During the early stages of planning for a home remodel you’ll be faced with one big question: what style are you going for? It isn’t always easy to provide a clear-cut, neat answer to this. Style is fluid and can often encompass many different trends in its totality. Many homeowners struggle to pin down a specific style that calls to them. Who knows, maybe each room will be its own style!
If you’re currently in the throws of picking out a design, look no further! We want to help shed some light on this process so you can start your home remodel off on the right foot. In this blog, we’ll discuss how to pick out the right style for you and give some examples of popular interior house designs.
Narrowing down the style you want to run with for your home remodel is no easy feat. There are hundreds, if not thousands, of options to sift through. Avoid the impulse to pick the trendiest option without really sitting with your opinion on it. Ask yourself, will you love those colorful cabinets a few decades down the line? How will that light wood floor suit you in the future? Define a style that truly calls to you, not necessarily one that would trend on Pinterest.
Follow these tips to nail down a style you truly love.
Before you even look at light fixtures and wallpapers, our advice is to take a broader look at your personal style. You already have a unique taste you can draw from. Simply look at the belongings you already have. What style have you cultivated in your closet? Do you notice any repeating colors, fabrics, or patterns? Observe whether you gravitate towards comfort or if you lean towards a more glamorous, sophisticated look.
You can also build around decor and style elements you already have in your home. What items or elements draw you in? Pay attention to what correlates between the styles you’re drawn to in your closet and throughout your home. Use this as a baseline while defining your personal style.
Another way to gain better insight into what style fits you is to take an online quiz. Pinpointing our taste can be a difficult task. It isn’t always an intuitive process. If you’re completely stumped on what design elements speak to you, it can be helpful to take a few quizzes so you might have a better example of what style would be a fit for your impending remodel project.
Here are some quizzes to try out:
Collecting photos of home designs you love will be a great asset through the remodel planning phase. Take to apps like Pinterest and Instagram for inspiration. Spread out your favorite home design magazines and cut out the images you’re drawn to. Vision boards can be a wonderful way to capture your style. Save photos to reference back to in whatever medium works best for you.
When collecting photos, don’t just limit yourself to examples of home designs you like. You can also draw from patterns and colors in nature, art, and fashion. Create an all-encompassing look at what catches your eye stylistically. These photos will give you a jumping off point when working to plan your redesign.
Take your time nailing down what styles you do and don’t like. Remember, a remodel will be a huge monetary and time commitment. You don’t want to rush into the process only to hate the end result. Give yourself space to identify your tastes and relate them to what you want to implement during the renovation process.
Be flexible in your approach. Style is fluid. It can encompass all of one concept or take inspiration from a number of different ones. Don’t limit yourself to one look, label, or trend if you don’t truly resonate with it. Your home is a place that should embody who you are. Take your time tuning in to what it is that speaks to you instead of simply following a style to the tee. In short, follow your gut.
Searching for one style that points to “you” can be tricky and elusive. Style can be hard to define. It’s fluid and ever-changing, but there are some very basic outlines you can draw from to have a general direction to move in. These are some examples of popular styles you might reference to plan for your remodel.
Defined by clean lines and warm simplicity, the farmhouse design exudes comfort. You’ll notice a lot of whites and creams paired with gentle pops of colors. Wood and other natural materials are a mainstay in this style. Many farmhouse-style homes will feature exposed beams on the walls and ceilings.
American traditional is a style drawing inspiration from 18th and 19th-century European decor while also threading in more modern design elements. This style typically features bold colors and rich textiles. Someone who might enjoy this style would likely appreciate elegance and leisure. They might have an affinity for antiques and classic art.
Many different styles play into the broad style known as mid-century modern. It finds its roots in 1960’s silhouettes and colors. Homes that draw inspiration from this style often feature plastic elements which was a newer material when this style was first trending. They will also feature many bright, pastel colors and neutral colors.
Rustic elegance may sound like an oxymoron but that is the exact intersection you’ll find French country design stationed at. Exposed wood and stone give the space a cozy air while decadent antique furniture incorporates a sophisticated feel. Floral prints and soft hues are often found throughout the French country home.
Light and airy, the cottage design style is a slice of simple living. It’s not uncommon to see patterns interlaid throughout the home but they’re not often too brash or bold. A soft, uniform color palette will often tie these designs together. Generally, cottage style homes aim to capture a casual, imperfect essence.
Finally, we have the eclectic-style home. Rule number one about designing within this scope is there are no rules! An eccentric home seeks to push against the grain, dancing to the beat of its own funky drum. These types of homes often pair bright colors with fun patterns. The structure is loose, show-stopping, and completely nonsensical in the best way possible.
Again, there are a plethora of styles to choose from when it comes to remodeling your home, these are just a few to show as examples.
Don’t carry the burden of picking out a style for your home all on your own. Forge & Bow is practiced and skilled at helping our clients define what direction they want to take their home remodel. Even if you don’t have a neat style your tastes fall into, we will draw on our extensive design knowledge to create a space you’ll love for years to come.
