Making it Yours: Part One

Our Style/Ourselves. Pinpointing your style preferences is a key element in shaping the interior of your home. Sounds easy and all too obvious, but almost everyone I know struggles with this little nugget of truth. Between the plethora of products and images, well meaning but perhaps incompatible shopping partners, gifts and hand-me-downs, and of course, the desire to simply get it over with and effectively furnish one's home, it can get a little cloudy.

I believe every person, and every couple, has a personal style; a style that suits their needs and tastes above all else. Furthermore, honoring your own personal style is the only way a person can expect to be content with his/her home, wardrobe, and lifestyle.

Establishing, and in some cases, defending your style, is the first step to making your home yours. Hoping to be of help, I went on the hunt; took every online home style quiz I could. The goal of these quizzes is to provide you with a phrase, or a label (a whale doesn't know he is a whale until you tell him so, is the thought here). Unfortunately, I wasn't able to find a quiz that provided enlightening results; I was told that my style was everything from 'comfortable classic' to 'modern bohemian', both of which couldn't be further from the truth.

And then I stumbled upon something great. Style Statement. In this month's Real Simple, design expert Carrie McCarthy not only confirms my suspicion that knowing is half the battle, she also offers practical advise on how to recover and honor your inner style.

1. Look at your furniture. With a pad in hand, walk from room to room and make two truthful lists: “Love It” and “Wish I Could Replace It.” Catalog everything you can, including art―and be honest. “It’s all based on how things make you feel,” says McCarthy.
2. Gather items you cherish. Check the top of your dresser, your mantel, your bookshelves, then pull special clothes from your closet. “Focus on the items that make you feel beautiful and joyful,” says McCarthy.
3. Think about places you love and why you love them. “Picture your dream home, if you could live anywhere,” says McCarthy. Then think outside of home: “If you were invited to the Oscars, what would you wear?” This moves you beyond the limitations of your lifestyle and budget and into a new realm of creativity.
4. Look for common threads―design, colors, shapes, materials, vibe―among the things you treasure. See which of the styles pictured here your picks most jibe with. You may find yourself attracted to a blend of styles rather than just one; as you delve into the following rooms, note which features appeal to you. This will help you translate your taste into smart decorating choices.

(photo via traditional home; click here to get a glimpse at the lovely little brownstone of Lauren McGrath)