What is Style, Anyway?
If you’re like most people, you want your home to reflect who you are and what’s important to you. It can be so hard sometimes to really get the look right. Or at least to get your look to feel right.
Contemporary, traditional, modern, rustic, industrial, coastal, luxe, transitional, and the list goes on. We’ve heard the terms, but what do they mean? And more importantly, why is it so hard to find one that really fits you? We see the articles, posts, and quizzes all over our favorite design magazines and websites asking, “What is your design style?”
I think the real question is, what is “style” anyway?
Your style is unique. It can be hard to define because no one fits in just one box. My beautiful mom is an identical twin. Identical with a capital I, and even she and her “identical” are very unique in several ways. You see, at its core style is an art, and I promise you that yours is beautiful! Just like you, it is complex, living, and original. It says a lot about you without saying a single word. How cool is that?
Style is actually experienced through all of the senses. It’s the way something looks, feels, sounds, smells, and moves. So, defining your personal design style goes much deeper than what furniture and décor you would like in your house. I really believe that’s why so many of these quizzes leave us feeling flat.
What is your favorite music style? What is your favorite genre to read? Which are your favorite shoes? What color palettes are you drawn to? Are you happier hiking in the mountains or attending a symphony in the city? Or, a symphony in the mountains!
There are general commonalities for each style definition, but here’s the thing; most people are a combination of two, three, or eight of them! Isn’t that wonderful? That’s what makes up our special sauce recipe. No two saucy humans are alike, so embrace this gift! You get to be the only YOU the world will ever get to see, and I am convinced you’re worth savoring.
But what if you still don’t have a clue about how to share your sauce? Better yet, you’re not sure what’s even in your sauce? Have no fear, I have a different kind of style quiz in the works. It will be fun and easy, and I promise to help you figure out how to display your unique style once you get your results.
Until then, think about the questions I asked earlier. What are the sights, sounds, textures, smells, and activities that you enjoy the most? How would YOU define your style? Chances are, you know yourself better than you may think.