I was recently interviewed by The Home Office Organizer. In that interview I explained how the name “The Inspired Room” originated (it’s now a registered trademark and LLC), shared tips for personalizing a home office, and named a few of the people who inspire me. Below is an excerpt from that interview about finding your authentic style.
You are a “Style Coach.” What are your top 5 tips for someone who wants to create rooms inspired by their life?
Here are five practical tips, in no particular order, to help you discover and shape a personal, livable style:
1) Live the life you want first, and gather meaningful items as you go. A home that truly reflects you builds over time through experiences and collected mementos. It doesn’t happen overnight, and that’s okay.
2) Design rooms around how you actually live. Think about the lifestyle you want and arrange your spaces to support it. Do you love reading, cooking, hosting movie nights, crafting, or having children and neighborhood friends over? Do you entertain large groups or prefer intimate gatherings? Make sure your home enables the activities you enjoy rather than forcing you to conform to someone else’s idea of a perfect house. Your home should make your daily life easier and more enjoyable.
3) Remove items that are unattractive or don’t connect with you. Avoid meaningless clutter and random decorations. Most things in your home should hold a story, spark a memory, or at least be pleasing and useful. If an item is purely useless or displeasing, consider letting it go.
4) Make ordinary moments beautiful. Much of life is made up of everyday tasks—eating, cleaning, bathing, sleeping, working. Those routines deserve attention. Small improvements in organization, storage, and visual appeal make daily life more pleasant and help your home feel intentional and inviting.
5) Ask for help when you need it—but choose your helpers wisely. Friends usually mean well, but their personal taste can cloud useful advice. Professional designers offer expertise but can sometimes push expensive solutions or impose their signature style. Seek someone who listens to your goals, honors what you already love, and helps you create a space that feels authentically yours without unnecessary expense.
Not everyone naturally excels at arranging and styling a home. We each have different strengths, so don’t be discouraged if you need assistance with organizing or pulling your belongings together. Getting a little help can make a big difference in how much you enjoy your home.
For the full interview on The Home Office Organizer blog, see the original post.
photo: House Beautiful online