5 Tips to Support You Find Your Personal Design Style, Straight From Pros

If you’re struggling to find or describe your design style, you’re not alone. Many people appreciate a wide range of aesthetics but are unable to identify which looks they would actually like to translate into their own home.

Even if you’re unable to work with a professional to identify your aesthetic, there are many helpful steps that you can take on your own to develop a better sense of what appeals to you so that you can decorate your home accordingly.

Below, three designers share their top five tips for identifying your design style.

Look to Your Closet and Beyond

What is inside your closet actually says a lot about you—the clothing styles you gravitate toward may actually reflect your interior aesthetic, too, says Taylor Fusco, the founder of Tay Fusco Design.

“I have always been a large fan of mixing prints, elements of the ’70s era, textures, and a pop of color within my wardrobe,” Fusco says. “This all has translated to finding my interior style, which is a mix of design styles: transitional-modern coastal with a touch of retro.”  

Mackenzie Collier, founder of Mackenzie Collier Interiors, agrees that clothing can inform your design style, but that’s not all.

“Think of art you love, songs that inspire you, and places you’ve traveled,” Collier says.

Gather Inspirational Images

Whether you turn to Pinterest or flip through established print magazines or coffee table books, gathering images and identifying what does and doesn’t speak to you and why is a great exercise.

“This exercise will facilitate you get closer to figuring out exactly how you would label your interior design aesthetic,” Fusco says. “Maybe there is an element you like from each aesthetic, which will facilitate you create your own personalized design aesthetic.”

Michael Graham-Smith, the founder of Graham-Smith Designs, agrees.

“When you’re trying to discover your own style, look at the inspiration you’ve gathered and try to pull out themes, whether that’s a color story, textures you’re drawn to, a material you love like woodwork or leather,” he says.

It’s okay to spend some time analyzing and reflecting on these images; you certainly do not need to land on your preferred design aesthetic in a single day. Collier suggests walking away for a few days and coming back to see if there are any recurring themes.

“Try to weave those themes into your design style,” Collier says.

Identify a Color Palette

It can also be helpful to identify a color palette from the get go that you would like to incorporate throughout your home.

For example, when designing an Arizona home surrounded by nature, Collier opted to infuse the space mainly with sage green and wood tones, and that shaped the general direction of the design.

Don’t Be Afraid to Mix and Match

Graham-Smith explains how it’s simple to find your style when you don’t restrict yourself to certain rules or confines. Instead, focus on selecting items for your space that you love, and the rest will follow.

Whether it’s combining two design styles you love or mixing different patterns, feel free to experiment to see what feels and looks good in your space.

Start Small

There’s no need to go all in with a specific design style right away. Instead, remember that it’s okay to experiment bit by bit.

“If you’re not sure that you will love a up-to-date style, try playing around with a given element in miniature, less high-priced ways that you can change out over time versus a larger investment in a statement piece,” Graham-Smith says.

Pillow covers, affordable art prints, and decorative accessories are a great place to begin. With that, keep in mind that your design style will likely change down the line, so avoiding going all in with a theme is in your best interest, Collier says.

Collier recommends investing in quality pieces that are neutral in color, so you can easily style them with a variety of aesthetics.

“Have fun with the smaller pieces that you can change out as your style evolves over time,” Collier says.