10 rules for creating an interior style that’s truly yours

One day, you look around your home and realise with a pang that practically everything you own is a cheap IKEA or supermarket buy. The cushions clash, the mugs don’t match the plates, and those pieces you swore were “so perfect” at the time? Yeah… not so much in the cold, unforgiving light of day.

It’s easy to forget that buying homeware can be deeply emotional. Just like with wardrobes, our taste in the moment doesn’t always serve us well – the thrill of something new often fades faster than you think.

The good news is it’s entirely possible to curate a home you actually love, rather than one dictated by trends or impulse buys. Developing a true sense of your interior style doesn’t happen overnight, but with a few thoughtful shifts in approach, you can finally make your space feel intentional, personal, and yes… actually cohesive.

1. Start with how you truly live, not how you want your home to look 

It’s tempting to start decorating with a mood board full of Pinterest-perfect images or by following every influencer’s latest trend. And sure, those can be useful for inspiration. But often, we end up shopping for a fantasy version of ourselves: the effortless host, the stylish entertainer, the picture-perfect work-from-home professional.

The problem? Many of these pieces look great but barely get used.

The homes that really work aren’t the ones that belong in a magazine; they’re the ones designed around the way you actually live. Think about your daily rhythms, habits, and practicalities. Where do you really sit, work, relax, eat? How do you move through your rooms? Designing around these patterns ensures your home is functional, comfortable, and effortless – supporting the way you live, not just the life you wish you were living.

2. Learn to spot fast homeware red flags

Not every cute candle or on-trend cushion is worth bringing home. Fast homeware usually gives itself away – think disposable seasonal tat, one-week-wonder trends, or pieces made from cheap materials that won’t stand the test of time. Another telltale sign is pieces that mimic handmade or artisan designs, often priced far too low and mass-produced purely for a quick profit.

Avoiding these not only saves you money - it helps your style develop more authentically. Instead of chasing every trend, you curate a home full of pieces you actually love – items that earn their place and make your space feel cohesive and intentional.

3. Notice what you’re consistently drawn to (not what’s trending)

Take a moment to step back and really observe the things you naturally gravitate toward – over months or even years, not just what’s viral this week. Are there colours you keep returning to, materials you reach for, moods that feel comforting?

For me, it’s olive greens, light woods, and neutral tones that evoke a sense of nature and calm. For someone else, it might be bold patterns and clashing colours.

There’s no right or wrong answer – it’s all about tuning into your own preferences and letting your personal style guide your choices, rather than fleeting trends.

4. Audit your current space: what do you actually love? 

Take a slow walk through your home and really look at what’s there. Ask yourself:

• Which pieces genuinely make you happy every time you see them?
• Which items do you barely notice, or feel “meh” about?
• Which did you buy because they were cheap, trendy, or for a fantasy version of yourself?

This simple audit acts like a map of your true style, helping you see what’s worth keeping, what could be swapped, and where your home truly reflects who you are.

5. Explore style through mood, not micro-trends

Forget labels like “Scandi,” “coastal,” or “farmhouse.” Instead, focus on how you want your home to feel. Calm and grounding? Warm and cosy? Energising or playful? Letting mood lead your choices makes your style harder to sway with every new trend. It also gives you the freedom to mix elements from different aesthetics, creating a look that’s uniquely yours.

6. Build a personal palette (that you’ll still like in 5 years)

Identifying a small, flexible palette of colours and materials doesn’t mean playing it safe – it’s about giving your home a cohesive backbone that will still feel right years from now. Focus on the shades, textures, and finishes you’re naturally drawn to, rather than chasing the season’s “must-have” hue. You can absolutely include bold or clashing tones if that’s what you love – the key is consistency and intention. Having a clear palette also makes it easier to say no to items that don’t belong, so every piece you bring in truly fits. The result is a home that always feels curated, not chaotic, and effortlessly personal.

7. Avoid the algorithm trap

Social media is a double-edged sword: it can spark inspiration, but it also subtly nudges us toward the same look, the same items, the same trends. Fast-home retailers are quick to capitalise on this, churning out products designed to appeal to whatever is trending online right now.

To step back, start by limiting endless “inspo scrolling.” Curate your feeds to follow accounts that genuinely reflect the style you love, and save only what truly excites you – not what looks impressive in a post. And don’t be afraid to unfollow accounts if you know they make you feel pressured to buy or imitate. The less you’re influenced by what everyone else is doing, the easier it becomes to trust your own instincts and develop a home that’s authentically yours. 

8. Embrace slow decorating

It’s tempting to want to do it all at once – I know I struggle with this myself, I’m always itching to start buying and styling! But the best interiors often grow slowly. Choose one thing at a time, live with your space, and give yourself the chance to understand how you actually want to live in it. Let your style emerge naturally rather than forcing a complete overhaul overnight. Patience pays off: the longer you live with a piece, the more confident you’ll feel about what truly belongs in your home.

9. Invest in pieces with story, craft or purpose

Items that have a story, are thoughtfully made, or crafted by skilled artisans naturally lend your home a sense of personality and depth. Unlike cheap, trend-led buys, these pieces last – both in quality and in style – and help you build a real relationship with your things rather than treating them as disposable.

That’s exactly the kind of homeware we celebrate at Love to Home, where our collections spotlight brands doing things a little differently: thoughtful, well-made pieces that you’ll love for years to come. 

10. Mix old and new to create a home that feels like you

A home that feels personal rarely comes straight from a single shop. Blend vintage, inherited, or second-hand pieces with new finds to avoid a cookie-cutter look and add layers of character. Hunt for treasures on Facebook Marketplace, set up alerts for pieces you love, and follow sellers whose style resonates with you – it’s a fun, sustainable way to collect items that genuinely speak to you. 

Your home isn’t a showroom, and your style doesn’t have to be fixed. Just like wardrobes, interiors evolve over time as your tastes, routines, and needs change. Let your space grow with you, layering in new pieces, repurposing old favourites, and allowing imperfections to add character. A home that adapts to you will always feel more authentic, personal, and – most importantly – lived-in.

Cover photo by Spacejoy on Unsplash. Second image by Steph Wilson on Unsplash. Third image by Sven Brandsma on Unsplash.