How to Find Your Unique Home Decorating Style

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DES MOINES, IA / ACCESS Newswire / June 17, 2026 / Saving a swipe file of inspiration photos and videos can make decorating feel fun - and it should be. But without a well-defined decorating style, creating cohesive rooms might be harder than you'd expect. Clear guidelines make it easier to pair colors, textures and shapes that make a stronger impact.

Defining your style before making larger purchases, like a sofa or dining table, could help you direct your budget toward the pieces that support your vision best. If you're fine with updating your space gradually, you might choose to set aside a certain amount of money each month to put towards a new item. If you'd rather overhaul the full space now and pay for the items over time - or if you have your eye on a particular big-ticket item - a personal loan may be an option worth considering. Read on to learn about ways you can find your unique home decorating style.

Seek inspiration

Your everyday preferences reveal colors, textures and moods you're naturally drawn to. Here are some unexpected sources to draw personal inspiration:

• Your closet: Tailored neutrals may point toward modern, Scandinavian or minimalist interiors. Colorful prints, embroidered pieces or vintage accessories may suggest eclectic, bohemian or globally inspired details.

• Locations you linger: Places you enjoy visiting, such as hotels, boutiques, restaurants and coffee shops, can reveal a lot about your taste. Notice the lighting, seating, colors and textures that make you want to sit and stay awhile.

• Your favorite movies and shows: Sets, costumes and color palettes can point to specific design details you're drawn to. For example, you might notice that you keep pausing on rooms with dark wood bookshelves, patterned wallpaper, soft lighting or bright coastal colors.

Find the pattern

Personal style comes from repeated choices, not one-off pieces. Are there any trends you noticed in your inspiration?

• Color: Do you opt for jewel tones, soft neutrals or high-contrast black and white?

• Texture: Do you like linen, velvet, rattan, stone or polished metal?

• Shape: Do you prefer clean lines, curved furniture, ornate details or chunky silhouettes?

• Mood: What do you feel when you enter your favorite places?

• Era: Do you lean toward vintage pieces or current trends?

Next, turn the trends you notice into a style recipe. For example, if you keep coming back to calm, natural spaces, your recipe might be warm woods, creamy walls, curved furniture and woven textures.

Name your style

With that imagery in mind, write down five words to describe your ideal home. Then narrow the list to three. Your final list might be "warm, collected and relaxed" or "clean, bright and refined."

If you can't decide, start here:

• Artsy or utilitarian?

• Wait: Items you like but cannot clearly connect to your style

SOURCE: OneMain Financial