How To Define Your Design Style: Part 2
Last week (Part 1 here) I rambled about the importance of using inspiration to fuel your design process but that the goal of designing your own home is to infuse your personality into your design choices and create a unique style that reflects you and your family. This week I offer you further insight into my design process, specifically how to identify your own design style without picking up a textbook. It takes some time and effort but it may just be what has been missing from your planning process that keeps your home design from truly representing your unique personality.
We are likely all aware of the more popular and current design styles: Modern Farmhouse, Mid-Century Modern, Coastal, Scandinavian design etc. I consider these and the other design styles you may see in textbooks to be “pure styles". Each of these pure styles has guidelines and when these guidelines are followed correctly the result is a textbook execution of the chosen style. You often see these pure styles in staged model homes, designer showrooms and magazine advertisements because the purpose of these spaces is to appeal to as many people as possible. The important thing to remember when completing a design for your home is that your home is meant to appeal to you (and maybe a spouse…). I find that most people are actually a combination of 2 or more pure styles and there is sometimes the added complication of marrying styles together when people with different tastes live under the same roof. Previously I described on the blog my design process (read it here).
Step 2 of my design process
Step 2 of that process is to focus your design; the determination of your design guidelines is completed during this step of my process. When I consult on a client’s home design it is difficult to accomplish much of anything without first defining their personal design style, meaning developing personal design guidelines to their own specific tastes and preferences. The goal is to execute a design plan that meets their preferences and feels like home to them. This step usually involves discussion of those textbook pure styles but it can’t end there because I believe personal style is much more layered. This blog post will not tell you or ask you what your design style is in terms of conventional textbook styles. This post will outline the steps necessary to help you define your personal design guidelines so that you can properly plan and execute your individual design style in your home without needing to pick up a textbook on Interior Design Styles. Here is how you define your personal design guidelines:
Find inspiration without a filter: By this I mean if you see something you love save/pin/tag it. You will want to look for a variety of images -keep it to interior spaces: bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchens, play rooms etc. The more the better. The only rule is you need to have a positive emotional reaction to the photo. Do not stop to ask if it matches your existing furniture or what you think someone else may think about your choices- if you like it, save it because in this first step you are compiling your inspiration without filter or judgement- that analysis happens in our next step.
Analyze your inspiration: Look for commonalities and repeating themes throughout your saved images. Do you see a clear preference for clean lines or a certain style of furniture? Do the majority of rooms you saved include interesting architectural moldings or are they simple and understated? Are they filled with airy whites and natural materials or filled with moody palettes and glamorous finishes? Write down these commonalities that you see repeated in your saved inspirational photos. If you find that you are all over the map you may have an eclectic taste in design, meaning you like a little bit of everything. In this case you will need to pick and choose the elements that speak to you the most and balance the styles consistently throughout your home. Alternatively you can curate your inspiration further (return to step 1) with a second round of review, selecting only the photos from your first round that inspire you the most.
Identify your design core values: A core value is a trait or quality that represents an individual’s or a company’s highest priorities, fundamental beliefs and driving forces. Companies use core values as the backbone of their mission statement, marketing and operations, it is what sets them apart from competitors and shapes their brand. If you think about your design as your personal brand then your design core values will be a few representative words which signify the commonalities in the inspiration photos that you have found in step 2. These words will be the backbone of your personal design style- and as such they only need to be understood by you. Moving forward you will make each design decision by asking yourself… does this choice reflect my design core values?
Trouble finding your core values? Try some of these words: classy, bold, comfortable, casual, elegant, welcoming, cheery, moody, weathered, soothing, warm, clean, lived-in, masculine, feminine, structured, dramatic, whimsical, patterned, contrasting, minimal, maximal, cottage, hotel, spa, mature, youthful, castle, nautical, sea-side, equestrian, preppy, hogwarts, loft, treehouse. If the shoe fits and you feel so inclined you can also include textbook design styles in your core values as well. Maybe include: Bohemian, Coastal, Art Deco, Mid-Century Modern, Industrial, Country, Modern-Farmhouse, Traditional, Glam, Rustic, Shabby-chic. There are no limits to how many words or which words you use. You are done when you have determined a set of core values that explains your preferences to yourself.
Set your design guidelines: So what is “lived-in, whimsical, mid-century cottage” design? This is where you write your own textbook entry defining your style. How will someone recognize your style when they see it in a showroom? Determine your guidelines:
Are there specific colours used in this style?
are they tones, tints, pure hues?
are they vibrant, muted, shades of the same colour?
What style of furniture do you see?
simple lines or intricate wood work?
is it antique or era-specific?
what about the proportions of the furniture?
What materials are used?
does your design embrace new materials or use natural materials?
if using wood-tones- which tones of wood?
which finishes are used (gold, brass, glass, chrome)?
What kind of textiles are used in the space and how are they used?
Other design elements:
are there certain patterns used?
Is the style meant to evoke a particular feeling/emotion?
does the style embrace durable materials for a family?
are the design decisions based on sustainability?
5. Create your Mood Board: A Mood Board will be a visual representation of the elements that define your design style, a guideline to execute your own personal style. Using this mood board and your designer instincts you can create a home that reflects your own personal style. See below a few mood boards I have created on past projects. For this blog post I included the design guidelines behind each mood board.
Client Mood Boards- Julia DeDecker Interiors
Determining which pure design styles align with your preferences can be helpful and if working with a professional designer you will likely discuss style in terms of pure styles, but it is not absolutely necessary to use that terminology if you are working on your own home. When designing your own space your design style only needs to be understood by you, and the better you understand it the better that design vision will translate to real life. Of course there are design elements: emphasis, balance, light, rhythm etc, that are the key to taking this vision and executing a professional-looking design, but knowing your design guidelines and having a clear vision is the first, and maybe most important step. I hope this advice encourages you to uncover your own style, and know that you don’t have to define it by anyone else’s terms.
