When we first moved into our home, I felt overwhelmed with the idea of having to decorate a whole house. I had previously only lived in small apartments for a span of only 1-3 years. Most of the time, my idea of “decorating” consisted of using command strips to hang a single frame in the bathroom. My fiancé even joked about hiring an interior designer on Fiverr so we wouldn’t need to worry about things matching. In the past, I had balked at the thought of decorating because it felt frivolous and temporary – we might just end up moving again in the next year, so why even bother?
I certainly don’t consider myself an interior design expert AT ALL, but I have learned a few things in the past month about what it means to truly love your space and give yourself time to figure things out. It’s such an immense privilege to have a roof over your head and a space that you can call your own. My approach to decorating and design is rooted in gratitude: I take the things that I really love and appreciate and go from there. Below, I’ll share my top tips on finding your personal home decor style to get you started.
1. Identify pieces/items/spaces that you naturally gravitate towards
As I’ve mentioned before on this blog, I was born and raised in Wichita, Kansas. I also spent a lot of time in the Ozark area of Missouri where my grandparents are originally from. Being from the midwest, I think I naturally gravitate towards craftsmanship, vintage touches, and a home-grown aesthetic. I don’t like things looking too white or sterile. One of the things that I really loved about our home was the old school charm: it has built-in cupboards in the master bedroom, a breakfast nook, and a lovely brick fireplace. I’ve taken those elements in our home and I’ve tried to add items that enhance/compliment the space.
As you start decorating your home, certain elements will stand out more to you than others. Pick a part of your home that you really like and try to imagine the type of items that would go best with that space. If you find yourself drawn to your kitchen, think about how you can enhance the color scheme, the layout, or the use of some of that space. Try to tap into your own intuition instead of relying on other people telling you what to do. Every person has a different style and aesthetic, so it’s okay if your tastes veer off from the mainstream.
2. Don’t Rush!
I constantly have to tell myself this because sometimes I’ll start looking at a space and I just want to fill it without putting too much thought into it. My best advice here is to live with it for awhile. In my kitchen, there’s a small area in between a window and a door that I thought would be great for hooks/keys since we often use that door to get to the car. The more I sat with it, though, the more I realized that I wanted something more quaint and cozy in that space (that was still functional, of course). Instead of buying a basic key rack on Amazon, I found a cute vintage shelf on Facebook marketplace.
My fiancé hung it on the wall and I think it looks perfect next to our breakfast nook. Of course, that also means that I need to start decorating this piece as well, but I’m allowing myself some time to find meaningful objects to add to it. I’ve already added a piece of art that comes from the town where my fiancé’s aunt and uncle live.
My knickknack shelf also reminds me of spending time with my grandma and decorating her shelves with her. I love having an item that sparks fond memories.
3. Be mindful of your color palette
This is definitely one of those areas that can be tricky! Our house has a lot of blue in it: the entryway is blue, the kitchen is blue, and the bathroom is also blue. Our master bedroom was also a light lavender color when we first moved in. If you’re living in an apartment and can’t paint your walls, you might feel stuck with colors that you don’t love. However, I think there’s always a way to either enhance your paint color or downplay it. If you really love a color and want to showcase it, you can add different shades of the color and throw in some neutral tones (white or wood is a great choice) to add dimension. That’s what I did in our (very blue) foyer and I actually feel like it looks so welcoming in this space.
If you can choose your paint color, don’t be afraid to switch it to something you love! Painting can be a pain, but it’s so worth it in the end. Choosing a more neutral color can also make other items more of a focal point. Maybe you have white walls with a burgundy couch with emerald green accents. I know that white is all the rage right now, but remind yourself that it’s your home and you can choose whatever colors you want.
4. Allow yourself some negative space
Even if you’re not a minimalist, you don’t need to pressure yourself to fill every empty spot in your home. I suffered from this when I was in college: I would have so many cute “decorative” things on my desk that it didn’t even feel like there was room to work there. Now that I’m older, I try to practice some restraint when bringing things into our house. I don’t hang something up unless we are absolutely crazy about it. I also don’t fill my shelves to the brim just because they are there! Negative space allows you to draw the eye to a focal point instead of creating a scene that feels too busy. Now there is a caveat with this: if you love filling all your space and you’re going for a more maximalist aesthetic, that’s absolutely fine. For me, I just have to draw the line for myself so that I don’t get carried away.
5. Find Inspiration
As humans, we are naturally creative. Don’t let anyone tell you otherwise! One of the best ways to spark your own creativity is to search for visual inspiration. Go on Pinterest and start looking at different style aesthetics: modern, farmhouse, boho, minimalist, and organic modern are all popular places to start. You can also search instagram hashtags if you want inspiration for your bedroom. #bedroomdecor or #bedroomstyle could be a good place to start. I also like looking at homes on Zillow: it’s like taking a peek inside of a neighbor’s house without the creep factor.
Overall, it’s important to remember that you are the one living in your home and your opinion is the main one that matters. It’s also never too late to start over if you’re in a funk! What are some of your main tips for starting to decorate a home?
