Questions to ask yourself when getting ready to style your home
I’m no interior designer. I am contemporary landscape artist and an interiors enthusiast. I understand the importance of composition. It’s about finding balance and flow in art and it’s the same for any space too.
At the end of every episode of The Curated Nest Podcast, I ask my guests the same quick fire questions and they glean a variety of answers that are very telling and aligned with the kind of home that they want and that will nurture them. It’s not about spending megabucks on a total renovation but about understanding the essence of what your home is to you and how it can enable you to feel you best. Let’s dive into the questions and how they can help you to find your home vision.
Classic or modern?
When you walk into a modern space, does it make you feel relaxed or on edge?
These are not the only two options but they are a good place to start. Are you looking to enhance the features of an older house and celebrate its story or do you want all the modern gadgets in a brand spanking new space. Perhaps the way you dress and the places that you visit give you a clue and maybe you like to mix elements of both by housing antique furnishings alongside ultra modern or heirloom pieces in a new age building with full height windows.
Look around your home at the art you have, the features your home does or doesn’t have and ask yourself ‘Does this bring me joy?’. I’m not saying you should throw it all out Marie Kondo style but it will start to give you an indication of where your preferences lie. If you live with someone else, you will need to consider the balance of their tastes too.
Maximalist or minimalist?
This question has really stumped my guests more than the first. Perhaps it’s because they feel like extremes that cannot be mixed. Some cheated and said ‘mediumalism’ (yes that’s a made up word but aren’t they all) and I get it. I would say that I lean towards maximalism but that doesn’t mean that I like a messy home. Far from it. Maximalism is not about clinging onto all stuff and having a house full of clutter. It’s about saying yes to pattern, colour and texture and mixing them together. It’s about layering and collecting but in a curated way - not for the sake of hoarding.
Would you feel better in a rooms full of cushions, trinkets and patterns in bold colours or in a pared down space with plain walls and everything hidden behind sleek doors? The latter would put me on edge because I’d constantly feel like I was going to make a mess but for a lot of people that is the zen they need - a sense of control in a chaotic world.
Country or city?
This is not just about where you live but the tone of your home. Are you filling your home with plants or industrail elements. Maybe you’re mixing both (I love this mix and it suits my home on the outskirts of a city). It’s also a big clue to the kind of art you love. Is it nature inspired or more graphic? It could be both but that’s pretty rare. Do you want soft edges or clean lines?
Swimming pool or games room?
Most of us dream of something like this but rarely get it but I still think it’s a good question. What kind of fun elements do you want at home? Are you a gamer that needs space for tehnology? Do you need space for crafting? How you use a space is of critical importance. There’s zero point designing a home that looks great on Instagram if it doesn’t support your lifestyle.
If you’re an entertainer who loves to hold dinner parties then making the kitchen and dining room your priorities. If you are constantly exhausted because you do ling shifts then a peaceful boutique style bedroom is probably the best place for you to focus your efforts. Remember that this space is for you - not for the people who buy it from you in years to come.
Chef or cleaner?
If you’re answering chef then I’m betting you want a simple kitchen with gadgets that are easy to use to make quick and simple meals. Start there before you go mad creating an all singing all dancing showroom kitchen that never gets used (I’m thinking Carrie from Sex and the City using her oven as an extra cupboard).
If you go for cleaner then I am here to tell you that textured Lino and wood grain cabinets are a god awful idea. I chose these purely for aesthetic and they are the Bain of my existence. This is the time to be practical because it will make your life easier in the long run.
Following trends or instincts?
I believe that there is only one correct answer here.
Trends can give you a starting point but they are not a design plan. If you stick to trends then you will be changing your dear twice a year and never feel happy with it. Think of them more as a pick and mix for your mood board. Yes that room in the Farrow and Ball catalogue looks incredible but it’s not your room and it’s not actually being used by real people after the photoshoot.
When I ask people what they think makes a house a home it’s often two things - the people and the items that hold memories.Whether that’s family heirlooms, artworks, photographs or items you collect on your travels, it’s all part of your story and it’s that that makes a home.
A great place to start when putting a scheme together is with a piece of art. The colour palette is already there and you can even pick out textures and patterns that compliment it. The way it’s framed also sets a tone. Treat yourself to some window shopping and find some inspiration in my original artworks.
