How To Find Your Interior Style

When we moved into this flat over two years ago now I think I spent about 65% of the time in tears. Usually in front of tradesman and often in the Burger King Drive-Thru as we got takeaway for what felt like the 567th night in a row because we had no kitchen. I was emotionally unequipped for the whole thing and as someone who had never had to furnish a home from scratch before (our London flat was poorly furnished, but furnished nonetheless), the task of making a home from a few empty rooms, a tonne of boxes and a clothing rail that we’d panic-purchased the night after we moved, didn’t seem too appealing. When you’re trying to book in Plasterers and arrange the installation of a fireplace, looking at sofas and actually thinking about what you want can seem like a lot of brain power to give. So I’ve devised a four step plan on how to find your interior style that’s not too loading and pretty fun, if like me you’ve never had to think about it before…

PINTEREST YOUR HEART AWAY

In my eyes, when it comes to interiors, there’s no better place to start than Pinterest. Instagram is a good’un too, but Pinterest has it all in one place and is much easier to search and browse. I’ve tried the interior magazines but they’re all full of concrete and although show extremely aesthetically pleasing homes, they don’t look like the most practical and I like my home to be functional and cosy. I want to be able to nap whilst watching Friends on the sofa DAMMIT. So instead I stick to Pinterest and pin away till my heart is content. One of the best functions here is that you can share a board with others – great if you have a partner that wants to be involved in every single decorating/interior/wedding/’what are we eating for dinner this week’ decision (a.k.a Mark, which I’m actually extremely grateful for). I’d suggest setting up a board for general home inspiration, a board for each room that you’re decorating or filling and then a final one for any DIY projects that tickle your pickle.

DO YOUR FIELD WORK

Now basically I’m suggesting that you become a bit of a stalker here. If you’re round your mate’s house and you love their lamp, ask them where they got it from and take a note and a picture too. Find yourself in a restaurant with the most Instagram-able pink velvet chair you’ve seen? Grab a picture and post it on social media to see if anyone knows where it’s from. Can you see into your neighbours kitchen and have fallen in love with their kitchen tiles? Then zoom in on your phone, take a picture and scout out the local tile shops until you find the exact match. I’m not gonna lie – the last example comes from actual real life experience there. You really just want to become a interior loving sponge, soaking up all the items, colours and configurations that make you go ‘oooh‘ whenever you see them, wherever you are – like your own real-life Pinterest board.

DON’T SHOP BLIND

If you think that walking into ZARA without any idea of what you need is overwhelming, then walking into a homeware store with the same mindset is a whole new level of ‘let’s just go for lunch instead‘. There is SO. MUCH. CHOICE. Even if you want to buy a mixing bowl, they’ll be at least 10 to pick from. I’m a big fan of lists at the best of time, but when homeware shopping I think the need is even greater than usual. Scan your Pinterest board and any pictures you have on your phone and then head into each room that you’re planning to fill or makeover. Firstly devise a list of large furniture items that you need, then tackle lighting, soft furnishings and any little extras like plants or decorative objects. Buy working out what you want for the big stuff and trickling the inspiration down to the finer details, it seems less overwhelming and will hopefully force you to think of the room as a whole and steer clear from items that when you get home to have no idea where to put, so end up giving them to your Mum instead (been there, done that, Mum has some lovely pasta bowls now).

IF UNSURE, BUY CHEAP

This is a piece of advice that was originally given to me by Kate La Vie during her episode of #AtHomeWith and I think that it’s bloomin’ genius. You could apply this advice to any new trend that you’re buying into really like beauty or style, although for homewares it’s going to work better with smaller ticket items or else you’ll end up with a sofa that you’ll have to find a new home for a year later. Her advice is if you’re trying something new interior-wise and you’re not 100% sure about it, to test it out with a cheaper dupe. If a long period of time passes and you’re still into it and want to upgrade, then you can whilst finding a new spot or home for your older item. It’s kind of genius and I feel it’s advice that I’ll be cracking out whenever we move somewhere new and I wallpaper a room (which is always something that I’ve wanted to do, much to Mark’s horror). It’s time to get all Changing Rooms up in here… 

Photos by Lauren Shipley

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