any project I complete. Let’s face it, renovations are expensive in Canada so the practical side of me agrees it’s best to design a beautiful, timeless, neutral base that can be decorated with paint, fabric and accessories to remain current in over many years. 

Here’s an example of a kitchen that has not yet been decorated but that truly embodies my style. 

Source: Studio McGee

Source: Studio McGee

Below are links to a couple quizzes that can help you define your style. Pinterest is also a great tool to use to gather photos that you like and over time, as you scroll through your boards you will begin to see common elements of your own preferences.

Apartment Therapy What's Your Home Decor Personality?

Lonny.com MyStyle Finder Quiz

Houzz Decorating Style Quiz

If you need help defining your style or implementing it in your home a professional designer can help to ensure a result that will stand the test of time and that you will love for many years to come.  Let me know your style in the comments below.