A Spaghetti Ice Cream Sundae: How to Pick an Interior Design Style

I love food, all kinds of food. I just can't get enough of it. Even if I didn't need it to survive, I would eat. I am often caught stating that I work out so much not with the intention of getting smaller, but to maintain my weight and eating habits. I know what you are thinking, what does this have to do with Interior Design?

Well the truth is, a lot. The world of design and food share their abundance of styles, flavours, and trends. Sometimes it can be an overwhelming task to choose which direction to go in. This is something we see in design too, what happens when you love everything? How do you know what to buy for your home? Well the answer is simple, pick a style and take a stand. This does not mean you can only buy things that fit into the style of "Retro Urban" or what have you. It just means you can't mix and match everything.

In regards to food, I love ice cream, cheese, spaghetti, and butter chicken, but I sure would not like to eat them all together at the same time. I may eat these all in one day, but not in one dish. There have to be boundaries. I use this same principal in design. Sometimes I may really love an item, but it just does not go.

For your home, this translates into smaller segments. Think of your home as a day, your rooms as meals, and the items in your rooms as individual dishes. Throughout a day you will likely only eat items you like, so that creates a constant. This constant is your personal style. You will only pick items that speak to you that you either love or need. Ideally it will be both. The meals are your rooms, they share your personal style, but there will be some diversity here. There may be a bit more of a fun factor in your den than in your living room. Think about what room you will put an item in before you buy it. If it doesn't fit in any of the rooms, put it back. I have walked away from wonderful items because I could simply not find a home for it. Usually if you are struggling to make an item fit, you are holding on too much. That item does not blend with the flavors of the meal, it has to go.

Lastly think about these flavors, does the item match or go with the items that are around it? This does not mean everything has to be pink. It means that some items just naturally go together better than others. Cinnamon matches flavors better with apples that ground beef. And in design a harmony of flavors is necessary as well. There is an exception to this rule, however; the eclectic palette.

For the owner of the eclectic pallet, a modern light fixture blends seamlessly with a farmhouse table. This works because there is still a common personal flavour throughout the space. In food this is the cinnamon that is in with chicken. It is unexpected, but the flavors still go well together. This trait will be seen throughout the homeowners taste in food, fashion and design. It can't be forced it just is. Listen to your inner voice; are you trying to make it work? If not it is the right ingredient for your dish, pick it up, and bon appétit!