How to Define Your Interior Identity

My friend has been living with a kitchen table she hated for years all because a well meaning decorator/salesperson talked her into it.. How many of us have experienced a similar story? 

You buy the chair off Facebook marketplace only to haul it home and realize something about it just isn’t right in your space. 

Or you feel guilted into keeping the well made family heirloom china hutch from your mom who insists it will look stunning in your dining room but it’s just not the vibe you were going for.

Or the trendy anthro inspired mirror you see in all the influencers pictures doesn’t work its magic once you bring it in your bedroom.

Your rooms still feel off… so what gives? 

There is a home inside of you. ~ Meera Lee Patel

And it isn’t like your mother’s or your sister’s or any trend going around on IG- no matter what they all tell you. 

How you feel about and decorate your home is uniquely YOU- it’s your desire of how the elements of design come together in a way that makes you feel your best. There are lots of overarching styles we can identify with but even under those umbrellas- farmhouse, transitional, organic modern, french country, etc., each person’s room will look different because we all have certain desires and wishes for how we want to experience color, pattern, texture, light, line, shape and space in our homes.

If something feels off in your space chances are one of those elements is out of whack for your particular taste.

But, good news- you just need to go on a little treasure hunt to discover what feels good to you in your room. The clues are already there just waiting for you to find and apply them. 

When we can integrate our soul and our surroundings our home becomes a nurturing environment that helps us achieve our dreams and goals.

As a designer I don’t offer my ideas or advice to my clients without helping them get to know themselves first. (Chalk it up to my background in life coaching…) First I help you see what your thoughts are about things and then I can guide you into decisions that feel right to you. Figuring out your design personality is like exercising a muscle or honing any skill. Over time you gain more confidence. You get to know yourself and what you like.

So how exactly do you figure out what you like?

Because I’m visual, my first stop is Pinterest- my 2nd is old school magazines. (what, you don’t have a file folder or two stuffed with dreamy interiors you pulled out of better homes and gardens and country living going back to the 90s? Go grab one, I’ll wait!) But you can also build your inspiration images with photos on your camera roll from places you encounter in your everyday travels or vacations. 

Print and spread out those images in front of you and start asking questions: How do I like to experience patterns in my space? The more the merrier or sparingly? Where do I like to see patterns? On the pillows only or do I love a good floral print fabric on an accent chair? What types of patterns do I love? Geometric? Floral? Southwest?

Or what about color? Do I love saturated jewel tones, pastels or moody dark academia color palettes? Sparing pops of color in a mostly neutral backdrop or do I love spaces that are a joyful crayon box of eclectic goodness?

I could go on but I made a free guide just for you to start digging into what makes your heart sing when it comes to furnishing and styling your home. 

This is a great tool to help sort out how you prefer to experience all the elements of design in your space. And that knowledge informs and helps you make choices you’ll love (and not loathe) for a long time. It’s freeing to know what will work and what won’t. It narrows choices and stores to shop from when you can confidently express what you’re looking for and what you desire. And you no longer have to ask your well meaning neighbor or sister because you’ll know that chair is for you! (P.S. unless they know you really well, their opinions may not be as helpful to you anyway because they’re in relation to their unique interior identity and not yours)

Other clues to help you discover your interior Identity

Closet cues- when I was putting together my color story for the living room and trying to find fabric samples to take with me to the sofa store that represented the upholstery I already had, I realized a lot of the colors and textures I was drawn to in my interiors also lived in my closet. Saturated and jewel toned solid colors. No stripes and not a lot of white. Interesting details. Vintage florals. Neutrals of cream, tan, dark grey and black. So, off I went to shop with a blue velvet pullover, a grey and white blouse and green shirt tucked in my bag.

Wildcards

If you have wildcard or one off images tucked into your spread don’t write them off– you’re interior identity isn’t bipolar- the images that deviate from the overarching theme you’re generally drawn to point to some elements of design you would like to incorporate but maybe in a smaller dose- a room or space you don’t use every day- like a powder room or guest room- somewhere you can do the unexpected and not be overwhelmed by it.

So let’s ditch decision fatigue and relying on trends or our well meaning friend to inform our decorating decisions! 

Home is YOUR haven. 

And I’m here to help you make YOUR design dreams come true!