How to Identify What You Like and What is Your Decorating Style?

I guess shopping would be an obvious suggestion, but shop well and make notes about what you like and don’t like. Take a camera with you so you can photograph things that you like or want to remember.

Next I suggest going to a large book store like Border’s or Barnes and Noble that have a large magazine section.

Don’t just buy every design magazine. Take some time and flip through, if you feel like you are seeing things that appeal to you then buy the magazine---buy several. Names to look for are Veranda, Town and Country, Southern Living, Metropolitan Home, and House and Garden. There are also local or regional House and Garden magazines. In my area we have Orange Coast and Orange County. These homes feature advertising by interior designers who’s ads many times feature one or more rooms in homes they have designed. These can also be places to look for ideas.

And of course take a look in Architectural Digest and Florida Design, but generally these magazines are over the top for most people. You may find things in any and or all of these magazines that appeal to you.

As you are looking through the magazines make sure you let yourself react to what you are seeing. Tear out pictures of what you like and some of what you DON’T like and mark them with sticky notes with your comments like---I like the table in this room or the sofas in that room. Also check out the lighting used in each room setting. Do you see recessed lighting? Lamps? Track Lighting? Lighting is huge in it’s role for creating a “feeling” in a room. Materials and finish of your furnishings can look different with different types of lighting. Make lighting notes too.

Also check out the internet for photos that might be what you’re looking for-
Photos from the internet can be printed out for your idea resources.

Collect your ideas into a binder. Buy a large binder and add dividers with tabs
For each room. Also a pad of paper and several sizes of sticky note pads. Also get a small shopping bag you can use for collecting fabric samples or any larger items you might find. Organizing the pictures will help to organize your thinking.

Make sure and put your contact information in the front of the binder should you ever leave it somewhere. You are going to invest your time and energy into the contents of this book. Many of you will keep this book for many years depending on your goals.