Your Style Is Changing & Evolving – Now What?

Throughout the years my style has changed several times. The problem comes with how do I change my style and keep what I have.  I think I am influenced by my surroundings and what I see as trends from time to time.    Most of us can’t just get rid of all our furniture and accessories and start over from scratch.  We have to transition into a new style gradually.  That leaves us with the big question – Your Style Is Changing & Evolving – Now What? (This is a post I ran a couple of years ago, but I am seeing so many struggling with their own Style Changes, so I thought I would share it again.)

When I had my first home my style was Modern.  Clean lines, low and lean.  Then I switched to a very Tradition style. Dark wood furniture, heavy fabrics, velvets, and prints.  Next, I went really Country with tons of antiques and cute prints and wallpaper. (This was influenced by living in the mountains in Oregon.)  Finally, I was back to more of a traditional design.  This was the 90’s and at the time I loved it.  All that deep red and gold and heavy drapes and decor were in at the time and I thought I was too.

Now I like to call my style Transitional.  This is a combination of Classic and Contemporary with a touch of everything.  I think that is the best of all worlds.  I love comfy furniture, brass and silver, beautiful fabrics, texture, and really a bit of everything.

LET’S TAKE A LOOK AT HOW I TRANSITIONED MY STYLE IN MY CURRENT HOME

The next home was Traditional, just not as stuffy as the 90’s.  My basic furniture pieces were classic Traditional in style and finish.  Dark Mahogany on most all of my wood pieces.   Even the large mirror was a holdover from the 90’s.   This is really not me anymore and I can see quite a few things that should have been changed.  I never knock any style, but wow, what was I thinking.

Then I slowly started to switch things out to something lighter and a little more transitional.  Gone are the heavy drapes and over the top accessories.  A new sofa changed things too.

 

Next came wood floors and things changed again.  Still moving more toward the Transitional style. At this point, I really wanted to move away from such a heavy influence of Traditional.

When we moved into our current home, the architecture of this house was much more contemporary than our last home.  My style was already leaning to a more contemporary transitional influence.  Trying to make what I currently had work in the new house, really didn’t work.  Some pieces of furniture were just too big for the space or too heavy on the traditional style.  All that dark wood seemed to drown the room.

I tried duplicating what I had in the last house.  This is a smaller area, so both leather chairs didn’t quite fit.  This wasn’t the worst look, but it really wasn’t quite me.

Next I tried a different rug.  One that was more on the contemporary side.  Things just still didn’t look the way I wanted them to.

I decided it was time to get rid of the huge mirror.  I borrowed art from my daughter to see how that would look. I also replaced the leather chair with a white one I had in the master bedroom.  Still not it, but getting better.  Notice at this time all I’ve purchased is a rug.

I decided that the paintings just weren’t what I really wanted, so I bought another mirror, only this one was a totally different style.  I also decided to replace the coffee table with something lighter and more contemporary. Notice how all the accessories lightened up too.

Adding a plant seemed to be the final touch to pull the room together. I finally had more of a Transitional style shaping up.

This still could use improvement, but I finally had a space that I liked, looked like me, and fit this house.  It was a case of trial and error and thinking outside the box with an open mind.  All the while I was transitioning into the contemporary side of my Transitional Style.  The only purchases I made were the rug, mirror, and coffee table.  That all came in under $300.

Wonder what happened to all those furniture pieces that didn’t work in this room – The tufted leather chair went to the master bedroom.  It adds such a touch of elegance to this room.

 

The other leather chair is in my Loft/Office/Girl Cave.  It makes this room.  Perfect spot for it.

The coffee table went to a friend.

Your Style Is Changing – Now What?  No matter what your style is now, or what you want it to become, take a look at the elements of the style you want to have and figure out what can be changed to create that style with the least expense and effort.  You really don’t have to start from scratch.  You can paint wood furniture, change out accessories, and even reupholster some pieces.  Keep what you have and love the most and then replace the things that really aren’t you anymore.  It’s worth the effort to have a room you love and enjoy.

I’m sure my style will probably change again down the road.  Life is always changing and I want to keep changing too.