Developing your own style

Developing your own style

For home to be both somewhere you feel comfortable, and a place that fills you with joy, you need to hone your own sense of style.

Quick tips to get you started

Create a good view

• Look at the places for sitting in your home, and think about the view you'd like to see when you sit there.
• Also consider the viewpoint when you come into a room - a pleasing arrangement will draw you into that room and make it feel more welcoming.

Make connections

• Introducing elements of colour that mirror each other is a great way to make your home feel more cohesive.
• For example, a blue vase on the windowsill could connect with blue in a painting and then bits of blue in a patterned cushion.

Seek out the feel-good factor

• Painting things in your home is not only a brilliant way to unlock your creativity, but the sense of accomplishment after completing a project makes you feel good too!
• Second hand finds or pieces you've had for a long time make for a particularly pleasing project as you can give them a whole new lease of life.

Artistic influences

• Pieter Bruegel
• Paul Gauguin
• Ben Nicholson
• Eric Ravilious
• Duncan Grant
• Vanessa Bell
• The Two Roberts
• Francisco de Goya
• Pablo Picasso
• Henri Matisse

Developing your sense of style

When starting the journey of discovering your sense of style, don't feel as though you need to immediately step out of your comfort zone. You can begin by gently trying new things, or learning about different artists and styles.

The best thing about paint is you can always add more layers and change the colour, so it doesn't matter if you make mistakes or decide you don't like something. Change it and try something new - this process will be really helpful in finding out what you like. The worst thing you can do is over think, so don't do that! Instead, give yourself time to enjoy the journey and slowly experiment.

One way to begin to understand your own sense of style is to think about which colours you're drawn to. This could be a mix of colours you like to wear, or colours you like to be surrounded by in your home. Even if you are mostly attracted to a neutral palette, try to incorporate a few hints of colour here and there to help everything pop.

Don't compare yourself to other people - trust your instincts and opt for colours that you find exciting.