How to find your interior design style
Designing your home is one of the most exciting ways to showcase your personality, creativity, and the way you want to feel in your space. Your home is more than just a place to live—it’s an extension of you. The way you design it sets the tone for your daily life, influencing everything from your mood to your productivity. Your surroundings heavily influence your frequency.
But let’s be real—figuring out your personal interior design style can feel overwhelming. With so many different aesthetics and trends out there, it’s easy to get lost in the noise. One minute you’re drawn to clean lines and a neutral color palette, the next, you’re enchanted by eclectic pieces of art and vibrant boho textures.
So, where do you begin? How do you find your interior design style in a way that feels authentic and timeless and true-to-you? In this blog post, I’ll walk you through several standard interior design styles, and then guide you through a step-by-step process to help you decide what style suits you best.
And if you have any other questions on how to create a home that reflects who you are while feeling relaxing and inviting, reach out to me. Shoot me a DM on Instagram @jaclynsteele or @beckonliving. As of March 2024, I am taking on additional design clients and I couldn’t be more excited about it.
How to Find Your Interior Design Style
What Are the Different Interior Design Styles?
Before you can identify your home decor style, it helps to know what’s out there. Here are some of the most common interior design styles and what makes them unique.
Modern Style
Characterized by clean lines, open spaces, and a minimalist approach, modern style embraces natural materials like wood, stone, and metal. A neutral color palette is often used to keep the space feeling sleek and uncluttered. Think functional furniture, statement lighting, and a balance between form and function.
image from Pinterest
Traditional Style
If you love classic elegance and timeless appeal, traditional style might be your perfect match. This aesthetic often includes rich wood tones, detailed furniture, and a warm color scheme (think reds, greens, yellows, and even blues). Expect symmetry, antique-inspired decor, and a cozy, inviting feel.
photo taken from Pinterest
Bohemian Style
Bohemian style (or "boho") is for the free-spirited and artistic souls. This look embraces layered textures, global influences, and an anything-goes mentality when it comes to pieces of art and decor. Expect woven materials, vibrant patterns, and a mix of modern and vintage finds. My interior design style often has a boho touch as I LOVE layering textures. (I’ve been known to layer a rug or two or three in my day…)
photo taken from Pinterest
Mid Century Modern
Mid-century modern is all about organic shapes, bold pops of color, and functional furniture with clean lines. A mid-century modern approach might include sleek wooden furniture, geometric patterns, and earthy tones mixed with playful accents. Think Frank Lloyd Wright and Charles Eames.
photo taken from Pinterest
Light and Airy
This style embodies a fresh, open, and breezy aesthetic. Think white-washed walls, soft textiles, and a subtle color scheme that makes the home feel peaceful and welcoming. Light and airy interiors often incorporate natural materials like linen, cotton, and rattan to enhance the feeling of openness. I incorporate a lot of these elements in my designs, so does famous designer, Leanne Ford.
photo taken from Pinterest
Wabi Sabi
A celebration of imperfection (how fun!), Wabi Sabi is a Japanese-inspired style that finds beauty in the unfinished, the aged, and the raw. Think hand-thrown pottery (maybe even broken), textured walls, reclaimed wood, and asymmetry. This style embraces nature, organic elements, and simplicity to create a relaxing and inviting atmosphere that feels deeply personal.
photo taken from Pinterest
Transitional Style
If you love a mix of old and new, transitional style blends classic and contemporary design for a timeless look. It incorporates clean lines with just the right amount of ornate detail, balancing traditional warmth with modern simplicity. Think soft, neutral tones, layered textures, and furniture that feels both elegant and comfortable.
image from Pinterest
Spanish Style
Rooted in history and warmth, Spanish Style is known for its earthy tones, rustic textures, and handcrafted details. Think terracotta tiles, exposed wooden beams, and ironwork. Curved archways, intricate tilework, and rich colors bring warmth and character, making it a perfect blend of old-world charm and timeless elegance. This is one of my two favorite design styles. Spanish interiors heavily influence my designs.
Mediterranean Style
Inspired by the coastal regions of Spain, Italy, and Greece, Mediterranean Style is all about light-filled spaces, breezy fabrics, and natural materials like stone, clay, and wood. A neutral color palette is often used as a base, with pops of blue, green, and warm terracotta hues. This style embraces indoor-outdoor living, arched doorways, and rustic yet sophisticated details. This design style is the other of my two favorite design styles. My personal home is heavily influenced by Mediterranean designs and I pinch myself daily that I get to live here.
How to Find Your Interior Design Style
Finding your design style is a personal journey, but these steps will help you narrow down what truly resonates with you.
Step 1: Gather Inspiration
Start by collecting images of spaces that make your heart skip a beat. Create mood boards on Pinterest or save Instagram posts that catch your eye. If you are more tactile, go to Barnes & Noble and pick up some design magazines. Pay attention to the recurring elements—are there a lot of clean lines? Do you gravitate toward a neutral color palette, or do you prefer bold patterns? Identifying patterns in your preferences will help clarify your style.
Step 2: Look at Your Wardrobe
Your fashion choices can reveal a lot about your design preferences. Do you love sleek, structured outfits with neutral tones? You might be drawn to modern style. If you wear flowy fabrics, earthy hues, and layered accessories, bohemian style could be calling your name. What you are drawn to, matters. Lean in.
Step 3: Consider Your Lifestyle Needs
Your personal interior design style should work for your daily life. If you have kids or pets, a practical and durable design may be essential. If you work from home, a relaxing and inviting workspace is a must. Your home should enhance your lifestyle, not make it more stressful. The last thing we want is to be beholden to our homes and their upkeep.
Step 4: Define Your Color Palette
Color has a huge impact on how a space feels. I could do a whole blog post on just color and frequency. A neutral color palette creates a serene and sophisticated vibe, while deeper hues add drama and coziness. Primary colors feel playful and young. Use color swatches or sample paints on your walls to see what resonates with you. There is no right or wrong here.
Step 5: Identify Key Materials and Textures
Do you love the warmth of natural materials like wood and stone, or are you drawn to the sleekness of glass and metal? Incorporating the right textures will help reinforce your home decor style. I personally am all for bringing nature inside. I love natural materials and how they make me feel.
Step 6: Take Inventory of What You Already Own
Look around your home. What are your favorite furniture pieces and decor items? What do you love about them? This will help you determine what styles you naturally lean toward and what you may want to replace. I’m all for keeping what resonates and getting rid of the rest. Your space is sacred and every item in it has the opportunity to be something that has meaning for you.
Step 7: Experiment and Trust Your Intuition
Design isn’t about following rules—it’s about creating a space that feels like you. Period! Mix styles, try new layouts, and trust your gut. A creative director wouldn't settle for just one aesthetic; they'd experiment to find what feels right. Again, there is no right or wrong here—the only thing that matters is that the space feels good to you.
Step 8: Start Small with Accessories
If you’re hesitant to commit to a full home makeover, start with smaller decor pieces. A new rug, pieces of art, or accent pillows can completely transform a space without a huge investment. If you have questions on where to source items like this, feel free to reach out to me. Shoot me a DM on Instagram @jaclynsteele or @beckonliving.
Step 9: Let Your Space Evolve Over Time
Your style will grow and shift as you do. This is a good thing! Embrace the process, and don’t feel the need to rush. The best-designed spaces feel collected/storied, not forced. So take the pressure off and let curiosity lead you.
Bringing It All Together
Finding your personal interior design style is an exercise in self-discovery. Your home should be a reflection of your soul—whether that means a modern style filled with sculptural furniture or a bohemian style brimming with layered textiles.
And if you’re looking to dive deeper into creating high-frequency, energetic alignment, check out my conversation on chi mastery with Banya Lim. Your energy determines so much around you. It even helps determine your space.
So tell me, what’s your interior design style? DM on Instagram @jaclynsteele or @beckonliving. and let me know. I LOVE hearing from you!
Live on purpose, live on frequency,
Jaclyn Steele Thurmond