If you’ve ever tried to describe exactly what you want your home to look and feel like, you’ll know it’s not always easy. With so many colours, materials, trends and furniture styles, it’s no wonder we sometimes feel overwhelmed.
One of my favourite parts of being an interior designer is helping people not just find their personal style, but define it clearly and confidently. Ideally, you should be able to describe it in just a few words – something like “minimalist, neutral, vintage-infused” or “moody, modern cottage.” Having that clarity makes everything easier, from working with designers to shopping online (or falling down a Pinterest rabbit hole).
Finding your personal style doesn’t happen in a weekend. Here are the steps I use with clients to help them uncover their style and feel empowered by it.
Start With a Mood Board
Mood boards are magic when you’re trying to understand what you’re naturally drawn to.
Pinterest is a great place to start. Create a board dedicated to interiors, then start pinning anything that sparks something in you. Don’t worry if it feels like the styles clash right now – that’s part of the process. Once you step back and look over your board, patterns begin to emerge. You’ll notice recurring colours, shapes, materials or a certain atmosphere. Those repeating elements become the foundation of your personal style.
Consider What You Need From Your Home
Personal style isn’t only about how things look – it’s deeply connected to how we live. Design can genuinely enhance our wellbeing, routines and daily life.
Think carefully about what you need from your home. Perhaps you want it to feel like a soft and cosy retreat at the end of a long day. Or maybe entertaining loved ones brings you joy and you’d like your home to support that. If you work from home, you may need a space that boosts focus and creativity. And if you have hobbies or interests that matter to you, your home may need to reflect that too. The way we live plays a huge role in shaping our personal style.
Take a Slow Walk Around Your Home
Sometimes we’re so focused on what isn’t right that we overlook what’s already working beautifully. A slow, intentional walk through your home can be surprisingly eye-opening.
Notice the spaces that make you the happiest and take a moment to identify exactly what you love about them. Then turn your attention to the areas that don’t work and reflect on why that’s the case. This gentle stock-taking often provides so much clarity. Many people realise they already have strong style preferences in place – they just hadn’t recognised them yet.
Treat It Like a Journey, Not a Sprint
Even if you’re crystal clear on your style, transforming an entire home instantly would require an unlimited budget (and possibly an unlimited amount of time!). Instead, think of your home as a long-term creative project that can grow slowly and beautifully.
Taking your time isn’t just practical – it’s powerful. It prevents rushed purchases, gives your budget space to breathe, and lets your home evolve naturally as your life evolves. Your tastes may shift over the years too, and that’s perfectly normal. When you design your home gradually and intentionally, you ensure that it always reflects the version of yourself you are right now – not who you were five years ago.
Bring In a Professional
Working with a professional interior designer like me can be incredibly helpful. Through thoughtful conversation and close attention to your lifestyle and preferences, I can uncover patterns and preferences you might not realise you had. I also have access to wonderful retailers, artisans and makers that aren’t always easy to find independently, which can open up exciting new possibilities for your home.
Finding your personal style isn’t about chasing trends or decorating to impress others – it’s about creating a home that reflects who you are and supports how you want to live. With patience and curiosity, you’ll gradually build a space that feels authentic, comforting and very ‘you’!
