DISCOVERING YOUR PERSONAL DESIGN STYLE, SUNNY SPOTS, EASTER EGGS AND SYLVESTER STALLONE

Figuring out your personal interior design style is about learning and understanding who you are. Just you. Not being influenced by what other people think you should like or what they like. 

This is not as easy as it sounds for everyone. Some of us instinctively know what we like, others identify with what other people like and are generally happy to go with the flow, or we like it because it’s on trend and looks nice. I do think however that we all want interior spaces that serve us well and feel good to be in. 

What do you do?

What bothered me the most when I was a little girl, is that I knew when the space didn’t feel right and I didn’t always know why. I found myself observing what I did. Trying to figure out how I behaved in my space. Have you noticed what you do? Where do you gravitate to in your house or apartment? It may be the sunny spot at the window, or the comfy chair in the corner, the couch or your bed. Have you ever thought why you like that spot? How does it make you feel? What catches your eye? What do you daydream about when you are there?

Sunny spots and Sylvester Stallone

I had a sunny spot in my bedroom that got the afternoon warmth. The sun hovered there for a few hours each day near my bedroom cupboard and then disappeared past the garden wall as it set. 

I used to love how the light played with the tree outside my bedroom and shone on the Beechie Gum boxes I had stuck on the brown veneer cupboard to create a collage of colour (or when I opened my cupboard to shine on all my Sylvester Stallone Rocky and Rambo posters LOL). That was my happy spot. 

This is how I discovered I liked the colour yellow and the warmth it brought to my room and my heart. I would sit on my carpet in front of the window and stare at the sun or read and re-read my Tracy comics, my monthly indulgent treat from my Mum. I lost myself in the warmth of that corner of my bedroom, and I dreamed my entire room radiated with yellow to reflect what I felt. A feeling of contentment and peace. 

Easter eggs 

It was a bit of an awkward spot and wouldn’t have worked to put a chair exactly where the sun hit the floor as I wouldn’t have been able to open my cupboard. So, I naturally had a few items packed neatly in a corner in my cupboard to create a small picnic area each day. A cushion, a blanket and my pile of Tracy’s. I also had a secret stash of Easter eggs I had saved – discretely hidden behind my shoes –  for my afternoon treat. That secret stash of Easter eggs used to drive my chocoholic sister insane. She quickly figured out what I was up to and used to conveniently pop in for a picnic fairly regularly.

Six-year-olds and the power of chocolate

The temptation was often just too much for my sister, and eventually each year she would find a way to either nab or share my chocolate. Once she stole it. Actually it was quite hysterical because I caught her red handed, scratching in my cupboard with her six-year-old legs sticking out as she rummaged through my neat cupboard (before she got her paws in), and I will never forget that chocolate covered face as I pretended to be furious with her. 

I liked using my chocolate to get her to help me with my latest projects. This is how we wallpapered our old baby bassinet into our dream dollhouse (well, we thought so anyway). I bribed her with treats of chocolate and she helped me stick on the sticky paper. The deal was I was in charge of interior décor so she was not allowed to move anything in the house unless I said so…oh the power of chocolate. 

I also convinced her to keep the dollhouse in her room, honestly it was not pretty and took up a lot of space, but it was well worth the chocolate investment. We spent many hours playing in that old bassinet that we had re-imagined into a mansion. These were happy times.

I like to use space to help me complete a task and why I like yellow

Through this experience I realised that I liked to change spaces as I used them. I still do this in my home today. I change where I work. I do different things in different parts of the house depending on what I am doing or how I am feeling. I used to change up the space in the dollhouse bassinet regularly the same way I changed up the space in my bedroom. 

I liked how the colour yellow made me feel. I didn’t know why at the time. Yellow was not a popular colour although quite on trend now. I understand it now. Yellow is associated with warmth, vision, happiness, healing, innovation and creativity, and in my bedroom I created a world that was only mine. Filled with beauty, function, flow, energy and all that I imagined it could be. 

I healed in this room. I healed physically from the many operations and being behind in my growth because of my club foot which affected my health. And I healed emotionally from my Dad being away on the border all those years ago.

I dreamed of a yellow bedroom

I dreamed of a yellow bedroom filled with light. I dreamed of a beautiful space with a new white bed and puffed headboard, yellow striped duvet, a Kim Love (remember those) continental cushion, bright yellow curtains, a comfortable white chair at my desk, a white desk lamp, big modern framed posters with red lips on a white background. I know. Not exactly the epitome of style, but in my limited knowledge it was what I could dream of, and whilst I didn’t ever get it looking quite like I imagined, the process taught me many things about my style – what I liked and what I didn’t.

Discovering your personal design style

In interiors today, there are so many ways in which to define style. Minimalism, maximalism, contemporary, classic, modern, romantic, organic, organic modern, bohemian, rustic, vintage, retro, shabby-chic, traditional, Scandinavian, transitional, industrial, mid-century modern, Hollywood glam…and every year we add new definitions. The list is endless. If one focuses on trying to do define your style within these definitions you will get completely lost. 

We are so unique as individuals and whilst our styles may have things in common, ultimately there are different things that appeal to each of us. It is more important to define your unique style. So, ask yourself these few questions to help understand your personal style.

1. How do you use your space?
2. What do you use your space for?
3. What colours are your drawn to?
4. What kind of furniture do you like?
5. Are you sentimental?
6. Do you like to repurpose items?
7. How do you like having people in your space?
8. How do the people you care about change how you use and organise your space?
9. Do you like open spaces?
10. Do you like it to be more cosy?

There is no wrong or right answer. Look for commonality in what you like in order to pull your interior style together. 

Is it a classic theme, is it a modern theme, is it a minimalistic theme, it is a country theme or is it a combination of a few themes. It usually is combination. It is not a one size fits all. You should also not design your space around trends. If there are trends that appeal to your style, by all means integrate them into your interior design but if you are simply incorporating it because it’s on trend then you will quickly tire of it and want to change your space shortly afterwards. 

At the same, don’t let that limit you from experimenting. Change things up and move it around until it feels right to you. You should choose things on the basis of what you like and what works for you, rather than being led by only what is happening around you.

I am a little sentimental

I would describe my personal style as vintage contemporary. I like to repurpose items, I am a little sentimental, I like to use strong colours combined with a neutral palette. I am not afraid to experiment or try things. The spaces where I create are different to the spaces I have to concentrate in or rest in. I use colour to connect spaces and create flow. I love art. I love water. I am never satisfied with a space and it evolves as I grow and learn. I like space. I don’t like clutter. I like a neat space to look at. I hang my clothes in my closet by colour, but my drawers are a complete mess. 

I also have a drawer in the kitchen that is a complete disaster. It’s my spot for all things I need and it will make no sense to anyone else. It is filled with batteries, diets, a hammer, nails, glue, light bulbs, screw drivers, crystals, chargers, markers, cellotape. I try to create in my interiors all the elements needed to facilitate how the environment is to be used, to serve us as we live.

He is always right

My partner is amazing. He lets me changes things constantly. Embracing my love to grow and evolve. I drive him insane with the boxes I try to make available to him to put his stuff in; I hate how untidy it looks when it lies everywhere. He has only ever once told me he didn’t like something I did. It was about new carpets I bought. I had bought them on a sale and convinced myself they would work because they were such a good price. Never buy something because of it’s price. Rather save and buy what you want otherwise you just waste your money. He was right and I know he will say, “Of course I was right, I am always right”. 

He likes it constant

My son’s love of the sea and water is reflected in all he does and what he wants around him. He is very untidy and constantly working on some new robotic design or is outside in the sun, and before lockdown, in the sea. However, he is very clear on what he wants from his environment and how it should serve him. He likes things once he has understood and seen them. He has gotten used to me changing things all the time, but to be frank is happier with things being constant.

The way we live, and our personal style changes with the stage of our life, how we need the space to serve us and who lives in the space. 

It will evolve as you get to understand yourself better and give yourself what you need in your space. Our homes, not matter how big or small, are an expression of our ourselves, and a reflection of what is important to us in the that moment. Use your interior space to help you live a happier life.

Love from my yellow room.