Have you ever walked into a house and felt immediately comfortable and at home? Chances are, the house was filled with personal touches and beloved items. Creating a home that feels like a reflection of you and your family is a worthy goal–it will bring everyone who enters your space feelings of joy and comfort.
Your goal is for your home to look more like a reflection of your family and your story and less like an impersonal showroom. You can achieve this by incorporating elements that reflect your interests, experiences, and taste.
Everyone loves a beautiful, well-curated home. Bring character into a home remodel or infuse meaning into your existing space by making your home a reflection of you and your family. Here’s how:
If you’re a family with young kids, having a home filled with valuable, antique furniture and priceless heirlooms may not fit this season of life. For busy professionals, a home that welcomes you in and helps you relax after a long day might be a necessity. Think about your actual life and how you use your home, and keep your needs front and center as you design your home.
In the same vein, consider your favorite hobbies and your goals as you decorate your space. If you value downtime (bingeing your favorite show, for example–no judgment here!), then a comfortable sectional is a better choice than a few accent chairs that aren’t as welcoming. Want to encourage family togetherness? Design your kitchen around a large island that invites people to gather and linger. Create your home around your actual life and goals, and you will be on your way to making it a space that feels like you.
How do you stay on-trend while keeping your personality front and center? How can you strike a balance between unique and trendy? You learn to trust your own sense of style. Aim for a home that uses classic elements (high-contrast neutral palettes, clean furniture lines, and materials such as wood and marble) and incorporates personal touches (artwork, a statement piece of furniture, or a pop of color).
Incorporate trends in less permanent ways. You may love the textured wall trend and be tempted to feature these beautiful walls throughout your home. But if you choose one or two spaces to use plaster walls or 3D tiles, you can more easily change them when you want something new.
If you choose colors, furniture, fixtures, and textiles that you feel personally drawn to, and you still keep a backdrop of tried-and-true designs, you will have a house that is both on-trend and unique.
No matter what style you love, you can add personality and flair to every room in your home. Lean into the decor and architectural styles you love and add your own twist to make your home tell your story. For example, if you are…
Ready for some practical tips? Expressing your personality through decor and your home’s style is a fun and fulfilling undertaking. Give it a try!
Choose colors you love! While it’s helpful to know what’s in and what’s out in terms of colors, if you really want your home to feature a particular color, go for it. If you’re a lover of bold design, you might want to use your favorite color on walls throughout your home. Consider color drenching–paint the walls and ceiling one stunning color–and enjoy your showstopping space. For a more subtle look, paint your home a neutral color you love and then add accents in every room in your favorite colors. A limited color palette throughout the home will make your whole house feel pulled together, intentional, and personalized.
Learn a little about color theory to help you give your home the feel you want it to have. Greens and blues tend to be more calming, while yellows and reds bring energy.
Being thoughtful of the art you choose is one of the easiest ways to personalize your space. Don’t pick art that you don’t love or connect with in some way. Instead, go for artwork that speaks to you. There are so many easy ways to find great art–from art dealers to online reproductions to local artists whose work you admire.
Hanging family photographs is another way to infuse your home with your personal story. Print special moments on canvas or build a gallery wall. Surrounding yourself and your family with good memories is an instant mood-booster and will make you feel more connected to those you love.
Textiles bring a feeling of completeness and a layered, lived-in look to your home. And because they’re easy to replace, you can experiment with colors and patterns that are a little out of your comfort zone. Mix and match and layer your throw pillows and blankets, and choose area rugs and curtains that you love.
While sometimes flat-packed furniture or pieces bought from a showroom are the best option, when you can, choose unique pieces that you feel a connection to. Here in Lancaster, we have the option of local, Amish-made furniture, which is beautiful and well-crafted. Buying local is good for the planet, and it brings a level of personalization and pride to your home. Another good option for sourcing unique furniture is to browse antique stores and estate sales. Look for statement or unique pieces that are well-made and that you love.
A great way to personalize your home–and a way that is renter-friendly!–is to trade out some of your standard or builder-grade finishes and fixtures for ones you choose yourself. It’s a straightforward project to remove and replace drawer pulls, cabinet knobs, and even light fixtures, and the difference it will make in your space is huge. If you’re renting, make sure you keep and store the items you remove, so you can switch them back if you leave. Choose fun and funky colorful knobs, trendy brass or gold handles, or classic matte black ones. Enjoy the satisfaction that comes from doing a small project and seeing big results.
One of the best ways to showcase your family’s story is by displaying special, meaningful items. Whether it’s photographs as discussed above, souvenirs from travels, or family heirlooms, try to find beautiful ways to turn your cherished mementos into decor. It helps to group items together–the visual impact of a collection of your grandmother’s teacups is greater than just one alone on a shelf.
Displaying treasured items means they’re out where you can see and enjoy them, instead of being packed away in a box. And when people visit your home, they will learn a little more about you and your history. Sentimental decor brings warmth and life to a home.
It’s easy to bring your personal style into every room in your home, with just a little thought and planning.
Whether you’re remodeling your home or you’re just refreshing your space, adding your own personal style and unique self-expression to every room will make your home feel like you belong there. Your space will be warm and welcoming and full of good memories and things you love. If you find yourself looking for creative home remodeling solutions, our team of designers can help! Reach out to us today and let’s get started making your story shine through every room of your home.