Have you ever wondered if there is a particular decorating style to call your own? You know what you like, but is there a name and definition for it? I’ve always wondered that about myself. It would be so nice to have words that could capture what I prefer in home decor. This post is perhaps more for my own personal ramblings as I attempt to lay out and define for myself the design style I call my own. Maybe this process will help you if you are on a similar journey 😉
Where to start? With what I love, of course! And everything I love, I’ve collected on Pinterest. After carefully examining my For the Home Board, I realized that while my pins may not all be consistent, there are definite trends. I believe I have-if you will-a Primary Decor Style, and a Secondary Decor Style. I bet you may find this about yourself as well, as we are creatures of variety and are designed to appreciate more than one thing at a time. 🙂
Today I will explore my primary style only and say only about my secondary preferences that I am also drawn to the very trendy styles one sees often on Pinterest (greiges, glamorous mirrors, striped walls, black walls, light airy rooms, animal prints and furs). And while I love these styles, I will find new trends to love in time as they become very ‘2010’s’ 😉 Hopefully my primary style will be more defined by materials and textures that will stand the test of time.
My Primary Decor Style
I’ve picked out several (way too many…) photos that I feel like best consistently define what I love in a home. (If you are following along in this process, I suggest picking out rooms that seem the most similar so that you can define those shared elements) I’ve linked them all back to my original pin, where you can click and find the source.
Let’s dissect….
Colors
It seems I love white walls and backdrops (call me boring ;)) against the warmth of wood tones, golds and silvers, and the contrast of sleek black. Besides those neutral hues, there is very little other color in those photos: perhaps an occasional red or pink accent.
Textures
The photos suggest I enjoy natural materials that lend themselves to a variety of textures. Woods, metals, linens, and leather seem to be common.
After taking several decor style quizzes and reading up on decor definitions, I am prepared to name my Primary Decor Style: Refined Rustic Revival. Let me explain…
Sproost offers a Design Your Style quiz, where I learned about Rustic Revival. Essentially this style combines rustic textures and materials with modern design elements such as open rooms, and bright white spaces. While I believe this style fits the pictures above mostly, I would add one descriptor. I do not particularly like adding the modern elements in an obvious way (for instance funky chairs and modern wall art), but instead a more subtle way through clean lines and neutral tones with an occasional modern accent piece thrown in.
The picture above Sproost classifies as Rustic Revival. But, contrast it with the one below to understand the distinction I am making. (Less overtly modern furniture/elements, more traditional feel with subtle nods to modern)
To capture this distinction I added Refined to the title to hint at more classic traditional cues (black & white, traditional furniture, crown molding etc). What do you think of my Refined Rustic Revival? I’ve also toyed with New Traditional Rustic (But that just doesn’t sound nearly as cool….). I believe the term captures the modern version of traditional in a rustic setting.
Apartment Therapy calls this style (Rustic Revival) Contemporary Rustic. Stop over there and read the elements it attributes to the style, it’s very insightful.
There you have it folks, my decor preferences bottled up into three words! What is your decor style?