Quick Take: The Designer Secret to Decorating a Home That Flows

A few months ago, I was writing a story for a magazine, and the interior designer I was interviewing was telling me about her process, and where she starts when decorating a home.

While she was like most designers I’ve talked to, and said that her clients’ desired and tastes were a big part of the equation, she emphasized that there was an even more important factor that she considered when designing the home: The home itself.

Her whole idea is that homes already have their own unique style profile. Whether it’s a 1900s center-hall colonial, of a mid-century ranch, or even a spec new construction, your home already has a style. So, to decorate that home in a style that is anything but complementary to the architecture and innate style will create a space with tension, instead of flow. (You can read the whole article here if you’re interested!)

If you live in a midcentury modern home, for example, you don’t want to decorate it with furniture in heavy, traditional silhouettes. At the same time, a classic 1900s Victorian will look off if it’s decorated entirely in a contemporary aesthetic.

Studying the style of your home can also make it a lot easier to decorate, since you’ll already have lots of clues about what will and won’t work in the space.

If you truly hate the style of your home (maybe you bought it for the school district or layout, not the style), there are ways to make it feel like you while still honoring the home’s architecture. The key is to choose at least 25% of your decor in the style of the home itself, which is enough to make your decor relate to its surroundings. The rest can be more a reflection of your personal style.

So, if you’re stuck in your decorating process, or something about your home design feels off, take a look around and see if your decor feels harmonious with the architecture.