When I moved into my first solo apartment, I furnished and decorated it with a minimalist, mostly white aesthetic. In the two years I’ve lived there, I’ve changed around almost all the original furniture and décor, becoming more and more confident in my choices.
My space is filled with pieces I love. A white, fluffy rug that feels soft underfoot. A coffee table in blonde wood that reminds me of furniture you’d find in Scandi homes. And a canvas painting that fills almost an entire wall of Bronte Beach, painted by my old manager’s mother.
After years of living in sharehouses where I didn’t bother investing in furniture and homewares that might not be looked after, and after two years on my own, which saw me not sure how I wanted my place to feel and look, I feel like I’ve finally developed my personal interior design style.
“Following trends gets you caught up in a frenzy, always trying to stay ahead of things,” says Emma Blomfield, a Sydney-based interior designer and decorator at Emma Blomfield Studio, when I asked her the value of developing your personal interior style, as opposed to choosing from the 30-plus interior design styles recognised by the industry and sticking to its brief.
“It’s expensive. And it also doesn’t allow you to express your creativity and personality. It’s far more exciting for someone to walk into your home and discover all sorts of beautiful things that are meaningful to you.”
Blomfield gives examples of handicrafts or souvenirs you might’ve picked up on holidays or a family heirloom gifted to you by a grandparent. What all these items have in common, she says, is that they all spark conversations with guests.
“You should always feel happy, supported and relaxed in your home,” says Blomfield. “The items we choose to surround ourselves with play an important role in assisting you to feel that way.”
Finding my personal interior style happened organically over time and, in part, as a result of interviewing interior designers and writing about interiors regularly, like in this article you’re reading right now.
That said, there are a few things you can do to facilitate cultivating your own interior style. Ahead, Blomfield shares a few of what those things are.
Experiment With Pieces and Configurations
“A good room takes time to put together and will always be a work in progress,” she says. “So, it’s important to play around with configurations and elements until it feels right for you.”
Tune Out the Noise
“Focusing on trends is expensive and won’t always make you happy. Instead, try to focus only on what you like in a home. Bonus, you’ll have it for years to come.”
Focus on Balance and Proportion
“Getting the sizing and shape choices right for your room can make or break a space. Look at any beautiful room and you’ll not only see that the colours and textures are harmonious together but the size of the furniture is usually spot on in terms of size and scale to the rest of the room. That’s what a good interior designer can help you with.”
Take Risks
“Don’t take the process too seriously, you want to enjoy being in the room and not feel as though you can’t pick anything up or touch anything for fear of breaking it or ruining the styled vignette.”
Have Fun With It
“Our homes should have a few quirky elements that evoke a sense of fun and playfulness. Especially, if children live in the house too! Their memories of the house will be fond ones in years to come.”
Related: IKEA’s Sims-Like Home Design Tool Will Make You Feel Like an Interior Stylist
Related: Short Interior Design Courses Any Home Décor Enthusiast Should Enroll in
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