One common scenario I often see in people’s home is going overboard with a specific “style” of decor. It’s easy to see how this can happen, but it can also be a quick recipe for a room to look outdated or for you to get tired of if quickly. It’s almost like your preferred style backs you into a corner. Let’s explore this a little bit….
It’s understandable how this happens. You find yourself drawn to all the homes in Coastal Living Magazine. You determine your style must be “coastal”. Every time you see something that looks like that style, you get it. Or, let’s say you enjoy the “farmhouse” style that is so very in right now. You go to buy something you need for your home, and you seek out only the “farmhouse” style things. Or you might feel like “traditional” is who you are, and as a result, only add pieces in that genre to your home.
There is nothing wrong with any above scenarios per se, but if you feel like your room doesn’t have the same feel as the rooms that caused you to fall in love in the first place, then there might be cause for taking another look. There might be better approach.
Let’s take a look at some amazing spaces by some talented designers and see what elements they add to create a unique mix. You will notice that in each of the cases, there is more than one style of decor. Another thing to note is that they also use texture as a powerful tool.
This first room designed by Studio McGee would be considered a “traditional” style room. The overall look and feel is classic and mature. But check out how they sprinkle in other styles and texture to keep it from looking stuffy.
Next up is the ever-popular Joanna Gaines from HGTV’s Fixer Upper. Joanna is so good at the mix and honestly keeps getting better every season. This living room she did was a “Southwestern” or “ranch” style. Take a look at what other styles she mixed in.
And our last room was done by the incredible Emily Henderson who was on one of my favorite HGTV shows, Secrets from a Stylist. This living room is from a lake house she designed. The overall style here would be considered “coastal”. Look at how she successfully went coastal without going overboard.
Are you starting to see how they do it? Even though the room overall might have a certain feel, when you break it down and take a closer look, you see that there are many other styles coming into play.
So what can you do if you want to have less of a themed space and more of a fresh and layered feel?
Here are 3 ways you can mix up your home’s style:
- Choose 2 or 3 other styles that you like and bring them into the room. This is probably the easiest way to break up a one style of decor room. Try to think of at least 2 other styles you are fond of and weave them in. For example, my friend Carly likes traditional mixed with coastal and Palm Beach preppy. Using these 3 styles as a springboard for looking at pieces is helping to create a space that is unique to her.
- Add more texture. Adding texture will “dilute” the concentration of what you have. Texture can be found in things like woven shades, greenery, or baskets. Many times, if a room is looking a bit blah, it can be helped with some added texture.
- Identify 3 values you want your home to feel like. Okay, I must admit, this one is a bit harder to pull off. It might fit the bill if you don’t like the idea of choosing specific style. Take a moment to think about 3 or 4 values you want your home to embody. For me, my home values are: simplicity, authenticity and creativity. So what that looks like is a space that is not very cluttered, feels grounded and has surprises thrown in. What might your home values be? Cozy, airy, whimsical? The options are limitless. Whatever values you choose, then take time to make sure your home reflects those values.
If you liked this little design lesson, you might also like my posts on Adding Black and White and Finding Balance.
