How to Figure Out Your Interior Design Style

If you’ve ever stood in a home store frozen between a modern chair and a vintage cabinet, you’re not alone. Knowing what you like is one thing—but defining your interior design style is another. Whether you’re furnishing a new space or refreshing a room, having a clear sense of your style will help you make confident, cohesive decisions. The good news? You don’t need to be an expert to figure it out. With a little curiosity and reflection, your personal style will start to reveal itself.

Here’s how to begin:

1. Take Inventory of What You’re Drawn To

Start simple: Pay attention to the rooms, images, and spaces that make you pause and say, "I love that."

  • Scroll with purpose: Browse Pinterest, Instagram, and design blogs. Save everything that catches your eye—even if it feels inconsistent at first.

  • Look beyond interiors: Think fashion, art, hotels, or even films. Your taste in aesthetics often overlaps.

  • Note the mood: Are you drawn to warm and cozy? Clean and minimal? Eclectic and bold? The mood can be just as important as the furniture.

2. Study Your Own Home (and Wardrobe!)

You probably already have hints of your style around you.

  • What do you already own that you love? A family heirloom? A curved sofa? A brass lamp? Those favorites are clues to your core aesthetic.

  • Check your closet: Are you drawn to neutrals and clean lines? Or bold patterns and color? Your fashion sense often mirrors your design sensibility.

3. Learn the Language of Style

Understanding the common design styles can help you describe what you love.

Here are a few to get you started:

  • Modern: Clean lines, minimalism, neutral palette, often with mid-century influence.

  • Traditional: Rich wood tones, classic silhouettes, symmetry, and timeless patterns.

  • Transitional: A mix of traditional and modern—refined but approachable.

  • Bohemian: Layered textures, global influences, warm tones, and an eclectic feel.

  • Scandinavian: Light woods, airy spaces, cozy textures, and functional simplicity.

  • Coastal: Breezy, relaxed, natural textures, with whites, blues, and sandy tones.

Don’t feel pressure to fit into a single box—many people are a blend.

4. Create a Vision Board

Once you’ve gathered inspiration, create a vision board or mood board.

  • Use tools like Canva, Milanote, or even a physical corkboard.

  • Organize your saved photos—look for repeated colors, materials, shapes, and layouts.

  • Identify patterns: You might see a preference for earthy tones, antique details, or sculptural lighting.

5. Think About How You Want to Feel in Your Space

Design isn’t just visual—it’s emotional.

Ask yourself:

  • Do I want this space to feel relaxing or energizing?

  • Do I prefer cozy and layered, or open and minimal?

  • Do I want it to feel elegant, playful, grounded, luxurious?

This will guide decisions around color, scale, lighting, and layout.

6. Give It a Name (Even if You Make It Up)

Once you start seeing themes, try to describe your style in a phrase. Some examples:

  • “Earthy European with a modern edge”

  • “Warm minimalism”

  • “Classic meets California casual”

  • “Romantic vintage with clean lines”

Giving it a name makes it easier to shop, pin, and communicate your vision to others (or to a designer!).

7. Don’t Rush It

Style evolves. What you love today may shift in a year—and that’s okay.

Start with foundational pieces you truly love, then layer slowly. The most beautiful homes reflect the people who live in them, not a trend.

Final Thoughts:

Your interior design style is already within you—it’s just a matter of uncovering it. By paying attention to what you’re drawn to, how you want to feel, and the way you naturally live, your personal aesthetic will start to take shape. The goal isn’t perfection—it’s creating a space that feels like you.

Need help defining your style or bringing it to life in your space? I offer personalized consultations and full-service design. Let’s make your home feel like home.

JenniferComment