Do you want your living space to feel warm and cozy or light and bright? Do you prefer to surround yourself with bold colors and classic neutrals? Should your furniture be plush, comfortable pieces, or have sophisticated clean lines? Figuring out your interior design style can be confusing. If you want a home that is decorated and furnished in a cohesive style, you will first need to understand your taste and how it relates to current trends and established design styles. Before you head into a furniture store or décor shop, do your homework and narrow down the look you want for your home.

Scroll through a home finder website

Whether you are looking for a new home or want to redo your current place, a home search site can be an endless source of information. Calgary House Finder lets you peek into many current real estate listings, so you can get a feel for what is available on the real estate market. With a mix of professional staged homes and personal décor, you are sure to notice styles you want for your own, and things you want to skip.

Take on online quiz

The internet is full of quizzes that gauge your design style. Apartment Therapy offers a simple version which asks you to choose your favorite from four photos and translates the results into one of four styles. HGTV offers a more in-depth option which narrows down your taste and provides additional resources for inspiration based on your results. It is worthwhile to take a few online design quizzes to see how your results compare. If you see similar results from several sources, you are likely on the right path to defining what you like.

Set up a Pinterest board

Pinterest can be a wealth of design inspiration, especially if you are just starting to discover your style. Start by creating an account and setting up a board dedicated to interior design. Then, start browsing the boards of friends, family, celebrities and brands with design styles you admire. Save every photo that you like, without stopping to analyze anything. Once you have a massive board compiled, take a look at the overall picture. Do any trends pop out? Likely, the majority of the things you saved will veer in one style direction. But, don’t overlook the outliers either.  Every room needs a bit of contrast, so if you Pinterest board reveals one prevalent style with a bit of another style sprinkled in, you are well on the way to a balanced design plan.

Consider your wardrobe

You have probably spent more time refining your fashion and clothing style than your interior design style. Since you make clothing purchases more often than home décor purchases, it’s easier to see your overall preferences. Luckily, fashion and interior design are closely related. If you notice that you prefer fashion items with classic silhouettes, bright colors or subtle patterns, those themes will likely transfer well into your interior design style. If you can’t immediately identify your fashion style, or remember what’s in your closet, it might be worthwhile to use a app to organize your virtual closet.