Ask an Interior Designer: “My Space Always Looks Messy: How Do I Find My Style?”

Interior designer Dani Dean shares her tips on finding a design style that feels like you.

Welcome to 'Ask a Designer'; a series where an interior designer will answer your most pressing interior design questions, space problems, and home challenges. For this instalment, Dani Dean of The Make Haus will be answering a question from a member of the Bed Threads Community.

Meet the Designer

Dani Dean specialises in everything from interior styling and set design to ideating and executing weddings and brand events through her multidisciplinary creative studio, The Make Haus.

A confident and experienced interior designer, Dani has been the guiding force behind the transformations of numerous commercial, retail, and residential spaces – including her own! – and has a particular flair for creating spaces that are unique yet chic. We were lucky enough to take a tour of Dani's colourful Northern Beaches home, which serves plenty of inspo for designing a home that utilises colour in a sophisticated manner.She is also a founder of The Ware; a collection of private studios for small businesses to conduct photoshoots, workshops, intimate gatherings, and creative play.

The Question

Hi Dani,

I need some help to work out what my design style is. I tend to buy just things I like, and my space always looks messy and things don't really go together. How can I make a space that feels like 'me', but doesn't look random? Are there some styling or design 'rules' I should be following?

The Answer

Decorating your home will always be a work in progress and finding a specific design style doesn’t need to dictate every decision you make in your space. Time and trends will inevitably have an influence on what we like, what we treasure and what we want to display in our homes.

However, there are some rules – or guidelines – that can help you create a space that reflects you, but is also cohesive and intentional.

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1. Find your style

Before you hit the shops or add to cart, take the time to compile a moodboard. You can easily do this on Pinterest, Instagram or just your phone’s image folder. Save everything from detailed surface finishes, to colour palettes, to overall spaces to help define your personal preferences. You can then refer back to this prior to making a purchase to assess if the item will flow with your overall vision. Your mood board will become your guide for ensuring that large items you invest in and artisanal or non-refundable small goods you acquire will visually fit into your space.

However, sometimes you just need to follow your heart and not your social media account. Coveted mementos, artworks, photographs and decor items are what make your home yours. Items that don’t necessarily fall into a specified “design style” but you treasure nonetheless, will bring warmth and personality to your space. The way in which you display these items is key to avoiding “messy” and “cluttered” vibes. Grouping objects, varying heights and textures and considering colour cohesiveness are all styling tricks that designers use.

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2. Nail your storage

Create homes for your homewares! Storage is not all about stackable plastic tubs and getting the perfect fold technique. You can actually spark joy by curating your decorative and eclectic loose items into storage units such as sideboards, credenzas and buffets. Housing an array of items within a designated space will declutter utilitarian surfaces and help keep your home tidy.

Investing in a beautifully made piece of furniture, or recycling a vintage piece, to store your decor, glassware or books is a practical solution that can further define your space's style. It will also help you keep stock of your possessions and avoid an over accumulation of trend-driven, cheaply manufactured items.

If you don’t have enough storage space for all your stuff, you might need to consider a spring clean to rid your space of anything that doesn’t spark joy!

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3. Utilise your space

Evaluating the use of space within your home, along with your building's heritage or structural elements, can also help guide your style choices. This is where professional advice from an interior designer or stylist can be of great value. Understanding the spatial options of certain furniture and fixtures to maximise the functionality and the aesthetic of your space can help start your design journey. If professional design services are out of your reach, refer back to your moodboards and try to find reference images that reflect your own home. Use them as inspiration of how to best utilise what space you have and define what furniture will enhance its usability. Some common styling mistakes include overpopulating the space or not servicing the comfort of it at all, so keep that in mind when adding to your home.

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4. Embrace your spectrum

Colour, whether clashing or complimentary, is also an important consideration. Don’t feel compelled to pick just one colour and stick to it for every decision you make or you’ll be living in a monochrome nightmare of your own making.

To find your colour scheme, Google “the colour wheel”, think about what key colours will work with your wall finishes and flooring, pick a couple (they don’t necessarily need to match, but complimenting colours are a good place to start) and build with shades of them across your various textiles, objects and finishes – along with neutral and natural materials for balance. Things don’t always have to “go together” but finding some common threads amongst your possessions will create your design style.

Buying what you like should be how you shop – perpetually chasing big box homewares trends will only result in landfill. But the way you display, group and store your styling items is key to creating an inviting home.