It’s so you! 5 tips to personalize your home decor

Everything in your home, from the paint colors and furniture to the knick knacks on your shelves, has the potential to reflect a little about who you are. The just-right shade of blue that reminds you of the ocean, a collection of books lining the shelves, and photographs that remind you of the places you’ve been – they all tell a story. 

Home decor, when intentionally designed, is fresh, authentic, and real. But in a world overflowing with fads and influencers, it can be easy to get swept away in someone else’s tastes. Read along for tips to personalize your decor so that home feels just like you. 

1. Take the time to curate your style 

Take time to understand your true preferences. One woman’s all neutral cottage core home might be stunning, but if you’re a lover of all things colorful, don’t try to emulate her home decor style. Spend time flipping through magazines and creating Pinterest boards. Before cutting out a picture or pinning to your vision board, ask yourself, “I know this is beautiful – but is it the way I want to share beauty in my home?” 

As you take stock of what you naturally gravitate toward, you’ll begin to notice themes. Perhaps most of the pictures have midcentury modern elements, or maybe you notice that a lot of the pictures feature a beachy feel. Once you find the trends, search for common key words so that you can look at decor within your preferred style. 

2. Bring meaning into your decoration

Once you are confident in your style, take your decor to a whole new level of personal. Want to hang a picture of flowers in the hallway? Don’t choose any flower, find the flower for your birth month. Place an icon of your patron saint on a shelf. Choose a coffee table book featuring your favorite national park or frame your grandmother’s handwritten recipe for the kitchen wall.  

Be intentional about what you choose to display in your home. Decor shouldn’t just be place-fillers and dust collectors. Use home decor to bring life, memories, and a touch of you to a room. 

3. Something old, something new

Mix and match to find the right balance between new items and well-loved items. You don’t want your house to feel like an antique shop or, conversely, like a Pottery Barn display room. Rely on family heirlooms, local artwork, and thrift finds to add character to your home while using newer items, like throw pillows, rugs, and curtains, to help pull the overall aesthetic together. 

A brand new purchase at Target is fun, but give preference to the secretary desk you always loved from your grandmother’s house or the funky book ends you couldn’t put down at the thrift store. Those one-of-a-kind items add a touch of personality to the home. 

4. Find your signature look 

Whether it’s fresh flowers placed about the house or a bold, poppy red front door, find something that is your signature look. If you’re a lover of literature, create a wall of bookshelves that houses all sorts of wonderful classics. Perhaps you’re a musician and you can sprinkle your home with musical accents, such as a gallery wall of your favorite records and music note coasters. 

5. Lean into the season

Once you have your “ordinary time” decorations set, let the seasons and liturgical year add variety and dimension to your home. There are many ways to add subtle seasonal decor without breaking the bank. 

Swap out pictures for the season. In one picture frame, rotate images such as a Nativity print, a photograph of wildflowers from your garden, a picture of your family beach vacation, and your family in a pumpkin patch. 

Choose heavier window treatments for the winter and airier textures for the warmer months. Swap out throw pillow covers and rotate out your dish towels seasonally. Live liturgically through your home decor with sacred images and liturgical colors at your home altar. 

With thoughtful design and confidence, your home will be a place that features your own unique and wonderful style.