Interior decorators are amazing at what they do, but they can’t give a room what it most needs: your personal touch. Even the most gorgeous décor falls flat if it’s not unmistakably yours. Think about how to give your home more personality so that it will be more enjoyable for you and more welcoming for your guests.
Embrace Color
Color trends come and go, so it can be intimidating to paint a room something other than white or move beyond neutrals. But you shouldn’t miss out on creating an atmosphere that can help you thrive. Even walls with a subtle color can set an inviting tone. Yellow can make a room feel sunny and optimistic, while green can make you joyful and energized. For what it’s worth, muted blues are in style right now, and can have a calming effect on a room. If you’re not ready to commit to paint, though, you can always have fun with vibrant throw pillows or even stick-on wallpaper.
Mix It Up
You may or may not be confident in your style—and that’s okay either way. You can consult the experts when decorating, but don’t take their advice too seriously. This is your home, not a series of showrooms. You should want to spend time in a room without worrying about mussing it up. Not everything has to match, and often it’s an out-of-left-field object that can bring the elements together. Include items that make you smile or make the room more interesting.
Showcase Art
There’s no law that says you have to fill up your walls with mainstream prints that fit your color scheme. Take your time finding the right artwork, or switch out generic décor when you can. This is your chance to curate your own personal museum, and you can achieve this with a painting from a local artist, a map of your favorite place, a textile, an architectural element—anything. The trend to frame your kids’ artwork can be a bit much, but then again, some kindergarten efforts could pass for abstract expressionist masterpieces.
Look To the Past
You’ve come a long way to get where you are, so don’t fall into the trap of thinking you have to stick to the trendiest options. There’s no better way to give your home more personality than by giving it a sense of history and stability. If you have some hand-me-down furniture from your family, use it judiciously or upcycle it until it qualifies as an heirloom. Add souvenirs from travels or meaningful events in your life. Even if your connection with something is indirect, you may fall in love with a vintage piece or flea market find. And if you want to celebrate your accomplishments, go ahead and show off your grade school “Most Improved Player” trophy on a bookshelf.
