What's your style?

So often someone asks us, "What style is your house?" and some of you have no idea how to respond. Style? Do I have a style? Do I even know what I like? There is an easy way for you to figure this out. Knowing your style will help you not only answer this question, but help your designer, if you use one, or in buying and designing your home yourself.

There are so many different styles to choose from! Traditional, Modern, Transitional, Tuscan, Country French, Eclectic, Old World and Metropolitan ... just to name a few. So how do you narrow it down? I have a simple exercise to help you figure out your style!

First, get a binder, a pen, and some sticky notes. Next you need a variety of options: internet and a printer, magazines and retail catalogues. Go through magazines and catalogues first and tear out pages of things you like. It doesn't have to be the entire picture, it can be just one item. Take your sticky notes and label what it is about that picture that you like. Put that in your binder! After you've gone through some magazines, try the internet. Use your favorite search engine to find images you can print out. Try searching words like "design ideas" or specific rooms like "bedroom designs". You can even try searching some of those style names I listed before. As before, put it in your binder and use a sticky note to label what you like about the photo.

After your done, look through the images. You should be able to see a pattern. You may find that a specific color pattern is there (you really like purple accents or fall colors). Or you may see that you are fond of antiques and vintage patterns. Can't see a pattern? Try showing someone else and maybe they can see what you can't.

Try this little trick and see what new ideas and inspirations you can come up with for your home!

Until next week!