How to Choose Your Interior Design Style: 10 Tips for Your Home

Choosing an interior design style can feel overwhelming with so many styles, trends, and aesthetics to choose from. However, finding the right style for your home can be much easier when you follow some basic steps and seek expert guidance.

Remember, choosing an interior design style is highly personal—there’s no right or wrong answer. It's about finding what resonates with your taste, lifestyle, and the vision you have for your home. By selecting a style that feels authentic to you, you’ll create a cohesive and enjoyable space.

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The right style can bring harmony to your decor, improve the functionality of your home, and reflect your personality in a way that makes you feel proud every time you walk through the door. Here are 10 expert tips to help guide you toward choosing the perfect interior design style for your home.

1. Understand Your Personal Style

The first and most important step in choosing an interior design style is reflecting on your personal style. Just like fashion, the interior of your home should reflect your preferences and lifestyle.

How to do it: Think about the clothes, colours, and patterns you gravitate towards. Do you prefer clean, minimalist looks or bold, statement pieces? Consider how these choices make you feel and what aligns with your everyday life.
Why it matters: Your home is an extension of your personality. Choosing a style that aligns with who you are will ensure your home feels comfortable and authentic.

2. Gather Inspiration (Hint: Use Pinterest!)

One of the best ways to define your design style is to look for inspiration. Today, platforms like Pinterest, Instagram, and online design blogs are treasure troves for discovering different styles.

How to do it: Create a mood board or a Pinterest board filled with rooms, furniture, and decor pieces that appeal to you. Over time, patterns will emerge—whether you’re leaning toward modern, vintage, or a mix of styles.
Why it matters: Organising your ideas visually helps you make connections between elements you like, such as a preference for certain colours, materials, or layouts. Seeing it all in one place also makes it easier to visualise your future home.

3. Consider Your Home’s Architecture

Your home’s architectural features should complement the interior design style you choose. Certain styles naturally work with traditional or modern homes, and understanding your home’s existing character will help create harmony.

How to do it: Identify key architectural elements in your home, such as large windows, high ceilings, crown moulding, or exposed brickwork. Match the interior design style to the home’s natural aesthetic. For example:

Classic homes with crown mouldings and ornate features pair beautifully with traditional, Victorian, or French Country styles.
Modern homes with clean lines and open layouts work well with minimalist, contemporary, or Scandinavian designs.

Why it matters: Your home’s architecture sets the foundation for the design style that will feel cohesive. A mismatch between your home’s bones and the decor can feel disjointed.

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4. Start with a Signature Piece

A great way to define your design style is by focusing on one key piece that speaks to you. This could be a piece of furniture, artwork, or even a mirror that reflects your aesthetic.

How to do it: Choose one standout item in your home that you love and build the room’s design around it. Whether it’s an heirloom piece, a bold artwork, or a unique mirror from Paramount Mirrors and Prints, this item will inspire your design.
Why it matters: Having a central piece of inspiration helps ground your design style and offers a starting point to guide your decisions.

5. Define Your Colour Palette

Colours play a crucial role in setting the tone of a room and can help anchor the overall design style. The right palette will enhance the mood you want to create in your home.

How to do it: Look at your wardrobe and notice the colours you gravitate toward. Do you prefer warm neutrals, cool blues, or vibrant hues? Here are some suggestions:

Complementary Palettes: For a modern and stylish look, try combining navy blue with warm greys, or mustard yellow with deep charcoal.
Classic Palettes: Soft whites, creams, and beige tones are perfect for traditional styles like Coastal or French Country.

Why it matters: The colours you choose will heavily influence the atmosphere of your space. A well-chosen palette brings coherence and balance to a room, and the wrong colours can quickly feel overwhelming.

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6. Think About Functionality

The way you use your space should influence your interior design choices. Design styles like minimalism may work for some, while others prefer maximalist or cosy interiors that reflect how they live day-to-day.

How to do it: Consider the needs of each room. Do you require functional spaces like a home office or a family-friendly living room? Let practicality shape your design style.
Why it matters: A beautiful home is important, but if it doesn’t meet your practical needs, it won’t serve you in the long run. Design should always be functional and beautiful.

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7. Mix and Match Styles

Don't be afraid to blend different styles. It’s perfectly acceptable to incorporate elements from multiple design styles to create a unique, personalised look.

How to do it: Start with a primary design style, then add elements from other styles that complement it. For example, mix mid-century modern furniture with bohemian textiles.
Why it matters: Sticking rigidly to one style can sometimes feel restrictive. Mixing styles can add depth and interest to your home, creating a more personalised space.

8. Consider the Size of Your Space

Different design styles suit different room sizes. For instance, minimalist styles tend to work well in smaller spaces, while traditional or maximalist designs may suit larger areas.

How to do it: Take measurements of each room before deciding on a design style. If you have a small space, focus on styles that promote light and airiness, like Scandinavian or modern designs.
Why it matters: The size of your room can dictate the most practical and visually appealing style. Choose a design that enhances the space, making it feel larger or cosier depending on the goal.

9. Stay True to Your Lifestyle

Your interior design style should reflect how you live. If you love to entertain, opt for a layout that encourages social gatherings. If you work from home, make sure your design style supports productivity.

How to do it: Think about your daily routines and how your home can accommodate them. For example, if you love reading, create a cosy reading nook with a comfortable chair and good lighting.
Why it matters: Your home should enhance your daily life. A well-designed space will support your lifestyle and make your home more enjoyable to live in.

10. Take Your Time

Finding the right interior design style isn’t something you need to rush. The best homes evolve over time as you refine your tastes and find pieces that speak to you.

How to do it: Don’t feel pressured to finish your design project all at once. Take your time collecting pieces, refining your style, and adjusting your home as you go.
Why it matters: Good design is a journey, not a destination. Allowing your home to evolve with your tastes ensures that the final result feels organic and true to you.

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Conclusion

Choosing an interior design style can be challenging, but with these tips, the process becomes more manageable and enjoyable. Remember, there’s no single “right” answer—what’s most important is creating a home that reflects your unique style and needs. The above points are here to make the process smoother, but ultimately, the choice is up to you. So, get creative, have fun, and design a space you’ll love for years to come!

Discovering Your Perfect Interior Design Style: 10 Expert Tips for a Stylish Home