How to Find Your Personal Interior Style (Boho, Mid‑Century Modern + More)
Your personal interior style is less about labels and more about the moods and objects that make you feel at home. Below is a helpful guide on how to find a theme for your home or space but remember… It’s ok to start small! It is overwhelmingly impossible to completely re-imagine your entire home in one sitting. Start even smaller than you think, a small bathroom or even an unused corner of a room can be more than enough!
Finding your personal interior style makes decorating feel joyful instead of stressful. Your style is a mix of the aesthetics you’re drawn to, the way you actually live, and the pieces that make you feel at home. This post guides you through practical steps to discover and refine your style—whether you love boho layers, mid-century modern lines, cottagecore coziness, or a mix of everything.
Why defining your style matters
Creates cohesion across rooms so your home feels intentional.
Makes interior decisions easier.
Helps you keep pieces you love and pass on ones that don’t fit.
Step 1 — Collect visual inspiration:
Start by curating images that genuinely excite you. Pinterest boards are my personal favorite. Create a new Pinterest board and begin searching for things you already know you want or like. If your bathroom feels dark and outdated, search “bright, modern bathroom ideas” and pin a few examples that you are drawn to from the results. Don’t overthink it! If you like it, save it. You can always delete it later if you change your mind.
Look for repeating elements (colors, textures, furniture silhouettes, patterns) that you’re drawn to. After a handful of saves you’ll notice patterns — those are clues to your style.
For example: do you find yourself drawn to photos of rooms that have dark paint colors? A specific tone of wood? When it comes to metal elements like cabinetry pulls/faucet hardware/light fixtures, do you like brass or do you prefer the look of stainless steel?
There are no wrong answers during this initial inspiration period. If you find yourself saving photos of rooms or interiors that are completely different from one another, make a note of what exactly it is in that specific photo that you like. You may be drawn to a wallpaper pattern in a photograph of one room and a rug in another room and those two elements may look great together.
Step 2 — Audit your current home - walk through your space and make quick notes:
What items do you reach for and use daily?
Which furniture or art makes you smile?
Which pieces feel out of place? Would those pieces look better elsewhere or is it time to part with them?
It can be difficult in the beginning, but I live and die by the rule that if an item no longer serves me, it is time to donate it to someone who will appreciate it. I do not keep something that I “might use one day” or that I “cannot donate because it was a gift from so-and-so”. If you don’t love it and/or you don’t use it, it is unlikely that you will miss it.
Step 3 — Name the core elements you love - translate your inspiration into concrete elements. These categories can help you get specific:
Color palette (warm neutrals, jewel tones, black & white)
Key materials (wood species, metals, rattan, velvet)
Patterns & textures (geometric, ikat, linen, macramé)
Furniture silhouettes (clean lines, tapered legs, overstuffed sofas)
Write a short “style sentence” — for example, “warm modern: oak furniture, cream textiles, black accents, and layered rugs”
This style sentence will help you GREATLY on your journey to build your dream space, if you refer to it frequently when making any interior-related decisions. If you fall in love with a life-size, flamingo-shaped lamp, but your style sentence is “minimal chic: dark wood, muted + earthy tones, light textiles, brass finishes”... Is the 6-foot-tall, hot pink flamingo lamp part of that plan? Ask yourself if you’re drawn to that piece because it’s unique and different or if it’s something that you actually love and would want to live with and look at every day.
Step 4 — Explore popular styles. Below are short style primers to help you identify what resonates. You don’t have to pick just one—mixing styles thoughtfully creates a lived-in, personal look.
Boho / Bohemian
Feel: relaxed, eclectic, layered.
Elements: rattan, macramé, global textiles, lots of plants, mix-and-match patterns.
Example: a cozy reading nook with a rattan chair, layered rugs, hanging plant, and patterned throw.
Mid‑Century Modern
Feel: sleek, warm, functional.
Elements: teak/walnut tones, tapered furniture legs, organic shapes, minimal ornamentation/very few “clutter-y” pieces.
Example: living room with a low-profile sofa, teak coffee table, gallery-wall-style photos.
Scandinavian / Minimal Cozy
Feel: airy, calm, functional.
Elements: light woods, muted palette, simple silhouettes, texture-focused layering.
Example: bright living room with pale wood shelving, neutral textiles, and sculptural lamp.
Modern / Contemporary
Feel: clean, bold, architectural.
Elements: monochrome or bold contrast, metal and glass, statement lighting, uncluttered surfaces.
Example: sleek sofa, abstract art, metal floor lamp, sparse accessories.
Cottagecore / Farmhouse
Feel: soft, nostalgic, home-y.
Elements: floral textiles, painted wood, vintage finds, apron-front sink, cozy linen.
Example: kitchen with open shelving, white cabinets, and ceramic pitchers with wildflowers.
Japandi (Japanese + Scandinavian fusion)
Feel: minimalist, warm, mindful.
Elements: minimal lines, natural materials, muted palette, functional beauty.
Example: low wooden living room table, neutral cushions, simple ceramic vase.
Step 5 — Build a starter shopping list - start small! Once you have a style sentence and a few inspo photos, create a short list of small-er pieces that can be layered into your existing space and still create an impact. Examples:
A new doormat for your front door
A new lamp
A few new throw pillows for your bed or sofa (I always opt for pillows that have zip-off covers that can be washed)
A couple of new picture frames
A piece of art, a small rug/mat and a new toothbrush cup for your bathroom
These small pieces may seem insignificant, but think of this step as your “tester” phase. Before you fully wallpaper your entire home with bright and colorful floral wallpaper, try a few pops of color first and see how it feels.
Once you’ve established that your new interior style is, in fact, a fit for you and your lifestyle, you can move onto larger investment pieces like a new sofa or dining table!
Personally, I look for high-quality when shopping anchor pieces like a large dresser in my bedroom and I look more for budget-friendliness on accessories and decor. Smaller pieces are easier to replace if you fall out of love with them and can be switched out from season to season. For example, I change the covers on my throw pillows frequently depending on the time of year. I keep a small basket of covers in my linen closet and when I’m feeling uninspired by the colors in my living room at any given time, I have a plethora of options for a quick switch that makes a surprisingly big difference!
Step 6 — Mix styles thoughtfully. If you mix, keep one thing consistent across the space—color palette, material, or scale. For example, pair a mid-century sofa with boho textiles by keeping colors cohesive and balancing proportions.
Step 7 — Live with it, then edit. Let your choices breathe. Live in the space for a month and notice how it functions. Edit ruthlessly: remove one item at a time and see if the room feels better or worse. Over time, your style will refine itself.
Quick styling checklist when you’re looking to complete an entire room:
Define a color palette (3–4 colors)
Choose an anchor piece (sofa/bed)
Add a grounding rug
Layer lighting (ambient, task, accent)
Pick complimentary textures and a plant or two
Add personal items (art, books, meaningful objects)
