HOME | Finding your interior design style with Petrina Turner
HOW TO FIND YOUR INTERIOR DESIGN STYLE?
Knowing where to start with the interior of your home can be a paralysing choice. Do you start with your furniture, choose your paint colours or replace your floor first?… round in circles you go until you just don’t do anything at all. I hear you and I want to share some ways you can begin to find out what your design style is.
1 | FASHION - Start with those colours you wear often and make you feel good as they can have the same effect in your home. For example, my brand colours came directly from a cosy, wool scarf I have worn non stop for 3 winters and I am now designing a kitchen in similar colours. Coincident? I think not.
2 | ART - Like fashion, you might already have the answer to your style hanging on your wall. Art can often be a subconscious choice based on a colour or feeling that resonates with us. Investigate what is hanging around you, are there a colour or shape that appears more than once in your choices. (Also unsure where to start with your art collection? No worries…. this is for you).
3 | TRENDS - be mindful of trends. Do you like something just because you have been bombarded with imagery of it lately or have you liked it for a long time? The longer you’ve liked something the more chance there is of you not getting sick of it. I am not saying ignore everything that is current but be clever how you use it. For example if you haven’t always loved the colour terracotta but are getting an urge to use it (yes it’s bang on trend right now) us it for cushions or a throw rug instead of tiling your whole bathroom so you don’t get reno-regret in 5 years. Cushions can be easily repurposed, tiles will be a little trickier!
4 | VISUALISE - Start an image file of things you like. You don’t have to be able to verbally explain what you like about a space at first. It can simply be that you look at something and think “wow, I love that”… pop it in the file. Once you’ve got a collection happening, I guarantee you will be able to see some similarities.
A Pinterest board is one of the simplest ways to collect your images in one place. Create different boards for your different spaces or ideas (see ten years worth of my boards here). Add to your boards over time to watch your taste develop and change. Be ruthless and delete images that no longer resonate with you. If even this stumps you, it can also be useful to collect some images of things you don’t like. In a round about way it will help you narrow down what you do like.
The MARG. Studio brand scarf getting an outing to Blacksmith Provedore in Mulwala. 11/10 interiors by The Stella Collective, 4/10 enjoying having my photo taken.
Developing your design style can be tricky and you don’t have to take my word for it. I have teamed up with Petrina Turner of Petrina Turner Design who has been using colour in the most creative ways over her 20 year career as an interior designer and stylist. Here is what Petrina had to say.
Petrina describes her style as eclectic and joyful … with a little surprise thrown in.
How would you describe your personal style?
I’d say my personal style is eclectic and joyful. I love clean contemporary pieces layered with other elements (it could be vintage, something from distant travels or places) and story telling. I love colour, pattern and texture, and really enjoy finding the perfect balance between them, whether a calm look is required, or a more dynamic one. I also really love supporting local design wherever I can. That counts for fashion and interiors.
How has it evolved over time?
My field of vision has broadened with time, and I am forever curious, so I am sure it has. But I just go with what feels right and I think that has always been pretty much the same.
What advice would you give someone who is struggling to identify their own style?
If you are talking about finding their interior personal style I’d say start with your wardrobe. Interiors follows fashion. I can’t tell you how many times over the years I’ve asked clients questions about what they would like for their spaces, and they pretty much describe what they are wearing. Take a look at things you are constantly drawn to (that could be colours, cultures, places, anything) and ask yourself how it makes you feel. Start with what you love and work from there. And maybe get some advice from an expert to help guide you.
How do you deal with trends in your design work?
When it comes to trends, I am fascinated (a little obsessed if I’m honest) with the WHY they come about, so when I see new trends pop up I am instantly researching to find out what's behind them. They tell you a lot about what's going on in the world. If you scratch just below the surface you’ll discover that they reflect all sorts on interesting things like technological advancements, culture and even politics. Anyone else love Miranda Priestly when she gave her cerulean blue monologue to Andy in “The Devil Wears Prada”? Just me? I’m not one to chase trends in my interior and styling work. If it works because it helps communicate the mood or story of a project I’m working on I will use it, and it can be helpful if I already love using particular styles/ elements and they come into trend because it means more options are available at the time. But don’t use a trend just because you see it everywhere. Use it because you love it.
Does your style ever differ from your clients?
Sometime yes, sometime no. A lot of my work comes from referrals, so I think for those clients something in my work resonates with them. What is important is that we are speaking the same language. As a designer we always bring a little something of ourselves to our work, but it is also really important to tell your clients story through their space. Not everyone knows what they want, so it is my job to listen, observe, and then create a space that speaks to who they are, with maybe a little surprise thrown in that they hadn’t considered.
Thank you to Petrina for taking the time to describe her experience with finding your design style. If you want to know more about Petrina including some beautiful collaborations with Designer Rugs and Byzantine Tiles jump over to her website.
Feeling bamboozled by all the images you’ve collected and still not sure what your style is? I would love to run through your images with you in a free 30 minute phone consult. Book in a time here.