The Elements of Style Through Interior Design

Your Home Your Style

Just as your clothing says something about your preferences and values, your decisions about your home’s interior design can also reveal your personal style.

Bringing together design elements into a harmonious whole can be a challenge. Especially depending on the region you live in. Your design elements in Scottsdale wouldn’t fit in an Okanagan home just like a home in Big Sky and Hawaii. An article in The New York Times observed, “Do it well, and you’ll end up with a comfortable, happy home. Do it poorly, and you’ll end up with a hodge-podge of furniture, fabrics, and paint colors that never congeal into a pleasing whole.”

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Salt DesignPark City, UT

Working with an interior designer is the single best thing you can do to ensure your home’s design reflects your taste. A designer will guide you through a series of questions and conversations to help identify your preferences and tastes. More importantly, they will help you integrate and place all the elements harmoniously to work together.

An interior designer might ask you what sort of spaces you feel most comfortable in– whether that’s a sleek contemporary space or a more traditional and relaxed environment. With this as a starting point, they can walk you through the process of choosing the colors, furnishings, fixtures, art and objects to create a distinct mood for each room.

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Teton Valley InteriorsJackson Hole, WY

Color creates a sense of cohesion. You will want to choose from a complementary palette of color for the elements in the main rooms. This means not just selecting the fabric for your new sofa but also considering the color for the walls, floors, furnishings and other materials so that everything works together.

When it comes to wall colors, it can be fun to play around with the many apps out there that can help you visualize your rooms in a new shade. Simply upload a photo of your room and select the colors you’re interested in to get a sneak preview of the room’s appearance.

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WRJ DesignSun Valley, ID
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Kris Nunn DesignBig Sky, MT
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Ashmore Design LLCNaples, FL
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Samuel Design GroupSanta Fe, NM
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Thomas Burger DesignLas Vegas, NV
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Tate Interior DesignWhitefish, MT
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Creative Touch InteriorsOkanagan, BC
Mark Boisclair Photography, Inc.
Kristin Hazen DesignScottsdale, AZ

Remember, paint color changes depending on the light and the time of day. It’s always a good idea to consult with your designer, who has years of expertise in this area and can guide you to choices that will enhance your space as the light shifts from morning to midday to night.

Textures, materials, acoustics and lighting are also essential considerations. For example, in your living room, you may want to add throw pillows for comfort and an accent color. Consider a classic or contemporary rug on a hardwood floor to add softness and dampen sound, and gorgeous lighting can both function and create ambiance, any time of day. Your designer can help you choose the materials, colors and layout that best contribute to an overall sense of comfort and ease.

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Bryn Maryanna InteriorsVancouver I Whistler, BC

Art and accessories are often the finishing touches. There are many options for displaying art, from an impressive gallery wall to a showcased sculpture or a curated collection of personally meaningful objects. Don’t be afraid to be eclectic: antique or heirloom objets d’art are often most striking when sharing a space with contemporary objects and design.

There are many design choices at the start of a renovation or new build. Your interiors should also stand the test of time and evolve along with you as your tastes and style shift. Staying open to possibilities and new design elements is essential to creating interior spaces that truly reflect your unique individual style to be enjoyed for many years.


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