Are you classic and traditional? Is your style vibe modern or are you vintage all the way? What if you find yourself with a whole range of styles, how do you narrow it down? If you're having trouble deciding what style you are, open the door to the answer!
The closet door that is!
Even if you don't consider yourself a style maven, your wardrobe will still hold the clue to what you like, what you'd feel most comfortable living in, even what colors best describe your personality. Not just the everyday stuff, but also the stuff you chose for grand occasions. Pay special attention to that pile of stuff (we know you have one!) that's accumulated on your bedroom chair. Sure, you may like red, you may even own a lot of red but if find yourself actually wearing white or camel or navy, take it as a sign to yourself that it's probably best to indulge your love of red for your accent color rather than deciding it's what you want to cover your living room couch in. Do you live in jeans and t-shirts but find yourself drawn to quirky shoes and wild socks? Make your big pieces classic and neutral and mix it up with lamps, pillows and knick knacks. Are your jeans classic Levi's, well-worn and faded, or is your favorite pair a cutting edge style in Japanese denim, kept dark by freezing and occasional trips to the dry cleaner? That'll give you a clue as to whether you should skew comfortable but slightly traditional or classic with a modern twist.
Check out these tours and see how the closets of some of our house tour participants translate into their home style! For tips specifically geared to working with color, check out Maxwell's videos and get on board the color cure! (And notice how Maxwell's own wardrobe style is reflected in his home!).
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Great post! Our home style definitely reflects my fiance's closet more than mine, despite the fact that I do all the decorating! We have a pretty masculine atmosphere in our apartment, thanks to mid-century furniture, dark woods and dark leathers.
My personal style is more girly and frilly than average -- if I followed that as a guide, my apartment would be Shabby Chic or something, when its actually the exact opposite.
My closet is a mix of dresses in simple, classic cuts with great prints, along with jeans and tees... That definitely translates to my love of fabulous art/colors on my walls and comfortable, simply lined furniture.
Simple, uniform, with a limited color palette (chocolate brown, hunter green, black, and purple.)
Comfortable but classic, wear anywhere pieces. All picked because they are flattering. Yup, pretty much handles my design style, too!
That's a really great tip. My wardrobe definitely corresponds to my taste in home styles.
In a (hyphenated) word: wabi-sabi!
Vintage and thrift shop pieces, very well-worn... lots of (un-ironed) linen, and wild socks! Lots of gray and black and beige and green. I like soft clothes with no hard edges, and my home pretty much reflects my closet, for better or worse.
Classic neutrals with bright, fun accessories.
I dress like a self-employed slob. My house's style, though, looks like it may have gainful 9-5 employment. Perhaps with benefits even.
I prefer to decorate with colors that don't look good on me.
SO TRUE !
Home body, I think you and I have the same approach to both dressing and our homes!
I'm a completely Classic gal...I love tailored clothing, the more man-cut pants and jackets, with just little flairs of girliness in my jewelry, belts and shoes. I've tried to incorporate a more "trendy" style into my wardrobe, but my body type just lends itself to the cut, 50's style clothing...I can live with that!
I'm going to disagree with this post - I think there are plenty of people who's taste in fashion and decor don't match.
I tend to wear black, black, and more black, but I would rather die than live in a black and white (or strictly neutral) house.
Why would you paint a room a color that doesn't flatter you? But I think opposites are better--ornate decor, minimalist fashion. And vice versa.
Good post! I'm definitely an earth-and-jewel tones girl, and that translates to my wardrobe and my style sensibility.
My bedroom chair, however, is kept clear by the fact that I put my cat's bed there. Greatest way to keep that chair clear.