How to Find Your Home Decor Style - A Simple Guide (2025)

Struggling to find your home decor style?

Yeah, I know, I’ve been there… Back when I had to decorate my first apartment, I had no clue what “my style” was. I’d flip from wanting a minimalist sanctuary one day to dreaming about a bohemian paradise the next 🤭.

I scrolled through Pinterest and Instagram all day, but it made it worse. There were so many beautiful options, but how was I supposed to find MY home decor style and know what would actually make ME happy in MY space? These home decorating tips would have been so helpful back then!

That overwhelming feeling of decorating indecision is exactly why I’m writing this guide on how to find your home decor style. Because once you actually understand your personal decorating style, everything gets so much easier!

No more buyer’s remorse over that expensive couch that looked better in the showroom. No more random purchases that never quite work together. Just a home that feels authentically, wonderfully YOU.

Stop feeling overwhelmed and let’s start creating a home you’ll truly love!

Table of Contents

Why Discovering Your Style Actually Matters

Discovering Your Home Decor Style Matters

Knowing your personal decorating style makes the whole process more intuitive and enjoyable, and it eliminates that awful frustration of not knowing what to choose.

When you have a clear vision of your style, you’ll find that:

You make better purchasing decisions (saving money in the long run!).
Your home naturally feels more cohesive and put-together.
You experience less decision fatigue when decorating.
You’re less likely to get swept up by passing trends that don’t really speak to you.
Your space truly reflects the real you, not just what’s trending on social media.

But here’s something important I learned the hard way – you don’t have to pick just ONE style!

If you like several styles – combine them! This way, you’ll create a space with a unique look that reflects your personality, experiences, and preferences much better than strictly following a single design recipe.

For interior design beginners, this is one of the most freeing home decorating tips you’ll ever receive.

Why We Get So Overwhelmed About Our Style

If you’re struggling to pinpoint your style, you’re not the only one! I remember feeling like I should just KNOW what I liked, but the truth is, most of us need some help figuring it out—especially when we are new at this.

One big reason we struggle is that we often confuse admiration with personal connection. When we look at a beautifully decorated space, we often say, “That’s my style,” just because we like looking at it. But this doesn’t mean it’s appropriate for our own homes.

That’s such a lightbulb moment, right? Just because I can appreciate a gorgeously styled minimalist apartment on Instagram doesn’t mean I’d actually be happy living in a space with nowhere to display my collection of travel souvenirs!

Let’s Get to Know the Major Decorating Styles

Before we dive into discovering your style, let’s take a quick look at some popular interior design styles.

Think of these as your starting ingredients—you’ll likely combine elements from several to create your unique recipe! These core home styling ideas will help you find your interior design style more easily.

Contemporary

If you are a fan of current trends in interior design styles, this one is for you.

Contemporary constantly changes with the times. Today’s Contemporary spaces feature clean lines, deliberate use of texture, minimal accessories, and neutral color palettes with strategic pops of color.

Just keep in mind that trends change frequently, so if you choose this one, you’ll need to renovate your space regularly.

Traditional

Think classic elegance here: rich colors, patterns mixed with confidence, curved furniture lines, and attention to detail. Traditional spaces often feature symmetrical arrangements, antiques or reproductions, and classic patterns like damask or toile.

This personal decorating style appeals to those who appreciate heritage pieces and historical connections in their home styling ideas.

My mom has a traditional living room, and even as a kid, I could feel the difference when I walked in there—it felt “special” compared to our comfy, casual family room.

Transitional

This is the happy middle ground that blends traditional elegance with modern, clean lines. It’s perfect if you find the traditional design too stuffy but contemporary too cold.

Think comfortable sofas with clean lines, a mix of materials, and a neutral color palette with subtle patterns.

Coastal / Nautical

Coastal style brings the relaxed, airy feeling of the beach into your home.

Common elements of this interior design style include white or light-colored furniture, natural fiber rugs, light or whitewashed woods, and textiles in ocean-inspired blues and greens. The overall effect is clean, bright, and tranquil.

Unlike the more themed “beach decor” with explicit seashells and anchors, the modern coastal style is more subtle and sophisticated.

Scandinavian

Scandinavian design style embodies the Nordic principle of “hygge” (pronounced hoo-ga), creating spaces that offer comfort, contentment, and well-being.

This style features clean lines, functional furniture, and a minimalist approach that still feels warm and inviting.

The color palette centers around whites and light neutrals to maximize the precious northern light, with touches of muted colors and natural materials like pale woods, wool, and linen.

Boho (Bohemian)

Free-spirited and eclectic, boho style embraces a “more is more” philosophy with layers of patterns, colors, and textures. Global influences, vintage pieces, plants, and handcrafted items all have a place in boho decor.

It’s relaxed, collected, and personal.

If you’re looking for home styling ideas that allow maximum self-expression, boho might be your perfect match.

find your home decor style Modern Farmhouse

Ah, farmhouse style! This one combines rustic charm with modern comforts.

You’ll see reclaimed wood, distressed finishes, neutral colors with pops of greens or blues, and vintage-inspired accessories.

Modern farmhouse (popularized by Joanna Gaines) updates the look with cleaner lines and fewer rustic elements.

Learning how to decorate your home with farmhouse elements can create a warm, inviting atmosphere that many people love.

Industrial

Do you love exposed brick, metal piping, concrete floors, and salvaged wood? Industrial embraces all the elements other styles might try to hide 😀.

If you find beauty in grit, texture, and a touch of ruggedness, this look is for you.

It’s especially popular in apartments, lofts, or open-concept homes with lots of architectural character.

Cottagecore / Cottage Style

Cozy, casual, and charming!

Cottage style features painted furniture, floral patterns, soft colors, and a collected-over-time feel. It’s comfortable, unpretentious, and often incorporates vintage elements.

Unlike more formal styles, cottage decor celebrates imperfection—slightly mismatched furniture, gently worn textiles, and handmade elements create personal and welcoming spaces.

Rustic Lodge / Cabin

Rustic Lodge style brings the warmth and rugged beauty of the mountain retreats.

This cozy style features substantial wooden elements, stone accents, leather furniture, and a color palette inspired by forest landscapes—deep greens, rich browns, and burnt oranges.

Defining elements include exposed beams, stone fireplaces, plaid textiles, and nature-inspired accessories like antlers or wildlife artwork.

Eclectic / Maximalist

This style is all about thoughtfully combining different styles, periods, and textures in a way that feels cohesive despite the variety. It takes a lot of confidence to pull it off, but results in spaces that are truly one-of-a-kind.

Most of us actually end up with somewhat eclectic spaces as our style evolves over time—and that’s a beautiful thing!

Finding your personal decorating style often leads to this eclectic approach as you discover what truly makes you happy in your home.

Mid-Century Modern

Mid-Century Modern style originated in the mid-20th century (roughly 1945-1975) and has experienced a major revival in recent years. It features clean lines, gentle organic curves, a mix of different materials, and a blend of both traditional and non-traditional materials.

Key elements include furniture with tapered legs, bold, solid colors mixed with graphic patterns, and an emphasis on functionality.

Molded plastic, plywood, metal, glass, vinyl, and plexiglass are common materials, often paired with natural wood.

5 Steps to Discover Your Personal Home Decor Style

Now that we’ve covered the main style categories let’s talk about how to find your home decor style!

I’ve broken this down into 5 simple steps that helped me discover my own style after years of decorating confusion. These tips work great for interior design beginners!

1. Look at What You Already Love

The best clues about how to find your home decor style are probably already in your home! As I’ve found, the pieces you absolutely adore provide valuable insights.

Take a little tour of your current space and ask yourself:

Which three items would you rescue first in a fire? (After family members and pets, of course!)
What pieces make you smile every time you see them?
Which room in your home feels most “you” and why?

For me, I realized that my favorite things were my grandmother’s vintage armchair (which I reupholstered in a modern fabric), my collection of pottery from travels, and a large, colorful abstract painting. That told me I value both sentimentality and bold visual impact—important clues!

Your wardrobe offers amazing style clues too! Peek in your closet and notice:

What colors dominate?
Do you prefer structured, tailored clothes or flowy, relaxed pieces?
Are you drawn to patterns or solids?
Do you prefer classic styles or trendy items?

I noticed my closet was full of comfortable basics in neutral colors but with fun, colorful accessories—which perfectly reflected what I wanted in my home, too!

2. Create Inspiration Collections (Without Overthinking)

This is the fun part of discovering your style! Create a Pinterest board specifically for rooms that make you think, “I’d love to live there!”

Don’t analyze why you like them yet—just save what speaks to you instinctively as you look for home decor inspiration. Collect at least 25-30 images before looking for patterns.

When I did this exercise to find my interior design style, I was shocked to discover how many of my pins featured similar elements that I hadn’t consciously recognized!

Besides Pinterest, you can gather inspiration from:

Home decor magazines (tear out pages that speak to you).
Interior design blogs.
Instagram accounts focused on home design.
Furniture store displays that make you want to move right in.
Friends’ homes where you feel instantly comfortable.

3. Analyze Your Patterns and Preferences

Now comes the detective work! Look through your inspiration collection and answer the following questions:

What colors appear most frequently?
What materials do you see repeatedly? (wood, metal, glass, etc.)
Are the spaces mostly minimalist or filled with interesting objects?
Is there a mix of old and new, or mostly one or the other?
Are the rooms formal or casual?
Do you see mostly straight, clean lines or more curves and organic shapes?
What textures appear frequently?

Try creating a list of 5-10 words that describe the feeling or elements in your inspirational images.

Mine included “comfortable,” “layered,” “collected,” “natural,” and “casual”—which helped me find my interior design style – Cottagecore + Modern Farmhouse with Boho accents.

4. Consider Your Lifestyle and Practical Needs

Your perfect style should not only look good, but it should work for your actual life! This is where practical home styling ideas really matter.

Ask yourself these questions and answer them 😉.

Do you have small children or pets that need durable, easy-to-clean surfaces?
Do you entertain frequently or prefer quieter nights at home?
Do you work from home and need a dedicated office space?
What activities do you love that need accommodation? (Reading, crafting, cooking, gaming?)
Are you naturally tidy or more relaxed about housekeeping?

In my previous apartment, I bought a beautiful creamy white sofa. Soon after, I decided to fulfill my childhood dream and got the sweetest creamy golden retriever ever (Freya ❤️). Let’s just say the sofa didn’t stay cream-colored for long 🤭!

Now, I know that performance fabrics and washable slipcovers are essential for my home.

These practical home decorating tips can save you a lot of headaches.

5. Test and Refine Your Style

Before committing to major purchases or renovations, test your emerging style preferences in small ways.

Create digital mood boards using apps like Mattoboard that let you see items together.
Paint sample boards instead of entire walls.
Buy inexpensive pillow covers or throws in your new style direction.
Rearrange existing furniture to better fit your needs.
Visit furniture stores to sit on/touch pieces you’re considering buying.

Remember, finding your home decor style isn’t a one-time task. It’s a journey—it evolves as you do!

My own style has shifted over the years from strictly boho to more cottage and modern farmhouse mix. I expect it will continue to evolve as I do!

Common Challenges (And How to Overcome Them)

“But I Like SO Many Different Styles!”

This is probably the most common struggle I hear!

Here’s what helped me find my interior design style: Focus on how spaces feel rather than their style label. Do you feel most at peace in open, uncluttered rooms? Or do you feel most inspired in spaces filled with interesting objects and colors?

Remember, most people have a blended style. You might love modern furniture but with bohemian textiles, or farmhouse architecture with more contemporary furnishings. The magic happens in the mix!

Budget Constraints

Let’s be real—taste doesn’t always align with budget! If your Pinterest board is full of high-end designs but your wallet has other ideas, you can try these approaches:

Invest in one or two foundational pieces that define your style (like a quality sofa or bed).
Look for budget-friendly alternatives for accessories and smaller items.
Learn to spot thrift stores or marketplace finds with potential.
Focus on paint and textiles—two affordable ways to transform a space.
Remember that the most interesting homes are built over time, not purchased all at once.

Learning how to decorate your home on a budget is a valuable skill.

Shared Spaces and Different Tastes

Decorating with a partner or roommates who have different style preferences? Been there! You can try these home decorating tips:

Create individual mood boards, then look for overlapping elements.
Each identify your non-negotiables versus where you’re flexible.
Consider dedicating different areas to each person’s stronger preferences.
Focus on finding compromise pieces you both like rather than alternating choices you each hate.
Remember that “collected over time” looks often have more personality than perfectly matched sets.

The result will feel more interesting than either of your styles would be on their own!

Evolving Preferences

Sometimes, we fall in love with a style that later doesn’t feel right anymore. That’s completely normal! Design preferences evolve just like our tastes in food, music, and clothes.

To avoid redoing everything every time your style shifts, try to:

Build a foundation of relatively timeless, quality pieces.
Add trend-based or experimental styles with less expensive accessories.
Give yourself permission to change your mind!
Document what works and what doesn’t so that you can learn from each iteration.

Implementing Your Personal Style

Once you’ve identified your style preferences, it’s time to bring them to life in your home!

Create a Cohesive Look With Blended Styles

If you’re working with multiple style influences (like most of us!), these tips will help create harmony when you’re figuring out how to decorate your home.

Choose a consistent color palette that works across different styles.
Look for furniture pieces that could work in multiple styles.
Use similar finishes on metals or woods throughout your space.
Let one style dominate (about 60-70%) and incorporate others as accents.
Make the change between rooms feel smooth, even if each one has a different style.

In my current home, I lean about 60% cottage, 30% modern farmhouse, and 10% boho. The cottage elements (soft colors, vintage touches, cozy fabrics) set the tone. Modern farmhouse pieces keep things fresh and practical, and the boho accents—like woven textures and plants—add a relaxed, personal feel.

Start With Key Pieces

Build each room with a few key pieces that really show off your style. These ‘anchor’ items will help you set the vibe and make it easier to choose the rest, especially if you’re just getting into decorating.

For instance, if you love modern farmhouse, you might start with a farmhouse-style dining table as a centerpiece in your dining area. Once that’s in place, selecting chairs, lighting, and accessories will become much more straightforward.

Add Personal Touches That Tell Your Story

The most beautiful and cozy spaces never look like they were taken out of a catalog. They include personal elements that tell your unique story!

Family photos displayed in a way that complements your style.
Travel souvenirs that bring back happy memories.
Artwork created by loved ones (or yourself!).
Collections that showcase your interests.
Books that reveal your passions and curiosities.

These personal touches are what transform a well-decorated space into a home!

Finding Joy in the Journey

“Happiness is a journey, not a destination”. The same is valid for creating a warm, cozy home that reflects your authentic style.

Every choice you make teaches you something about finding your home decor style. Each “mistake” refines your understanding, and each successful addition boosts your confidence.

I’ve made plenty of decorating missteps along the way, like when I painted my entryway shiplap sage green. At least, that was my intention, but it ended up being a bright, mint green. I didn’t like it, so I had to repaint it, which cost me extra money and effort.

But even that taught me something valuable about how colors change in different lighting and how my mood is affected by certain hues.

These are the kinds of home decorating tips you can only learn through experience.

So take that Pinterest board full of home decor inspiration and start noticing what makes your heart beat faster. Look at your favorite clothes, your most treasured possessions, and the spaces where you feel most content.

The answers are already there, waiting for you to recognize them ❤️.

The FAQ

Most Common Q’s

It’s completely normal to be drawn to multiple interior design styles! Most people have a blended approach to home decorating. Focus on identifying which elements you consistently love across different styles, then create a personalized blend that reflects your unique preferences. A good approach is to choose one dominant style (about 60%) and incorporate elements from other styles as accents.

To find your home decor style on a budget, start by investing in 1-2 key pieces that define your aesthetic, then build around them with more affordable items. Use paint and textiles to transform spaces inexpensively, shop secondhand for unique finds, and remember that cultivating your personal decorating style happens over time—you don’t need to buy everything at once.

New to decorating? Start by creating a Pinterest board of rooms you love without overthinking why. After collecting 25-30 images, analyze them for recurring elements like colors, materials, and layouts. Your wardrobe offers great home styling ideas too—the colors and styles you wear often reflect your aesthetic preferences. Take note of which spaces make you feel most comfortable and why.

When sharing a space, have each person create inspiration boards to find areas of overlapping taste. Compromise with a neutral base that works for everyone, then incorporate personal decorating elements in different zones. Common areas can feature items you both like, while personal spaces might lean more toward individual interior design styles. The best shared homes combine different aesthetics in a way that feels cohesive.

Rather than chasing every trend, focus on finding your home decor style that genuinely resonates with you. Build a foundation of timeless pieces, then use smaller accessories and textiles to incorporate trends that appeal to you. Most interior design styles evolve gradually—update when something no longer brings you joy, not because it’s no longer trendy. Your home should reflect your personality, not just current home decorating tips.

Though often confused, modern design refers specifically to the mid-20th century aesthetic with clean lines and minimal ornamentation, while contemporary refers to what’s currently trending now. Modern is a defined historical style with specific characteristics, whereas contemporary evolves constantly. When trying to find your home decor style, understanding these distinctions helps you identify which elements truly resonate with your personal decorating preferences.