Finding Your Personal Design Style: Where to Begin
One of the questions we hear most often from clients at Curated Home Designs is, “How do I find my personal design style?” This is a great question, because by the time most clients reach out to a professional, they’ve saved countless photos online, followed dozens of designers, and fallen in love with spaces that all look a little different. It can become overwhelming to figure out what you truly love versus what simply looks beautiful in a photo.
As we begin working with clients, patterns start to emerge. Certain finishes catch your eye and you consistently gravitate toward specific colors, textures, or shapes. Some clients lean toward one distinct style, while others discover they love a blend of several. We’ve seen some of the most beautiful homes come from thoughtfully mixing styles in a way that feels personal and lived-in.
One thing we always remind clients is this: your goal is not to recreate someone else’s home. It’s to create a home that feels like you. Trends will come and go, but your home should reflect what consistently brings you comfort, inspiration, and joy. And while discovering your style can feel intimidating at first, it can also be one of the most exciting parts of the design process when you know where to begin.
In this month’s blog, we’re walking through how to uncover your personal style in a way that feels natural, approachable, and authentic to you. The best part? Your style does not have to fit neatly into one design category. It can evolve, blend, and become something uniquely yours. That’s where working with a designer can be so valuable – helping you identify what you truly love and creating a home that feels both beautiful and deeply personal.
Start by Gathering Inspiration
The best way to begin is by gathering inspiration from many different sources. This is the part of the process that most clients struggle with the least. Have fun scrolling and saving the designs that spark something in you!
Sources for Inspiration
- Magazines
- Design blogs
- Saved screenshots
At this stage of the process, don’t overthink it! Save everything and anything that catches your eye. The more images you save now, the easier the other steps in the process will be.
Look for Patterns in What You Saved
After you’ve gathered as much inspiration as possible, begin to look through your saved images carefully. Your style, or the specifics of what you gravitate towards, will become apparent as you analyze. Start to notice some of the similarities you see in the things you’ve saved, and take note of the elements that don’t seem to fit into any specific category.
You might notice things like…
- Brushed gold sconces appearing in multiple dining rooms
- Similar metal finishes throughout saved spaces
- Repeated lighting styles
- Certain patterns, like geometric prints
- Consistent furniture shapes or silhouettes
Begin to ask yourself questions like…
- Do the rooms feel calm and peaceful?
- Or energized and bold?
- What emotions do the spaces create?
Identify Your Color Preferences
Notice the colors that appear, or don’t appear, in the designs you saved. Are you drawn to more colorful and bold spaces, or do softer, neutral palettes feel more like home? This is an area where you may experience some nuance in your preferences. You might find yourself enjoying neutral foundations with bold accent colors, or you may find that your design saves feature colorful artwork paired with calm furniture selections. These nuances can become creative outlets as your style comes to life in your home.
Pay Attention to Layers & Visual Density
Your inspiration photos can often reveal whether you’re drawn to a more minimal, “less is more” aesthetic or a layered, collected look with more personality and detail. Pay attention to the elements that consistently catch your eye — things like books, textiles, styling pieces, and artwork can tell you a lot about how you want your home to feel. Do you prefer simple, minimal art, large-scale statement pieces, or gallery walls filled with personality and collected details? These preferences often reveal whether you naturally gravitate toward a simpler, calmer environment or a home that feels expressive, layered, and full of character.
Remember: Your Personal Design Style Can Be a Blend
One of the biggest misconceptions about interior design is the idea that you have to fit neatly into a single style category. The truth is, you do not need to choose just one label like “modern farmhouse” or “mid-century modern” in order to create a beautiful home. Some of the most timeless and interesting spaces are actually a blend of multiple influences, layered together thoughtfully. Our Principal Designer, Christie, often gravitates toward an eclectic approach to design because it allows different styles, textures, and collected pieces to work together seamlessly while still feeling cohesive. Blending styles creates a home that feels personal and lived-in rather than overly staged or trend-driven. At the end of the day, the most beautiful homes are the ones that genuinely reflect the people living in them — their personalities, experiences, and the things they truly love.
Finding your personal design style is less about following a specific set of rules and more about recognizing the patterns in what you already love. The spaces, colors, textures, and details you naturally gravitate toward are often telling the story for you. Trust your instincts and give yourself permission to create a home that feels authentic to your life, rather than trying to replicate someone else’s trend. Your home should feel personal, comfortable, and uniquely yours.
If you’re ready to refine your style and create a home that reflects you, Christie would love to help guide the process and bring your vision to life.
