From Confused to Confident: How To Find Your Style at Home

How to Find Your Style: A Spoonful of Inspiration

This week, we’re diving deep into one of my favorite topics—how to find your style. In our last episode, we talked about what steps to take after a breakup, like reclaiming your space, but we didn’t get into the heavy lifting—like choosing new furniture or defining your vibe. Why? Because I wanted to spoon-feed you a bit of style knowledge first.

So, why do I stress the importance of style so much? Because let’s be honest—most of us are completely confused when it comes to what “style” actually means in our homes. We love certain looks, but pulling them together? That’s another story.

Let’s break it down. Usable interior design styles (let’s call it everything created in the last 100 years) can be defined by decades or time periods. And just like fashion trends, they always come back—just with a slightly updated twist.

In the U.S., we’ve seen quite a few major design movements. I detail all of them in my blog, Design Through the Decades, but here’s the short version:

• 1920s: Art Deco (glamorous, geometric, and bold)

• 1930s: Streamline Modern (sleek and aerodynamic)

• 1940s: Mid-Century Modern (simple lines and functionality)

• 1950s: Scandinavian Design (clean, cozy minimalism)

• 1960s & 70s: Psychedelic Bohemian (patterns, textures, and lots of color)

• 1980s: Memphis and Postmodern Pop (playful and experimental)

• 1990s: Urban Modern & Minimalism (cool tones and simplicity)

• 2000s: Rustic and Farmhouse (thank you, HGTV! …and maybe we’re ready to move on).

Today, almost everything you see is either vintage (original pieces from past decades) or contemporary (modern twists on classic styles). A perfect example? Ikea’s revival of vintage designs or all the “new vintage” flooding Target and HomeGoods.

What Does This Mean for Your Home?

Just like with any great recipe, you need to know your ingredients. Every single style has its own “recipe” with a unique set of elements. I call these the seven elements of style. Once you can recognize and understand these ingredients, blending them with other styles becomes second nature. To have a balanced, cohesive home, aim to blend 2-3 styles, or even more, for an eclectic vibe.

In the past, architects designed interiors alongside exteriors, creating spaces that were cohesive and intentional. But those days are long gone—now it’s up to us to figure it out. We’re making our own rules when it comes to home design, which makes it more important than ever to understand what we’re working with.

The great news? Today’s design world is wide open. You’re not stuck with one style—you can mix and match to your heart’s content. But knowing which styles you like (and which ones make you cringe) is a skill that none of us are taught. We have to figure it out for ourselves—and that process can be messy if you’re not careful.

Skip the Trial and Error

I don’t want you to waste time or money like I did when I was figuring out my style. That’s why I created an e-book that walks you through how to find your style once and for all.

My six-step process takes you from revisiting old inspiration to assessing your wardrobe and beyond. It’s packed with practice activities and a class project where you can get real feedback. Not only do I cover everything you need to know about style, I also dive into finding your vibe and theme!

And guess what? You can grab it for 50% off with code IREAD!

Grab the E-Book

Let’s Create Your Happy Home

At Be Happy You’re Home, you’re never alone. We’re here to help you create spaces that you love—whether you’re starting fresh, blending styles, or just looking for inspiration. If you need help, reach out. That’s what we’re here for!

Your home deserves to make you happy, and I’m here to help you every step of the way.