Welcome back to a 16 part series, looking at how your Myers Briggs personality profile affects your decorating choices. Last time, we looked at ENFJ (Giver) type, and this week we’re diving into INFJ (Giver). In this series, it’s important to remember that everyone has different tastes when it comes to home decor, but each of us have preferences that can often be traced back to our personality profile and how we perceive and react to the world. By better understanding our personality profile, we can make informed decorating decisions that can lead to more peaceful living and well-rounded lives.
In this guide, I will not attempt to tell you whether country cottage fits you better, or if you are more the modern eclectic type. We all are drawn to different styles, and similar personalities will not necessarily have similar decorating tastes. But, they will have similar ways of making decisions, evaluating choices, and experiencing the decor in their homes. Which is why, in this series, I will be focusing on broader concepts and decision making in your home decor versus specific design styles.
Most rare of all types, the Protector is also known as the Confidant or the Counselor. I would say those words are very descriptive of my mom, who happens to be an INFJ. Below is a quick overview of this type. For a more indepth analysis of the INFJ, visit here.
INFJ are set apart by their intuitive nature. They care deeply for those they love and have a warm and gentle demeanor. Their inner self is deep and complex; often hard for others to understand. Because of this, INFJ’s tend to be secretive and private about their thoughts and feelins. They are perfectionists with high standards, driven by their unique intuitive abilities. The INFJ is a natural nurturer and provides patience and protection to those they love.
INFJ Decorating
- Trust your intuition. The Protector is highly intuitive and trusts their intuition very strongly. Althought they often can not explain why they know something, they just do. Use this to your advantage in decorating. Trust your insticts. You may not know why you like something, but chances are it’s a great choice!
- Celebrate the arts. INFJ’s often have an affinity for the arts (be it music, creative writing, artwork, etc.). Show off this neat aspect of your personality in your home! Do you paint landscapes? Paint one of your local area and hang it on the wall. Do you play an instrument? Find a beat up flea market version and display it as artwork, or set up a scrolly music stand in the corner. Whatever gets your creative juices flowing, incorporate it in your home. Let your home inspire you!
- Create orderly chaos. With the Judging trait, the Protector does have orderly tendencies and likely feels most at peace when things organized. But, sometimes their can be a conflict between the Protector’s inner world of intuition and their outer world of orderliness. This can create signs of dissaray such as a consistently messy desk. Enable yourself to enjoy the organization without worrying too much about the areas of mess. Get a roll top desk to cover the clutter, use a divider in the room to hide a messy portion, or add a sliding door to your kitchen so you can eat a more peaceful dinner. Help yourself be at peace by easily creating an orderly home.
- Create the best system. Sometimes when decorating, people can forget the practical aspects such as flow of the room, enough seating, walkways, etc. But not the INFJ, they are constantly seeking improvements and thinking about how to attain the best systems. Because of this, you, as n INFJ, will likelly have an excellent functioning home if you put your mind to it. Trust your intuition on things like furniture arrangement, art placement, accoustics levels for the TV and more. If you spend a little time and energy thinking about improvement, chances are you will find some great ideas!
- Celebrate loved ones. The INFJ Protector has a deep well of caring for those they love. They push them to be the best they can be, and because of this they can recognize their loved ones strengthes and celebrate them. Your home is a portrait of what you care most about. Proud of your son’s baseball achievements? Use his gear as decor. Does your daughter have a lovely voice? Leave her voice books out on the piano. Use your home and decorating to celebrate those you love!
- Reduce stress. Stress can affect the INFJ very negatively and may even manifest itself through physical ailments. The Protector must take special care to avoid this and stay healthy in body and mind. Reduce the stress in your life by creating a space that is just for you where you can decompress. Create organization charts so that your family can help out with the chores. Also, conflict is a big source of stress for the INFJ, help avoid quarrels by using soothing colors throughout your home such as greens and blues.
- Step back and enjoy. As someone who is always striving to be better, it can be difficult for the INFJ to recognize how far they’ve come and how much they’ve achieved. While you may be caught up on what doesn’t work the best in your home, take a step back and a moment to enjoy what is there and how nice it is. It is important for us all to be able to recognize our own achievements.
Good News for the Giver
1. You are creative and imaginative. Likely you are very good with words and have a gift for the poetic. Your home is place where you can let your creativity flourish. Use your intuition and natural affinity for the arts when you decorate. Celebrate these skills, and let others admire te creativity of your home.
2. You are idealistic. You always strive for the best in every aspect of life. This drive will allow you to continually update and improve your home and decor to reflect the most beautiful and well-thought out designs. Embrace this characteristic in yourself and enjoy it in your home. While at times being idealistic can be difficult, it will allow to you seek the best in your decorating.
Thanks for reading these decorating techniques and tricks for the Protector (INFJ). If you are a Protector, I’d love to hear how you create a better home system, or how your artistic abilities influence your decor. 🙂 Next week will be….. ENTP Decorating for the Visionary.
Decorating for your Personality:
Introduction
INTP Decorating for the Thinker
ESTJ Decorating for the Guardian
INFP Decorating for the Idealist
ENFJ Decorating for the Giver
INFJ Decorating for the Protector
ENTP Decorating for the Visionary
ESFJ Decorating for the Caregiver
ISFP Decorating for the Artist
ISFJ Decorating for the Nurturer
ESFP Decorating for the Performer
ENFP Decorating for the Inspirer
INTJ Decorating for the Mastermind
ENTJ Decorating for the Executive
ISTP Decorating for the Artisan
ESTP Decorating for the Promoter
ISTJ Decorating for the Duty Fulfiller
*Contains Affiliate Links*
I so love you informative blog on decorating for the different types. I’m still trying to figure out if I am a Intj or an Infj both of the process of thinking and feeling are very important to me.. I loved both design patterns. But I tend like the Infj design better. Again thank you for a well thought blog and well executed
I’m both an intf and intj…so it’s possible to be you’re both.
I have to agree wiith all my fellow INFJs, this was perfect!
So smart about having a way to confine the mess out of sight, that’s exactly what I need for my workroom!
Because of pinterest I’ve fallen in love with a lot of decor pieces, but I have been unsettled making the decor, and I now realize it’s because I crave the things that are specific to me and my family, not the decor that is just beautiful. I think it s time to bring out my books back on display, and show case my daughter’s art. Maybe very nice frames will help make it feel like “real” decor.
Alao, the bit about always trying to make the space better and more useful is spot on, sometimes I just need to relax in the home I’ve worked so hard on!
Thank you for this article!
I laughed out loud when I read: Use your home and decorating to celebrate those you love! Looked up and saw the Marine Corps poster and the canvas from my husband’s birthday where everyone wrote him well wishes. The hallway is literally a collage of family photos and my bedroom has personal photos and mementos everywhere! 😀
Definitely going to try to hide some of the chaos!!! Great advice
This is so fun (and accurate)! It’s funny, my entire house is in a shades of minty green, almost identical to the photo under the “Reduce stress.” Guess I’m on the right track 😉
That sounds lovely! I think I should incorporate some stress-reducers into my decor too 🙂
Organized chaos! You hit the nail on the head. That describes my home exactly. I also display my guitars, my children’s artwork, and pictures of my husband rock climbing. Thank you for this.
Since this is a page on perfectionists, I thought you’d like to know it seems a piece was held over from the previous post: “Good News for the Giver” 😉
Thanks for this post. Growing up in an isfj/entj household, it’s nice to know why I’ve always struggled to match their hyper-organization.
Your insights are really accurate for me as an INFJ, right down to the “scrolly music stand in the corner”, haha! It’s the one piece in my living room that I feel like always needs its place and makes the decor unique. Flow is also really important, and I’ve been over and over how to make my small living/dining space work most functionally and comfortably while still looking great. 🙂 Thanks for the read!
I have found that when I put some degree of thought into what I put on my walls and the ways in which I arrange those things, I am able to sit in my house and just look at that one space to create a sense of peace to calm my mind and spirit. It’s vital for me to have a functional and yet stylish system for me to feel at my very best. I also have discovered that the occasional pop of color with a generally earth-toned color scheme, I feel most grounded.
Very accurate. I was right on the border between introvert and extrovert so I read this one and enfj. While I related to a lot of that post, this one was perfect! Guess I am an introvert after all. Thanks for sharing, very well done!
I’m not crazy I’m not somebody gets me…YIPPEEE! This was perfect, hit the nail on the head! You made my heart leap with glee. I have art on every wall. I love the museums, the performing arts and theater, lectures, poetry readings. Dancing was such a big part of my life and that is when I came alive kind of odd but performing I was someone else. I didn’t see anyone who knew me I could just be me and it was great, no fear of rejection or ridicule of others. Hard to find adult dance lessons that aren’t couples lesson. I miss that want it back desperately in my life. I actually need it. Messy desk here here, LOL. Stress: that was major eye opener. Nice work and a big thank you 🙂
Haha, no you’re not crazy you’re just uniquely you, which is wonderful. So glad you found this helpful! And I hope you are able to find an adult dance class to join 😉
This was SPOT on! Even down to the messy desk, which just so happens to showcase the jewelry I make. I am big on having things organized and am constantly revamping my organizing systems. Always endless possibilities in sight!! I have recently repainted 2 rooms, colors in the blue/green family and I instantly felt a sense of peace. Good read! Thank you!
So glad you enjoyed it, Erika! Ah, what a good feeling to have freshly painted rooms, and in such peaceful colors 🙂 Best of luck in your decorating!
I am totally an INFJ, and this was very accurate! Good job! Also, random, I noticed your alma matter is UofI. I live in Urbana! I’m glad I stumbled upon a midwest girl’s blog! Found you on pinterest. 🙂
Glad you liked it, Keli! And how fun to hear from someone in my beloved Chambana 😉 Thanks so much for stopping by!
I just found out that I’m an INFJ, and it’s strange to see someone describing my life to me. As for the decorating purposes, you’re absolutely right! I prefer to showcase what I care about to others in my living space. They make visitors feel like they know me without me saying too much about myself- I like a free walkway and organized chaos. This article is spot-on!
So glad you enjoyed it! When I first found mbti I was obsessed and read like a million things on my type, it’s so fun isn’t it? Hope this was able to help you put your personality type into perspective when decorating 🙂
Thank you sooo much, this is really helpfull for my new apartment. As an INFJ, I feel great that someone out there took time to do this. Great job!
So glad it helped! And best of luck at your new place 🙂 Thanks for stopping by!
I’ve just learned I’m infj and almost all your points confirm what I’ve been doing all along. Now can say I’m not crazy! Yay! Thank you Mrs Fancee 🙂
It’s always good to know you’re not crazy 😉 Thanks for stopping by, I love hearing from Protectors!
I wouldn’t know if it’s just me, but turquoise paired with dark brown accents seems to go Good for the items like dishes, hand towels, rugs, and maybe even walls (with the trimming being the brown). I suppose having a contrast that’s sharp, simple, and gentle all at once may just go Good with the whole art thing. Anyways-I’d need to have other infjs agree!
hi,I’m Chris,INFJ,I just would like to say the article is brilliant,you obviously have the necessary insight!Exactly the sort of decor I prefer!Kudos!:)
Thanks so much Chris! I appreciate it 🙂
As an INFJ and 1% of the population, I enjoyed being understood. Thank you!
It was really fun reading your decorating ideas for the “Protector”! Being this personality type, I feel like your description is very accurate and helpful!
Thanks Mom 😉 Glad you enjoyed it!! Love you 🙂