Resene White Many of us struggle to decide what decorating style we like and want to live with. It’s the reason home magazines are so popular as we search for a look that resonates with us, keen to find a like-minded homeowner who has already achieved the look we desire. But with a bit of confidence and good advice, it’s fairly easy to discover your own style, even if it’s not the look that’s populating the pages of the magazines. It’s easy to get swept up in the fashion of the moment but there’s no use embracing what’s on-trend if it fundamentally doesn’t suit your personality. Few of us are chameleons who change our tastes with the wind. Rather, we’re more likely to add fashionable accessories that complement our interiors, to keep things fresh and up to date. Luckily we live in an eclectic world with many influences and a healthy tolerance of individual tastes and styles. Look at what’s around you Have a look at the sort of clothes you choose to buy, and the colours in which you tend to dress. Can you describe your personal style? Have a look at any accessories, knick- knacks or artworks you have bought. Take a photo of these things, as well as any inspirational settings or scenes (the beach, mountains, flowers) that strongly appeal to you. Set them out in front of you or on your computer screen and look for common elements of colour and style. For example, your collection might include colourful summer sandals, a blue glass vase and a snap of your last Pacific Island holiday. Can you guess what type of decorating style you might relate to? Or you might have a little black dress, an etching from an up-and-coming local artist and a miniature schnauzer. Quite different to the first personality but equally distinctive. Also take note of your friends’ houses. Which ones do you feel instantly at home at, which ones make you uncomfortable? Compare them to your selected photos and you should start to see your style emerge. Ask yourself… Are you a casual sort of person who doesn’t mind a bit of clutter? Or are you more formal and like a tidy home? What’s your family situation – a family of young kids, one with teens, country lovers with lots of pets, a singleton, or a city-dwelling couple? What type of house do you live in – character, modern, mid-century suburban, architectural, ex State…? And did you choose that style of house or were your choices limited by the area in which you wanted to live? And is your stage of life temporary? Being knee-deep in kids’ toys can be rough for someone who craves a more start the journey... minimalist and ordered environment. Don’t despair, there are ways of coping while you transition this stage. Start with colour There are many elements to house interior and exterior schemes: furniture, soft furnishings like curtains, rugs and cushions, flooring, lighting and accessories. But one of the most dominant features – simply because it covers the larger surfaces of your home, being the walls and ceilings – is colour. Resene Allports A holiday snap, summery sandals, a blue vase? You're probably a Beach Casual. If you figure out what colours you like with ease and confidence, then you’re more than half way to deciding your style personality. It’s easy to opt for off-white or beige as a fall-back. While there are many beautiful and useful white and neutral colours in the Resene collections, make them a considered choice rather than be driven by a fear of getting it wrong with a bolder colour. Focusing on the colours that are dominant to your style personality when developing a room scheme can help you put together interiors that feel right quickly and easily. Being knee-deep in kids’ toys can be rough for someone who craves an ordered environment Resene Thorndon Cream 2 | | 3