Finding Your Interior Style: A Simple Guide to What You Actually Like

Isn’t that such a great question? Not long ago, design styles were much more black and white. You were either traditional or modern. Sure, there were variations—French, English, contemporary, organic—but overall, the categories felt clearer and more defined.

Today, it’s a whole different story. Thanks to Pinterest, Instagram, and design shows on Netflix, there are seemingly endless design styles to choose from, each with its own name and nuance. And while the variety is inspiring, it can also feel overwhelming. How do you know what your style is—and how to describe it when you're shopping or working with a designer?

Here are three simple ways to start identifying your personal interior design style:

1. Straight Lines or Curves?
One of the easiest ways to begin is by noticing the shapes you're drawn to. When you picture your ideal sofa, do you see something with clean, straight arms and sharp angles? Or does your mind go to a curvier silhouette, with rounded arms and softer lines?

Apply that same thinking to other pieces: Do you gravitate toward nightstands with straight edges and boxy drawers, or ones with arched details, curved legs, and round hardware? Recognizing whether you're more drawn to straight lines or organic curves can quickly narrow down your options—and make shopping or collaborating with a designer much more efficient.

2. Do You Like More... or Less?
Next, consider how much detail you like in your furniture and decor. When you picture a chair, is it a mix of leather and fabric with trim, buttons, and ornate legs? Or is it simple, streamlined, and unembellished?

Think about a bed: Do you prefer tufted headboards, contrast piping, carved wood accents, and layers of patterned pillows with trims and textures? Or do you lean toward a clean-lined bed frame with a few thoughtfully chosen pillows in matching fabrics? This question helps clarify whether you prefer a maximal or minimal approach to design.

3. What’s Your Relationship With Color?
Lastly, think about your color preferences. Are you energized by bold contrasts and lots of vibrant hues? Do you love pattern mixing and colorful statement pieces? Or do you feel more at home in a soft, tonal palette with neutral shades and rich textures taking center stage?

Whether you love a colorful, eclectic mix or a calm, monochromatic scheme, identifying your comfort zone with color will help bring your style into focus.

These three questions—lines, detail, and color—are simple but powerful tools for understanding your style. And when you're browsing furniture or working with a designer, this self-awareness saves time and makes decision-making so much easier.

Our biggest piece of advice? Don’t get too caught up in the official name of your style. Whether it’s called modern organic, soft contemporary, or eclectic traditional doesn’t matter nearly as much as how your space makes you feel. If you can tell your designer, “I like curved pieces, minimal detail, and soft, neutral colors,” you’ve already done the hard part.

At the end of the day, you’re not living in a room because of its label—you’re living in it because it feels like home.