How Do I Pick an Interior Design Style?
Choosing an interior design style can be a daunting task. The number of options alone can lead to analysis paralysis, especially if you’re not sure where to start.
To help you pick an interior design style, here are five approaches that can help you stop questioning yourself and start choosing a style that’s right for you.
Lean into your surroundings
Whatever space you’re decorating, you’re not starting in a void. You have a home that was built with specific design choices. Whether it’s a majestic Victorian from 150 years ago, a funky mid-century ranch house, or a sleek modern home, there are built-in details you can use to your advantage.
That doesn’t mean your home needs to be a time capsule from the era when it was built. Many award-winning aesthetics mix traditional and modern pieces. For example, an old Victorian could be the perfect setting for velvet drapes and overstuffed couches, yet it could also be well suited for a style like maximalist or cottagecore.
Another way to lean into your surroundings is to envision their future by summarizing your project goal at a high-level. For example, “I want my bedroom to be a soft, cozy space that makes me feel comfortable and warm when I’m there.”
Writing an interior design concept statement allows you to start out conceptually, to give you a sense of direction. Once you know where you’re going, you can play with the specific elements of interior design to bring your statement to life.
Start with your favorite color
Color is one of the most natural places to look for interior design inspiration. The best part is that your favorite color has probably already made its way into your decor (and if it hasn’t, why do you deny yourself this joy?)
With color as your starting point, decide what other colors you want to bring in as accents and how you want the colors to interact with each other. Read our recent post on how to use color theory for inspiration.
If the color approach excites you, consider starting with a rug that imbues your space with the same feeling you get from your favorite color. Use these design rules for flooring to find a rug that fits your space perfectly.
Celebrate your favorite piece of furniture
Sometimes furniture is more than just a place to sit down or display books. A genuine Eames chair from the 1940s, for example, may be a statement about your dedication to the history of design. Or it may be an heirloom from a grandparent that helps you feel a connection to your ancestors. Or you may just think it looks super neat.
The point is, if you love a piece of furniture, celebrate what you love about it with the rest of your design.
If you love the historical aspect, consider a classic look that pays homage to the era. If you love the ancestral connection, consider decor that evokes nostalgia. If you think it looks super neat, try to find decor that accentuates its color, texture, and shape. Look for interior design approaches, such as minimalism, that will highlight your favorite piece of furniture instead of letting it be just one more object in a room full of objects.
Create a mood board
When we say “create a mood board,” we’re not talking about setting up a Pinterest board (although that could also help!). We’re talking about creating an actual, physical, mood board.
Sample mood board, featuring our Seagrass area rug
So gather up your favorite catalogs and magazines and start rippingand snipping everything you like. Next, tack your collection onto a piece of corkboard, tape it to the wall, or put it wherever you can see it all at once.
When you feel like you have enough ideas to consider, step back and take it all in. You may be surprised just how quickly patterns in your design taste show up when you gather your inspiration in one place.
Don’t have time to create a physical mood board? Let our inspiration gallery serve as your virtual mood board.
Just take the next step you’re most sure about
Maybe you’re putting too much pressure on yourself to come up with a grand, unifying vision. Maybe if you just pick your interior design style one step at a time, you’ll actually start progressing toward the space you want.
It’s not necessary — or even advised — to attempt a full style overhaul all at once. By making a few changes at a time, until it feels just right, you can make fewer compromises and proceed at your own pace.
You also don’t have to sacrifice cohesiveness with this approach. Our beginner’s guide to decorating your home features several timeless concepts to help guide your ongoing style choices. And if you start having second thoughts about your direction, which can happen in interior design you can pivot without having to undo a huge amount of effort.
When you arrive at the step that calls for a rug, we have you covered. No matter what style you’re going for, you’ll find the perfect complement in our wide selection of custom rugs.
Pictured is Lana Wool color Red.
