The past few years have been full of lessons. For someone who lives at home and a serial decorator (re) like me, this is a big one: never underestimate the value of creating a home where you like to spend time. (In some cases, a a lot on time.)
Doing so is actually easier said than done, and far from a one-size-fits-all approach. Some things – certain aspects of your place, or maybe your current situation – can make it difficult to take on big changes or expensive renovation projects. But one place we can all start? Finding (or creating) a home decor style that works, then taking steps, big or small, to bring it to life.
I’ve lived in 11 addresses in my life (a good portion thanks to the New York City rental market), and made some questionable decorating choices along the way. But my ninth home, a 350-square-foot studio apartment and my first grown-up space on my own, was a turning point in understanding the power of creating an empty box. Most importantly, it allowed me to find my own style of beautiful and colorful decorations during that time.
Now, several years and two places later, I’ve created a home that feels more personal – more like me and the partner I share it with – than before. It’s an evolution of the style I’ve developed in a small studio that has grown with me and I know it will only continue.
So if you’re feeling inspired to rethink your space in the new year, or you’re looking for some advice to share later, maybe I can help. Here are some tips to make your home feel like you, so you can enjoy it to the fullest.
How to Find Your Inner Style
1. Practice What You Love
We do it with food, fashion, and even dating. So why does it seem so difficult to nail down an interior style (or styles) that we like? I have an opinion. Furniture and decorations are not the same as fashion; it’s bigger, more expensive, and takes up more space. Aside from collecting blankets and tchotchkes, it’s much easier to have more coats or change lipstick than it is to swap out your sofa or have another set of dining chairs. The pieces in your home are designed to live with each day, and you want to love what you share the space with. In this case, decision paralysis can be very real.
So, where to start? You have options. For some, the questions made in the insider’s style can lead you in the right direction (especially a thoughtful one from a developer, like this one). For some, browsing Pinterest and Instagram are great ways to get your hands on a variety of styles (and keep your favorites). Don’t overthink it; you will know what you naturally gravitate towards.
I take a mixed approach: saving and clicking while taking pictures of things (hotel spaces, wall colors and furniture in restaurants) that I see in real life. I also look at online stores like AllModern, antique sites like Chairish, and even Facebook Marketplace.
When reading, don’t overlook the little things – even if you don’t like the big picture. For example, you may not like the way the entire room looks, but you may like a particular side table. Or you can see the decorations you like in the lamp but find a way to use that combo in the mirror. I recently saw an old brown wood chair on Pinterest that inspired me to buy a similar color cabinet on Facebook Marketplace. It is now one of my favorite pieces.
2. Find a Style Sweet Spot
You might want your home to look like a magazine, or even a Nancy Meyers movie set. But what are the things you might not like? Creating a carbon copy of someone else’s home or a time capsule of a unique style – Olive Garden style kitchens of the early 2000s or Y2K bedrooms. (We can bring back the exploding chairs and lava lamps, though.)
While this can be hard to avoid as styles cycle in and out of style, mixing and matching can be a smart way to maintain a temporary look. Whether it’s mixing vintage and modern, incorporating family heirlooms into the mix, or layering modern patterns and fabrics (think: checkerboard or bouclé) over subtle fabrics, this can help your space feel balanced and versatile.
Wherever you end up can help define your decorating style even more. And the area can sit somewhere between many different types of decoration, or many – on the beach and Scandinavia, preppy meets the country of France, industry with details of art and elegance. There is no pressure to fit neatly into the box.
Let my space be an example: my living room is home to a mix of Chinese and Japanese accents, a Moroccan rug, a modern coffee table, a modern CB2 credenza with clean lines, a ’70s lamp, and curtains I got at Ikea. It’s different and different, just the way I like it.
3. Accept Evolution
All good things must come to an end, or at least change and grow. You’ll know when it’s time to let your space — or your desires — change.
Maybe you’re moving to a bigger place and need furniture to match, or maybe you’re entering a new phase of life and ready to replace an old table with a solid investment piece. In situations like mine, you may go from living alone to a dog, a roommate, and eventually a partner. Or you might be ready for something new altogether.
Whatever the reason, trust your instincts about what stays and what moves, and take your time. You may want to keep your mood pictures, furniture and sofa. But it might be time to change your rug, table lamp or blankets.
And if you like what you’ve already done but want to repeat it, find other pieces with common characteristics such as colors, silhouettes or patterns. Black and white styles have become the main element of my spaces, as there is a strong use of green in different colors. I interpret them differently every time – on a rug and a headboard, or on towels and a lamp – but now, they are signatures. Wherever they are it feels like home.
Carrie Carrollo is a PS contributor and former beauty editor for the brand.
#Finally #Style