Have you ever met those people (or maybe you are one of them) who knew exactly what they wanted to be when they “grew up”? Knowing what they wanted to be provided them a clear path to achieve their goals. It made the decisions of where to go to school, what to major in etc. a lot easier!
via Beazly Home
via Ballard Designs
To create harmony just be sure to use each characteristic that have incorporated into your at least one or two other times.
For example, If I use the “natural materials” characteristic with a jute jug I would also want to include maybe a sisal basket and/or a piece of driftwood in the decor.
via Serena & Lily
What is missing from my list in the photo above? The texture, natural elements, more pretty details like gold accents or glass vases, and maybe some white woodwork like crown molding or board and batten.
This is a great post! I think it is really a good starting point to figure out what I like and what isn’t my style. You e made it simple and I’m a visual person as well, so the chart and the pictures are wonderful!
So happy to hear it, Sally! Thanks so much for the feedback!:-)
WONDERFUL post! I like so many different styles, yet find myself saying “I like farmhouse, but I really wouldn’t want that, or that, or that in my house!” It’s a better strategy to identify what you do like about a style. Thanks.
It really can get SO confusing! My pleasure, Dy, glad to help out a fellow multi-style lover.:-)
Design 101 is my favourite part of your blog. And this post is great, there is no need to make my own list because I can simply use yours – I like exactly the same things 🙂
:-), Val!
Thanks for all of the design tips. Very practical to identify styles!
You’re welcome, Suzanne! Thanks for being here!
Tamara, thank you so much for this information simplifying your decorating style! For me it gets so confusing. You helped me tremendously! Thank you!
I’m so glad it was helpful to you, Cheryl!:-)
I love your presentation.
It helps me to get out of the intersection and to identify a personal decorating style thank you for this enrichment.
You are very welcome, Wadii!:-)
Best “define your style/ find your decor style” post I’ve ever read. It’s so simple and spot on. Love the simplicity and your visual example. I’m a visual learner, too, so I appreciate it. Beautiful day in Cincinnati today, eh? :0)
So glad you liked it, Janey!! I’m in Columbus now and have enjoyed the beautiful weather today even though it’s been while cleaning out the garage and doing some yard work!:-) Thanks for stopping by today!!
I think this is such a straightforward and easy way to determine one’s decorating style! (Wish I’d thought of that.) I’m making my chart now!
Oh good, Pam, so glad you found it helpful.:-)
Great tips! I think so many of us don’t even know what our personal style is, or it might be a combination of a few mixed together. Sometimes that can cause problems with deciding how a client wants to decorate.
This is very nice post
And all over points in chart are great. 🙂
I can see how this could be helpful, but you listed trends which change. Remember “Tuscan” or “English Country Cluttered” or “British Colonial”? They came and went just like Farmhouse came and will eventually go out. Plus you left out, steam punk, gothic, Boho, mid century modern (which isn’t “modern” today), transitional, minimalism, industrial, Scandinavian, French Country, Swedish Country, Shabby Chic just to name a few. 15 years ago everyone wanted more “warmth” in my “cold” room but now everyone is piling on with wanting my wonderful cool blues, and back then even coastal decorating wouldn’t have included green with the blues. That combo went out with the 60s and came back a decade or so ago. The really difficult part is figuring out what is you apart from the trends which is what your chart is supposed to help people understand but so many people would have chosen warm colors 15 years ago and now they choose cool. I have read so many tearful blogs who go through a crisis when she is sick to death of shabby chic and hopes she never sees another pink rose as long as she lives, and now she really feels reborn knowing she was always supposed to live with modern urban Farmhouse decor. That poor blogger thinks she is found but she has never been more lost. I don’t know how to tell someone how to find their style. I think some people don’t really have a style and they just want to be current. If you do have a personal style, I think it will come to you by being honest about what you love and how you want to live apart from decorating at all. I hope you aren’t annoyed by my comment. This subject interests me intensely and I wish I had an answer. In this age of consumerism fatigue, we all need to work hard to find what is worth buying and what should be left behind. Your chart is a good start, but not the end.
Hi Tamara!
I just came across this and I greatly appreciate your advice in this particular post. Clearly, you were trying to help those of us who like aspects of many different styles find what we like and what appeals to us about each of the styles we like. Using your examples of what you like made it clear how to use the chart. Your likes do not take into account all the other styles listed in the “comments” above because they are YOUR likes. Anyone who reads this should understand this concept and not expect you to list every style of decorating, as this was not the purpose of the article. In addition, we should aspire to decorate in styles we like, and not worry about the opinions of others who feel some of these “fads” may or may not go out. So what, if we like them??? We can always change our decor, that’s the beauty of decorating. Thank you for an informative post!
This is just what I need. I love way too many styles so writing what I like about each one down is very eye opening. Thank you for the advice!
You are so welcome, Myra! Glad it was useful to you!!:-)