Style Language
Stop Taking Interior Style Quizzes!
You are not just "an Industrial person."
You are not just "a Japandi person."
You are not just "an Art Deco person."
You don't need another quiz, you need to understand which design qualities you like!
Knowing your favourite Interior Style(s) is good when you want to communicate it to others, but it is not really helpful to design and decorate your space if you don’t understand its underlying qualities and principles.
What you're actually drawn to are specific design qualities:
- Maybe it's warm woods.
- Maybe it's bold colour.
- Maybe it's clean lines.
- Maybe it's layered patterns.
- Maybe it's handcrafted details.
Once you understand the design qualities you naturally gravitate toward, your taste becomes flexible instead of fixed.
Trends will change.
New styles will emerge.
Your home will evolve.
But the design qualities that feel most like you tend to remain surprisingly consistent. That's what makes your Style Language! Once you learn that, you can easily move across Style Families and access different Interior Styles.
How do you discover your Style Language?
Every Interior Style - whether it's Scandinavian, Moroccan, Art Deco, or something entirely your own - is built from the same design elements. Think of them as the building blocks of interior design.
Your Style Language is simply a unique combination of preferences across 6 design elements:
1. Materials
Think not just about materials but also their finishes. Wood, stone, metal, glass, rattan, concrete, plaster and even paper.
2. Furniture Lines & Forms
Which shapes do you find attractive? Sleek, curved, angular, ornate.
3. Color Palette
Which colors draw your attention? Neutrals, earthy tones, bright colors, deep colors, bold colors and everything in between.
4. Patterns & Textures
Think about visual stimulation and tactility. Which kind of patterns do you like? How does touching certain materials makes you feel? Rugs, cushions, curtains, bedding, all applications of fabrics and other woven surfaces.
5. Details & Decoration
From trims and hardware to artwork, books, sculptures, accessories and even plants.
6. Lighting
Think about mood and ambience in a space. Natural light, ambient light, decorative fixtures, task lighting, accent lighting.
The purpose of building your Style Language is to create fluidity and adaptability. Rather than limiting yourself to a single Interior Style, you can understand the visual elements you are drawn to and adapt your home as your personal style evolves.
How do you build your Style Language?
If you are exploring your style preferences and want to dive deeper, the exercises in Your Style Language (FREE Digital Copy) will definitely help you build a strong foundation. The exercises are laid out with visual examples that allow you to better understand your preferences. If you prefer a physical copy, you can buy it HERE.
The workbook covers the following exercises to build your Style Language:
- Materials: Wall Treatments
- Materials: Flooring
- Materials: Ceiling Treatments
- Materials: Furnishings
- Furniture: Lines & Forms
- Color Palette
- Patterns & Textures: Upholstery Fabrics
- Patterns & Textures: Rugs
- Details & Decor
- Lighting
- Communicating Your Style Language
The first 9 chapters help you discover and define your Style Language. The last chapter in this workbook brings those preferences together by exploring Interior Styles as a Style Family that identify the qualities you are most drawn to.
If you have a good understanding of your stylistic preferences across the 6 design elements described above, you already have a well-defined Style Language. In that case, I would invite you take the next step to elevate your design journey by building your Interior Style Profile.