Let's Paint

Finding Your Style

There is a basic, but fundamental question that always comes up when I'm designing an item for someone or giving them some decorating tips. Very often, the answer is, "I really don't know." What is the question? It's, "What style(s) of decorating do you like?" Do YOU know the answer to that question? If you don't, this article is for you.

It really is important that you understand your style before you set about decorating your home. Why? It's kind of like reading the recipe the whole way through before you start to cook it. Or writing your grocery list down organizing items by categories. You can cook a recipe by reading only one line at a time, and you can grocery shop one item at a time, but you'll have a much easier time accomplishing your goal if you have a clear picture of the end result! It's the same with decorating. You can search for your decor one thing at a time by looking everywhere and considering everything, but it will be much easier (and enjoyable) if you have a clear idea of what you are and are not looking for!

I'm going to lead you step-by-step through the process of 'Finding Your Style.' It's not a quick, five-minute process, and will take some visiting of bookstores, magazine racks, and libraries. But it's an enjoyable process that is worth the time!

Step One - Browsing and Discovery
The first thing to do is to browse magazines and books to find photos of decorated rooms that appeal to you. I recommend using mostly magazines because they're less expensive to buy and browse at home, and also because you'll find a greater variety of decorating styles. Books tend to focus on one or two styles only. Check your library to see what they have available in both decorating books and back issues of magazines. Look for those with plenty of pictures! Keep sticky notes available to mark rooms you like. Some of the best decorating magazines and books can be found in the bookstore at KatieDid Design. Feel free to browse through and write down titles to check for in the library.

Now it's time to start the fun part! Start browsing the photos. Don't look for anything specific -- forget the colors you want to use, the furniture you have, and what you've used in the past. You want to look at each room with a brand-new perspective, and see it for the first time. Don't pay attention to the individual items in the room; instead, imagine yourself sitting down to read a favorite book, or cuddling down on a snowy winter night. If the thought of living in that room brings a smile to your face, mark it. Go through as many magazines and books as you can and do this... the more you find you like, the easier later steps will be.

Step Two - Identifying Common Themes
The next step helps you identify what it is - exactly - about each room that you like. Go back to the first rooms that you like and go through them again. This time, try to find common themes or techniques that the rooms share. These are aspects of the room to compare:

* Colors - Do they use soft and light colors, dark and regal tones, bright colors, muted shades
, lots of white, etc...

* fabrics
- Do they use florals, checks, solids, plaids, antique-looking brocades, etc... and are the fabrics mostly light and airy, or heavy and rich? How much fabric is used?

* Walls - What have they done to the walls? Are they just painted, or are there lots of moldings? Are they papered or bordered? Walls are important - they are the background and frame of the room.

* Wood - Is the wood that's shown in the rooms mostly natural and comfortable looking, or highly polished and sophisticated? Is it painted in clean, crisp colors, or faded and cracked to look antique?

* Furniture - Does the furniture use large, comfortable lines and plenty of pillows, traditional high back chairs with small prim pillows, or sleek straight lines with no pillows at all?

* Arrangement - How are the rooms arranged? Is the furniture pulled away from the wall and brought together in a cozy grouping, or is it spaced out? Is everything arranged symmetrically at right angles, or is the seating at soft angles and tables mismatched around the room?

* Knick Knacks - Are there lots of them, or just a few? Are they antiques, or sleek brass and glass? Are they grouped in collections, or mixed with books and plants around the room?

* Lighting - Where is the light coming from? Is it mostly from lots of windows? Are the lights centered overhead? ...recessed around the edges of the ceiling? ...coming from lamps down at eye level and on tables?

As you go back over the rooms you've marked, and pay attention to these things, you'll begin to see similarities emerging. You'll also begin to recognize names such as 'Traditional', 'Victorian', 'Colonial', etc. and begin to have names for what you like. And don't be surprised if you like a mix! It's called eclectic when you love to mix styles. I love to mix casual Victorian, and formal Traditional. It might sound like a strange mix to some, but it's perfect for me! And you'll find what's perfect for you!

Maybe you'll discover that you really love lamps on tables, rather than overhead lights. Maybe you'll find that you love light-weight fabrics. Perhaps you'll realize that pulling the furniture away from the wall makes all the difference in the world. And maybe you'll better understand why you love to collect what you do!