--In the design world, we talk a lot about finding your "personal style." And almost all the advice out there starts the same way. Make a moodboard. Or a shopping list.
I'd like to suggest something a little different. What if you didn't need to buy a single thing? What if your style is already in your home, and you just need to see it differently?
Here's how I help clients reconnect with their true style. And how I do it for myself, because believe me, I need the reminder too.
Walk Your Home Like a Guest
Grab your phone and take a photo of every room as if you'd never been there before. Then sit down and scroll through them. What feels like you? What feels off? You'll start to see patterns. Usually faster than you'd think.
Gather Your Five Favorite Objects
Not the trendiest ones. The ones that mean something. The bowl from a trip. The chair you refused to give up. Now line them up. What do they have in common? A color? A material? A mood? That's not an accident. That's you.
Open Your Closet
This one surprises people. Your closet already knows your style. You just haven't asked it.
So go put on your favorite outfit. Right now, for the moment. Not the one you'd wear to impress someone. The one you reach for when you want to feel like yourself. Stand in front of the mirror and ask: Why do I love this? How does it make me feel?
Then scroll back through your camera roll. Look at the photos of yourself you actually like. When were you most willing, even happy, to have your picture taken? What color are you wearing? The color you see over and over is a clue.
Mine? I just tried on my outfit for date night. A black fitted top. Classic Mary Janes, but elevated on a big platform. And a beautiful pleated skirt in an edgy animal print. It feels grounded and classic. A pretty understated black outfit, with just enough edge thrown in to keep it interesting.
And that's exactly what I love about my home. Timeless staples that are gorgeous in any era, with a modern twist of something I'm really loving in the moment. That's my design style.
And my camera roll? Black. Over and over again.
Here's the funny part. I've had my colors professionally done. More than once. And black goes against my palette. But I don't care. In black, I feel strong. Feminine. Confident.
Sometimes the rules are wrong about you. Your home works the same way. Trust how it makes you feel.
Name a Feeling, Not a Style
Forget "modern farmhouse" or "Japandi." Pick a feeling instead. Grounded. Soft. Moody. Warm. Bold. Sacred. Hint: start with how your favorite outfit makes you feel. That word is your North Star. Every decision gets easier once you have it.
Rearrange One Small Space
A shelf. A nightstand. The entry. Using only what you already own, make it feel like your word. Not like a trend, not like a photo you saved. Just your word.
What I'm Learning as We Pack
You don't have to overhaul your whole house to find your style. You just have to pause long enough to listen to it.
I'm doing this exercise right now, for real. We're getting ready to move into the house we're building, and every box I pack is a little test. Does this come with us? Is this true, or is it just stuff? The things I'm fighting to keep aren't the expensive ones. They're the ones with a story.
Your style isn't out there. It's in you. And the more you trust that, the more effortlessly beautiful your home becomes.
Come find me on Instagram and tell me what color shows up most in your camera roll. I read every one.
— Aubs
