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Create an inspiration board. What appeals to you? Maybe it’s navy and white stripes, or gold accents.
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Katie Hudleston is the manager and designer at Thomas Lane Red Door, the boutique at Jackson Thomas Interiors in Williamsburg.
Finding your own sense of style can be hard when you’re first starting out because often times you’re working with inherited pieces or small or awkward spaces. Art is a tough topic—it seems like something that you work your way up to, but honestly, art is absolutely anything—as long as it’s presented in an artful manner.
Start noticing what you like in spaces that you visit. How do you feel? Get some design magazines and catalogs and rip out what appeals to you or use Pinterest to make a digital board and after a few weeks, go back and look for what all the Pins have in common. Maybe it’s navy and white stripes, or gold accents. Or, you’ve always loved pops of tropical colors or natural settings—it doesn’t even have to be actual pictures of items, just a senseof what you like.
Get your space functioning first (like, a bed and a mattress) with high quality pieces—that’s the foundation, then take your time to find that bolster pillowor piece of art that just inspires the rest of the space. We always suggest shopping small, curated collections of art and décor when you can, and take your time. Go by a design studio if you get stuck, and see how the professionals do it. We have several displaysranging from large art pieces to smallcollections of found objects resting on a bedside table—all curated to inspire. Art and décor are quite literally everywhere, and the rules are only meant to be followed loosely. You don’t have to stick with just one style, you can mix and match. Always trust your own reactions to things—the amazing thing about design is that it is so much about personal taste.
Art should tell a story, not just be a space filler. Whether it’s a simple story of placing a mirror across from a window to reflect its lovely light or a complicated story of a diverse art-wall built through a couple’s years of travelling the world, it’s your story, so make it mean something. When it makes you feel happy and inspired, you’ll know you’re on the right track.
One of the other challenges for people getting started in their new home is that they may be sharing the space. Your romantic partner, sister, roommate—as much as you love them, there may be compromises to make. Designis only going to work if it’s functional for everyone. For example, if you always nap on the couch, a modern couch with sharp arms is probably not going to work for you—so get the transitional couch and mix it with a modern coffee table instead.
Ready to start? Buy high quality functional pieces first. Then try identifying some accent pieces to complement them in the years to come. You can share your wish list through registry programs (we have one that we’ve customized). It’s a great way to build your collection and share the experience with people you love.
As you find your own style, and continue your career success, consider using a professional designer! Really ,it’s much more attainable than so many think. Find one you really ‘click’ with and she can help you refine your style by getting to know your style and lifestyle.
