Discover, Define, and Decide: The Ultimate Guide to Your Interior Design Style

Cohere
4 days ago
5 min read

You want a home that feels right—not staged, not random—just comfortable, cohesive, and unmistakably yours.But when it’s time to choose furniture, colors, or décor, you freeze. You like a little bit of everything. And every time you try to “figure out your style,” you fall into a Pinterest rabbit hole and end up more confused than before.

Sound familiar?Maybe you’ve spent money on pieces that looked great online but felt out of place in your space. Or you’ve started decorating one room… only to realise it clashes completely with the next. Or worse, you’re stuck living in a home that looks fine but doesn’t feel like you at all.

The problem isn’t your taste. It’s that no one ever taught you how to find, name, and confidently follow your interior design style.

That’s exactly what this guide will help you do. You’ll learn how to:

Discover what you naturally gravitate toward
Define your personal design direction
Decide how to bring it all together into a space that feels like home

Let’s get started.

Why Knowing Your Interior Design Style Matters

When you know your style, you stop second-guessing your choices. You save time. You avoid random purchases that don’t go with anything. You build a space that feels cohesive, intentional, and uniquely yours. Here’s why it matters:

It reduces decision fatigue
It helps you stay consistent from room to room
It makes shopping (and budgeting) easier
It gives your home a vibe that reflects who you are

Discover – Finding the Style That Feels Like You

This stage is about observation—not forcing labels. Most people don’t wake up one day knowing they’re “mid-century modern with a boho twist.” They figure it out slowly, and so will you. Here are practical ways to discover your personal interior design style:

Take a Style Quiz: They’re quick and surprisingly insightful. Take two or three from different sources and compare the results.
Look at Your Wardrobe: Do you love neutral tones and tailored pieces? Or do you wear a lot of color, texture, and prints? Your fashion choices can reflect your aesthetic preferences for interiors.
Review Your Saved Pins or Instagram Posts: Go through your boards and saved images. Are there repeating patterns? Similar color palettes? Recurring textures or room layouts? That’s your visual language speaking.
Think About Spaces You’ve Loved: Was there a hotel, café, or friend’s home that made you feel at ease? What exactly about it did you like—light, materials, layout, or mood?
Walk Through Furniture Stores or Showrooms: See how you feel when you're in different styled setups. Do you linger in the minimalist section or find yourself drawn to layered and cozy rooms?
Eliminate What You Dislike: Sometimes it’s easier to define your taste by what you don’t like. Hate bulky furniture? Don’t enjoy bright colors? Start narrowing your focus.
Think in Emotions, Not Labels: Ask yourself: How do I want to feel in this space? Calm? Energized? Sophisticated? Cozy? This helps guide your style choices toward feelings, not just trends.

You don’t need to know the name of your style yet. Just collect what feels right—this is the first step to determine your interior design style over time.

Define – Understand What Your Style Actually Is

Once you've explored what speaks to you, it’s time to determine your interior design style by putting a name (or two) to it. This step isn’t about boxing yourself in—it’s about bringing focus and clarity to your vision. There are many interior design styles to choose from. Some of the most popular include:

Modern
Minimalist
Scandinavian
Traditional
Bohemian
Industrial
Rustic
Contemporary

Instead of going into detail here, we’ve created a dedicated blog that breaks down each style with visuals and examples to help you choose.

Explore different types of interior design styles in this guide to get a better sense of which styles align with your taste.

You don’t have to choose just one. Blending elements from two or more can help you determine your unique interior design style with confidence. Most people aren’t just one style—they’re a creative mix. And that’s what makes it personal.

Decide – Choose a Style That Works for You

This is where things get exciting. You’ve discovered what you like, defined what it’s called, and now you’re ready to shape your space with intention. Here’s how to decide confidently and move forward:

Pick a Primary Style: Choose one style as your foundation. This will guide your main furniture, layout, and color decisions.
Add a Secondary Style: Layer in a second style through accents—pillows, lighting, rugs, artwork. For example, modern + rustic gives you a cozy but clean look. Minimalist + boho adds warmth without clutter.
Build a Mood Board: Gather all your inspiration in one place—photos, swatches, textures, colors. Seeing everything together reveals whether your vision flows or clashes.
Start with One Room: Don’t redesign your whole house at once. Begin with your bedroom or living room. Small wins help build confidence and clarity.
Think Function First: Style should never come at the cost of comfort or usability. Ask yourself:
- Do I need more storage?
- Is this material kid/pet-friendly?
- Can I live with this every day?

Design should support your lifestyle, not stress you out.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with a clear vision, it’s easy to veer off-track. Keep an eye out for these common style slip-ups:

Copying Pinterest Too Literally: What works in a coastal beach house may not suit a city apartment. Use inspiration as a guide—not a template.
Mixing Too Many Styles: A blend is good, chaos is not. Stick to one dominant style and support it with smaller influences.
Buying Everything at Once: You don’t need to finish your space overnight. Take your time. Let your design evolve naturally.
Ignoring Cohesion: Make sure there’s some consistency between rooms—color palette, materials, or mood. A home should flow, not feel disconnected.
Prioritizing Looks Over Comfort: That stunning chair won’t matter if you hate sitting in it. Always balance aesthetics with function.

How You Know You’ve Found Your Style

You’ll know you’re on the right path when:

You feel excited, not overwhelmed, when shopping or planning
Your mood board feels cohesive and personal
Your home makes you feel at ease
You stop saying “I like everything” and start saying “This is me”

Trust that feeling. It’s a sign your style is unfolding naturally.

Final Thoughts

Your interior design style isn’t a label—it’s a reflection of who you are and how you want to live. It’s not about getting it perfect, but about feeling good in your space.

So, discover what makes your heart light up. Define and determine the direction that feels most like you. And decide to design your home with intention.

And if you're feeling stuck pulling it all together, you’re not alone—and you don’t have to figure it out on your own. An experienced interior designer can be the bridge between your ideas and a beautifully executed space. Whether you need help choosing a style, refining your mood board, or making sure your rooms feel cohesive, a good designer will guide you—without taking over.

At Cohere, we offer consultations to help you get started with clarity and confidence. We’re here to listen, guide, and co-create a home that feels unmistakably yours. Reach out to our team today and book your free consultation. Let’s bring your vision to life—one beautiful decision at a time. And remember: design isn’t permanent. It grows with you. Add, edit, evolve. Just like life.