by Jenn Hughes

Created on: June 17, 2009

I have always disliked home decor magazines. They serve the purpose of perhaps giving an idea or two, but the photos rarely do justice to the average person, with the average home. They also don't account for tastes that change and mature, and lifestyles that also change and mature. You may love the look of a stained glass piece on your mahogany end table, but when your nine-year old and his Labrador run through the house full tilt, the practicality goes out the window.

So, when developing your personal style, follow some simple rules:

1. Consider your lifestyle. Do you have children and pets? Look for colors and pieces that you like that can survive the wee ones.

2. Consider your budget. A great friend of mine lives in a beautiful old Amish farmhouse, but didn't have the budget to decorate it in the style of the period. She shopped garage sales and rummage shops and gave it an "Olde Curiousity Shoppe" feel that fits it to a "T".

3. Consider what you personally like. I have a studio room painted tangerine orange. I love my cheerful room, and it can easily be re-painted if we want to sell the house. Color and paint are your friends, they are simple and inexpensive to play with.

4. Consider how you dress. Dressing a room is not so much different as dressing your body. If you're into t-shirts and tennis shoes, you probably will be more comfortable with an overstuffed recliner. If you prefer stilettos and pencil skirts, you probably want a beautiful graceful upholstered chair.

5. Consider your hobbies. If you're an artist, and like to draw, you'll want to decorate around your own art. Perhaps you collect sea glass, or tea cups, or shot glasses. Any of these things can be drawn upon in your decorating style. Maybe you are a hiker or boater, consider a nautical theme or nature theme.

6. Consider designing a room around a special family piece, antique, or favorite recliner. Think outside the box. My family consists of dogs and men. My dining room is the only place the workout equipment and the dog beds fit properly. Instead of lamenting this non-traditional use of space, I transformed the kitchen island into a beautiful Italian-themed tiled gathering place where friends gather, eat, drink, and hang out. My vision of an Italian kitchen is fulfilled, and our lifestyle needs are met in the dining room. I'm not suggesting you have to put a treadmill in foyer, but do think outside the box.

The bottom line is that your home needs to be a reflection of your personality and your lifestyle. So the first step in developing a decorating style is identifying who you are and how you live.

The bottom line is that in order to find your decorating style, you need to look within yourself and identify your own personality and lifestyle. If you don't, you are likely to end up with a home or room that feels strange and uncomfortable to you.

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