It’s great to have a lovely home, but I think we all want our own style, our own unique look. It’s great to get ideas from other people, but it’s really nice to have your own style that suits you and is exactly what you like.
The first thing to do is to figure out what you like. To do that, I don’t recommend that you necessarily just look at your house. Our houses often end up being a collection of that practical table we bought on sale, and the bed Aunt Minnie gave up, along with the recliner our husband bought. This may or may not be our style.
To determine what your style is, I suggest you start your own Pinterest board called “My Style”. Go to your favorite blogs and also you can look on Pinterest to find rooms and furnishings you like. For anything that you will rank a “10”, you can put on the board “My Style.” Here you only pin things that make your heart sing. Anything that goes on this board needs to be something you don’t just tolerate, but something you would want in your dream home.
So why aren’t we just looking at your already pinned images on Pinterest? Well, perhaps you pinned images because you wanted to remember that clock in a room, or a how they paired green and lavender together. For this new board we have specific purpose; we are trying to figure out what makes your heart sing. Only pin images that you love, love, love.
This may take awhile to put together, or maybe not! After you have compiled your board, let’s take a look at it. What do you see? How would you describe this style? Hopefully a pattern is emerging. If you see no pattern, then you may have a very eclectic style. Just because you don’t know what to call your style doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Try to come up with 3 words to describe what you see. That is so you have a fancy answer when people ask what your style is, hee, hee. Seriously, it is helpful to have an answer for your own direction. Because this is your signature style.
So you might say, didn’t we just copy someone else if we are just looking at rooms other people designed. I would say no this is not copying, this is clarifying your personal style. We are looking at these rooms to see what you like, and what resonates with you. I am not suggesting you take photos of an entire home and recreate it in yours. We are not copying rooms, we are just determining what your style is. We have to start somewhere.
For some, this is an unnecessary step, they already know what they love. For others, I think this can be eye-opening. Long ago, I remember a friend of mine going on and on about French style. I didn’t have anything against a French look, except that I was tired of hearing how superior it was to my English things. I didn’t like French style. Okay that’s not true. I did like it, but she was so pushy about it, that I couldn’t admit it to her or to myself. And besides, I was done buying furniture… did you catch the irony there?
My home was filled with mahogany 18th century style English and American furnishings. Finally I couldn’t fight it any more. I admitted to myself that I loved French furniture. It was a bit like waking up to realize you had married the wrong man, or so it felt. I began to change out the house, little by little. I sold off things and bought French antiques when I could find them at good prices. This transition has been going on for over 15 years. When you change course deep down I think there is a fear that we will change our mind again, and then we will have to start all over again. For the record, my love of French style has not waned, but grown stronger over time, just like marriage to the right person should be. Yes it is possible you will change our mind again, but I don’t think that is a reason to stick with things you don’t love.
Now once you have clarified for yourself what you truly love, and you have a name for it, I am hopeful this will be a valuable step along the way to achieving your dream look. Keep these images in mind when you are shopping. You want to buy things that go with your signature look.
Identify things in your home that you don’t like, that are not your style and work on moving those things out the door.
I believe you can make your current home your dream home. Okay maybe it won’t be perfect, but there’s a lot you can do to make it pretty awesome.
So in case you are wondering I call my style Simple French decor, but I have called it Farmhouse French also. I would love to hear what your style is!
I love French Country/Farmhouse and have loved it even more with paint! I think this comes from spending a few years living in New Orleans when I was younger. Living there introduced me to everything French and curvy. Smile…….
I love antiques, I found an old buffet in barn when we moved into our second home. Its not that valuable (appraisal about 700.00) I like it and designed room around it. I. Received a drop leaf table, 4 chairs and server from my grandmother. I went to England and got family crests made of both my husbands and my maiden name, plus a document of what the last name originated from. I had them framed and they hang over the buffet. I collect menus and I brought a beautiful one from Paris. I had copies made and they hang in a grouping over server. That’s how I decorate, I have a passion for family and history. Sorry for the lengthy post!
I totally agree and love that you have been switching out for what you love. The French chairs are beautiful!
You are so smart and very helpful!
I have an all time favorite board on my pinterest page and I would call my style Understated-Coastal-Elegance. I need to live in a beach house on the coast of California somewhere. Love a touch of elegance, classic, traditional pieces with a black and white, blue and white, green and white color scheme with accents of yellows or pinks. I have stayed true to my style for years, what makes it hard is when the market place does not offer up what you want for your home. I am glad you found your style, it suits you well.
Happy Weekend,
Kathysue
This was a great article. I can appreciate many different styles, but there is only one style that is truly what makes my heart SING! Slowly, but surely, I am creating a home that reflects that style (as the budget allows).
Best,
Michelle from simplysantabarbara.blogspot.com
Such a helpful post…you are a blessing! Thank for all your hard work creating every single day and in so doing provide inspiration to all of us!
When you share a home with someone else (husband) your style may not always be their style so you learn to compromise. You try to combine styles where you can and where you can’t you give them their space decorated with the things they love (mounts). Thank goodness we live in rural Texas where nearly every home has various critters mounted on their walls. In our case it is in the living room where the furniture is leather and mounts are only deer. I might feel the need to apologize to those who do not have a husband who hunts and may be offended, but after 47 years of marriage you find making him happy is what is most important. Jill
You’re so lovely , Anita & I adore your blog & the exceptional photography!!
Paige.Rose
Anita, I’ve been reading your blog for quite some time and I think all your rooms are just beautiful. I look at a lot of blogs, read magazines and look on the internet at homes and I think I have a handle on my own style, but I’m not sure how to name it. But my BIG question to you is (maybe you can write a post on this?)… what do you do if your husband’s style is not the same as your style?
Anita,
BRAVO!!!
This post is one first time home buyers need to read!!!
Newlyweds. . .empty nesters. . .downsizers. . .
anyone whom doesn’t feel comfortable within their own home!!!
My word of choice for 2015 is Renewal!!!
. . .and that is totally what I am doing with each and every room
in our 1970’s Ranch Style Home, beginning on the upper level living areas!!!
While working as an Assistant Retail Merchandiser,
I let my own true style be swayed with current trends. . .
to the point that I was having difficulty visualizing the “real” design style that makes my heart sing!!!
The three words that describe my design style are Timeless Classic Traditional!!!
. . .and while 2015 is the beginning of my Renewal,
I know if I persist, true satisfaction and comfort within my home will prevail!!!
Thank you, dear friend, for all these amazing suggestions!!!
You continually affirm that I’m headed in the right direction for Renewal!!!
Fondly,
Pat
Over recent weeks I’ve been gradually building a Pinterest board to try and work out exactly what my style is, and have come to the conclusion that it’s Country Coastal, if you can have such a thing, lol. I love farmhouse rustic but the sea and beach ALWAYS steal my heart away, so I’m trying to re-do my living room with a mixture of the two. Just hope it all work out, as I’m seeing it in my muddled little head!
LOVE your blog and find it really inspirational.
Judi in the UK
Oh Judi, thank you and I am excited you are finding your style!!
I live on directly on the beach in Florida so I call my style Beachy-Frenchy. I love most things French and everything beachy.
I think your idea is great. You style is such a reflection on who you are and that just what you want. Thanx Anita for reminding me of that. Jo
This is a great idea, because some people I think don’t know where to start. I know I have been thru my changes. But I found my true love, a mix…..Colonial, French, Victorian, and Mediterrranean Thanks for this post. Your house is decorated pretty, Anita.
Pure and Simple French Design – my hallmark! I have loved discovering you and look forward to your warm and friendly posts. Keep up the good work!
Wonderful post! Years ago, like..in the 60’s…when first married, I would tell folks my style was Early Salvation Army–ha! It remained that way for many years as I became a single parent early on and was lucky to be able to put food on our table. Now, many years later, with the perfect guy in my life and now a grandmother to 2, I’m finally settling into a style. OK, I’m a bit slow 😉 I love farmhouse, shabby chic and French all rolled up into one. I will start my new Pinterest board today and pull together all those pins scattered across way too many boards. Thank you for helping me find that focus! Love your blog.
So glad you are finding your style Jane.
I always thought that I loved Victorian. I did what you said and made a My Style board on Pinterest. It turns out that most of what I love is cottage style. It is wonderful because we just downsized and are now living in a cottage by the lake. I can throw in some farmhouse style, some shabby chic and call it mine. I love practical things mixed with pretty and I love pastel colours. I have been given a mix of vintage and antique furniture and I am only keeping what I truly love. Reading your post has confirmed this for me. Thank you.
I have always wanted my family and friends to feel comfortable and cozy when they visit my home. I have been working at covering windows for privacy and soon will be able to add the pretty.
There’s no mistaking my style, since everyone says it’s very me. I guess I would call it old English Cottage meets the 1930s American Cottage. Mostly it’s a lot of antiques passed down to me that I’ve mixed in with the ones I’ve bought over the years.
Great post 🙂
rue
Thanks so much for these tips! I found your post just as I began searching for my style. I’m excited to see where my search takes me!