II’ve long been fascinated by the process of discovering one’s personal style at home. Everyone arranges their space a little differently, and each house and situation is unique. There’s no universal formula for creating a home that feels truly authentic, and I still believe that. Crafting a home that reflects who you are is a learning process, but most of us recognize the same range of emotions and the familiar twists and turns that happen along the way.
Do you ever feel stalled or as if you’ve lost your way when it comes to bringing your style into your home? I have. Living in several different homes over the years has revealed patterns in how I approach design. Recognizing that ups, downs, stalls, and puzzles are predictable—and often productive—parts of the process gives me the patience and confidence to keep going.
Each room and each house adds its own twist to the experience, so things don’t always come together exactly as planned even when you start out well. Unexpected turns can be part of the fun, but feeling stuck is undeniably frustrating.
My husband recently came home from a work meeting where everyone listed their strengths and “growth opportunities” instead of weaknesses. We laughed about the phrasing, but that positive outlook is a useful way to approach any design hiccup or change of direction.
There were times when I used to see a course correction as a sign of design failure. Now I try to view changes and experiments that bring the space closer to an authentic result as victories. Settling to live indefinitely with a look you don’t love, clinging to a purchase that doesn’t reflect or serve your family, or abandoning creative alternatives would be the real losses.
Experimenting, changing your mind, and taking on new design challenges are part of creative expression. Every layer you add and every alteration you make helps shape your home into a truer reflection of who you are today.
For creative homebodies, feeling connected to your space is often what makes a house feel like home. That connection can make you restless sometimes—and that’s okay. We all need to rearrange furniture or try something different now and then to reflect our current state of mind. You can always put things back tomorrow, so enjoy the change while you can.
There are seasons when life feels heavy and the best you can do is get through each day. Show yourself grace in those times. If you can manage a small freshening up—a tidy nightstand, a quick dusting, or a few handpicked flowers in a vase—it can provide a surprisingly big morale lift.
If you’re simply in a design slump, feeling stuck or unsure where to start, pick yourself up and try again. Small steps add up. Even changes that don’t feel dramatic at first can shift your perspective and lead you back to loving your home or rediscovering those old, joyful feelings.
What are your current “growth opportunities” when it comes to your home? Let’s talk.
You’ll find plenty of simple, affordable tips in my books Simple Decorating and Make Room for What You Love—ideas meant to encourage and inspire you to create a home you love. You can find my books through the usual outlets and the resources I share on this site.