Our homes are so much more than a functional space to live in. As well as providing us with comfort, protection, and all the practical elements of day-to-day life, it should also be space that nurtures us, that we can relax in and be inspired by.

Ideally, our homes should also be a reflection of our personality; a place we can fill with the things we love, give us pleasure and make us happy. Whether you are renovating a new home or seeking to refresh a single room, understanding your personal style is key to a successful outcome. In this guide, we give you some top tips on how to learn what your own interiors style is and bring it to life in your home.

ARCHITECTURAL STYLE

• Is your home modern, rustic, or a period property?

• Does it have large rooms with high ceilings, or smaller rooms and low ceilings?

• Which way does the room face? West, southwest and south facing rooms tend to have lots of light during the day and into the evenings. East, northeast and southeast facing rooms have more light in the mornings. North facing rooms may not get direct sunlight so tend to dark.

• Are there natural features you would like to hide/make a feature of? Eg a fireplace or chimney breast, wooden beams, exposed walls, panelling, windows, alcoves.

REFLECT ON YOUR PREFERENCES

Think about your tastes, interests and lifestyle.

• What colours do you naturally gravitate towards?

• Are you drawn to a minimalist space with lean lines and no clutter or do you prefer a more rustic room with carefully curated keepsakes?

• Or a bit of both – a mixy matchy eclectic approach?

• Do you prefer cosy and intimate spaces or open and airy environments?

What activities do you engage in at home, and how can you manage your space support them, such as with storage or display areas?

GATHER INSPIRATION

Dive into the world of design inspiration.

• Browse through magazines, websites and social media platforms.

• Cut out or copy the ideas that appeal to you.

• Create a digital or physical mood board featuring images, colors, textures, and patterns that resonate with you.

• Pay attention to recurring themes and elements that capture your attention.
• Play with your mood board to see how different colours, tones and texutures work together. Do they complement one another or contrast?

 

DEFINE YOUR STYLE

Based on your reflections and gathered inspiration, begin to define your interior style. What do your findings have in common? It could be a blend of different styles or a distinct theme that reflects your personality. Some popular interior design styles include:

Scandi: Clean lines, natural elements, folksy, minimalistic and functional.

Bohemian: Eclectic, vibrant and globally inspired.

Industrial: Raw materials, exposed elements and a warehouse vibe. Shop our industrial lighting edit here.

Mid-Century Modern: Retro-inspired with clean lines and organic shapes. Shop our mid-century inspired lighting here.

Coastal: Light and airy with a palette inspired by the ocean and beach.

Rustic: Think country cottage, cosy, intimate, natural elements, heritage pieces. Shop our country cottage style edit here.

EXPERIMENT AND EXPLORE

Don’t be afraid to experiment. Start small by incorporating new colours, textures, or decorative accents into your space.

• Visit furniture stores, art galleries and home décor boutiques to explore diverse options.

• Take note of what resonates with you and what doesn’t.

• Start to refine your mood board to more specific colours, textures & themes that you’d like to explore.

• Invest in tester paint pots and fabric swatches so you can build up an idea of what colourways work well together and which don’t.

• Think about which colours you would like to work tonally for your overall colour scheme – for walls, floors, ceiling, carpeting, woodwork, curtains and upholstery.
• Pick one or two colours that stand out against them to use as accent colours for curtains, scatter cushions, lampshades or perhaps a feature wall.
• Visit our showrooms to pick up fabric swatches to take away and try and home…

TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS

Ultimately, your home should feel like a reflection of who you are. Trust your instincts and follow your intuition when making design decisions.

Surround yourself with pieces that bring you joy and comfort, rather than focusing solely on trends or what others may expect.

EMBRACE EVOLUTION

Remember that your interior style is not static and will evolve over time. Stay open to new influences and experiences and don’t be afraid to adapt and refine your aesthetic over time.

STYLED BY YOU

We would love to see how you translate these ideas into your own home, so don’t forget to tag us on Instagram or Facebook. For a wealth of home décor and interior inspiration, view our Pinterest page. To view all our lighting and homeware visit our website.