Your Decorating Hotline

When I was much younger, it was so much fun to take the dating quizes in Cosmo or Glamour. I’d answer a bunch of oddball questions and from that I discovered my perfect mate, or a perfect date, or something. Now I’m all grown up and not interested in that, but still love taking a goofy quick quiz. Here’s one for you: the HomeGoods site has come up with 10 questions that will help you determine your design style.

There were actually a couple of questions that were tough for me to answer, but I muddled through. As determined by HomeGoods, my style is …… Earthy Casual. What the heck is that? In all my years of design experience, I’ve not come across that design style – it sounds like something one of the HGTV design shows would come up with. That said, the site’s description of Earthy Casual is actually pretty accurate.

MY EARTHY CASUAL STYLE

HomeGoods says, “You’re interested in creating a welcoming home where people feel comfortable and happiness flourishes (aren’t we all interested in this?). You appreciate the warmth and individuality of natural materials and handcrafted things (especially made by me or a friend) and are inspired by colors and forms from nature. You love mixing up different textures and are sensitive to the tactile qualities of objects. Your style is grounded and solid, not flighty or frilly (this is very true). And you are never taken in by the trend of the moment (hmmm I’ve been known to fall for trendy).

You value creativity (absolutely). You are stylish and fun loving, and can be an inspiration to others. You have a natural sense of drama, and you know you have to be willing to take risks—whether with colors (especially color!), finishes, furniture choices, or ideas—for your home to stand out.”

This photo from HomeGoods is a worthy sample of how I would interpret Earthy Casual – it has some natural elements, a touch of the unusual with the burl table, simple lines in the furniture but saved from boredom by a pattern, good modern art….I could see me using all of these elements in a room.

ANOTHER QUIZ RESULT: HIGH STREET CLASSIC

International School of Color & Design has also come up with a 8 question quiz. This one is a drag and drop the photo that best answers the question onto a bulletin board. The title of this result doesn’t sound like me at all, though I answered the questions honestly. Their result says, “You collect key pieces over time (not so much). Rich and luxurious objects appeal to you (yes, but not to my budget). Beloved memories fill your home (this is very true). You balance function with excess (I try). You enjoy the finer things in life (yeah, that budget thing again). Trends are integrated into your home (now that’s what I’m talkin’ about).” Their result photo has some elements I would choose, but I like lots more color and generally more transitional pieces. But, it was quick and fun.

Results from Internation School of Color & Design.

YOUR TURN TO TAKE THE QUIZ

So go pour a cup of your beverage of choice, click through to HomeGoods and ISCD and have a few minutes of fun. You may learn something about yourself and your design style preferences. If you do, great! Take their design suggestions to heart. If the definition doesn’t tell you anything new, at least you spent a relaxing few minutes contemplating decorating and just having fun.

On a more serious note, I will be running a series about different design styles (don’t think Earthy Casual or High Street will show up there) and how you can achieve a specific look in your home. I’ll be covering classic styles like Mission, Country, Rustic, Contemporary, Modern (and what’s the difference between them), Art Deco, Eclectic and Transitional. Watch for the series to start in the coming weeks.