People ask all the time what my decorating style is called. Ha! I have no clue. I suppose I could call it – I do what I want. And even though I say that a lot, it’s not very eloquent. The description is wishy-washy and long. So, I thought I’d ask you what kind of style I have. I’ll show you some of my favorite spaces and treasures then you decide. I’ll call it things that make my house feel like me. Still lengthy, but you get it.
Things That Make My House Feel Like Me
Lately on social media (mostly by people in their late 20’s and 30’s), I’ve seen videos calling their home decorating style vintage. It’s not. Some of them call it timeless. It’s not that either. Just because you mix a floral sofa from your grandma with a bookshelf from Ikea or sit an antique lamp on a new desk from Pottery Barn doesn’t mean it’s timeless.
I’m not being judgemental. I get it. It’s hard giving your vibe a name.
A long time ago I knew I liked things that were different. Some friends called me weird. I heard – she’s got snap in her garters. That means capable and experienced. lol. Really, that was me not letting anyone make me feel inferior. It wasn’t until years later I realized they had no clue how to describe my style either.
Take the photo above as a reference. Those are coasters I found last year. I couldn’t bring myself to put a drink on their little faces. I love them, so I created a way to prominently display them in the family room.
I should have taken a photo of all 3 soaps. They are hysterical!
I get why certain people think some of my bits and bobs are quirky. It’s like seeing a tiny dog walk down the street in a pirate costume swinging a sword. Seems a little odd, but funny and adorable at the same time.
Are you picking up what I’m putting down?
Most of what I have sitting around my home is just plain cute. Like in the photo above. That small lamp made from a vintage sugar bowl is precious. Or using an antique canister to hold a plant. We can call it elevated, charming, or a great idea, but what is the decorating style?
Can using a tarnished silver plated casserole lid or a candle in a bottle be called Cottage? Not really. Can it be called Grandma Chic? Nope.
I enjoy mixing old things with new. And though some pieces are timeless mixed with rusty or chippy ones, you can’t call it Modern Farmhouse or Classic or Shabby Chic.
So what would you call it?
Would you call it classic? That doesn’t feel like me. Modern? That’s laughable. Maximalist? That’s closer because I’ve added quite a bit more to our home since last summer. Maximalism seems cozy but it overwhelms me with a feeling of disorder which is how I know that’s not me. Yet.
There are many decorating styles to name but none of them fit me. Not Rustic, or Transitional or Coastal or Minimalist.
Why? Because typically, around 70% of the space should have a dominant style. The remaining 30% is used for contrast, textures, or accents that add personality and visual interest.
I feel I have the visual interest, the personality and a bit of contrast, but what is the 70% called? A while back I called myself a Middlist. I even gave examples (you can see that post here). That still fits, although it’s not a decorating style people acknowledge as a true style.
So their loss is my loss!
I feel like I’m floundering here. Like I mentioned earlier, people ask me all the time what my style is and I don’t have a clear answer. And even though I called this post – things that make my house feel like me, that’s not a style. So what would you call it? It’s driving me bananas!
Thanks for helping a sister out. It’s a dilemma I’d like to move on from. 🙂
Wow, you hit it on the head. After blogging for like 13 years. It seems like who would want to look at my ‘non’ style anymore. You hit it on the head though…live with what you LOVE…grins. Sure do LOVE that lampshade…what a great idea. Hugs, Sandi
Author
I put the question What’s My Style Called out on Instagram along with about 5 photos. Most people said cottage. I’m not so sure about that. One person called it Whimsical Cottage. I hadn’t heard that one before but I like it! The lampshade was super easy. All I did was use double sided tape so it could be easily changed. Thanks for the visit Sandra!
I truly love your style. You have a great personality and sense of humor, and it’s reflected in your decorating choices. But you also love all the timeless, vintage pieces. I’d call it “Collected quirk”.
Author
I literally laughed out loud at your description of my “style”. It’s perfect! I had someone on IG say Whimsical Cottage and liked it too. I do love to laugh. Thanks so much sweet friend.
I get happy each time I open up your page. What a delight you are to me becuz of the way you express yourself in your home. It is not by perfection, but by what you like. I love it. Kind of my style also. I piddle in my home, move things around, stand back to look, and then smile and enjoy the items that remind me of my life and the lives of those who came before me. Thank you for your charming inspiration 🎼♥️
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Belinda, thank you so much. You made my month! I know some people think my stuff is “different” but I love each piece. I stopped shopping at big box stores (mostly) a long time ago and enjoy the decorating process so much more now. Cheers to both of us for doing what we want and not getting stuck in the trends.
I love your different vignettes with so many details. The display on the coffee table is beautiful.
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Aww, thank you so much Susan. I truly appreciate that. Vignettes are so fun. Sometimes it takes a couple or three tries but by the end I’m smiling. So glad you visited and commented today. 🙂
I’d call your decorating style-Humorous cause it makes me smile!!!
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Your comment made ME smile. I love to smile and laugh and laugh some more. Thank you so much! I like that description. 🙂
Your home is beautiful! Love your style!
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That is so sweet of you to say Helen. From the bottom of my heart, thank you!
Cindy
I’d call it county Road 407 style. It’s your brand and it uniquely you. Love your humor and great posts.
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Oh my goodness Rachel, I’ve never thought of that! You always have the best perspectives. Thank you so much.
In reality none of the styles they call now are nothing like they were ten years ago because they change all the time. I’ve seen real farmhouses and cottages thet look nothing like what they say are now. So styles mean nothing to me and your style is Cozy Chic, lol! I love it so please don’t label it or change.
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How do you always know the right thing to say?! Thank you. I honestly thought labeling it would help when someone asked me about it but I guess I need to be happy with it and continue doing what I want. Love Cozy Chic! My kids would laugh out loud at the word chic. The other day they walked in and said hmmm, you are changing your style. And I don’t think it was a compliment (insert rolling eyes). Nor do I think I’m changing. 😉
Whatever it is, I love it. Thank you for sharing. I have things from the 40’s when I was young until today. Some call in junk but I just call it all mine. Keep posting. I always watch for you posts.
God bless.
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From the 40’s?! That’s amazing! Would love to see those. I have a hard time finding nice antiques around me. Maybe I should say – around me that I can afford or justify the purchase because the house is getting full. :0 Thank you Jan for commenting! It made me smile.
Okay, Cindy, I read this post and loved it…And I am sticking to my guns and calling it CINDY”S STYLE!!! You are like me and have a bit of every type of style in your home…It used to be called Eclectic ( I am older than you) but I have no idea if that is a term is now used… I call my style Victorian Country ( again, a term not used anymore even though I have magazines by that title to prove it existed) with a touch of Romantic Country ( again, more magazines with that title) with some Cottage, Grandma Chic ( now that I am finally a Grandmother , Mimi is my name ). In other words, my style is Debbie’s Style….You have to do you and I need to do me and if we all did that and did not force ourselves into a label or title, things would be so much more interesting in this world, don’t you think??? Loved this post and I love your home!!! Thanks for sharing!!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
Author
I agree! We should all do US and things would be so much more interesting. Thank you Debbie for the encouragement. I greatly appreciate you.
Debbie is on point. Back in the day, my style was termed “eclectic”…said with a touch of “side eye”, lol! Why? Because my style didn’t fit into any of the neat little descriptive boxes that people liked to use. In the movie Dirty Dancing, Patric Swayze uttered the legendary line “Nobody puts Baby in the corner”. Well, “Nobody puts Kim in a box!” is my motto. Why do I need to have a label attached to my decorating style? I doubt that anyone could recreate my style if they tried hard…and most people probably wouldn’t want to. Not because it’s a bad style or visually unpleasant but rather because it’s so very personal to me, my tastes, my history and an accumulation of things gathered from so many different places, people and eras. My style could probably carry the label “things Kim loves that make her happy and content in the home that is her sanctuary” but that’s kind of long and unwieldy so I just call it “my style” and laugh. Your home is lovely and oh so very inimitable. Not to say that I haven’t garnered ideas from your home but once they’ve percolated and filtered through my brain and hands, they become similar but still uniquely me. Your ideas become a springboard for my creativity…and I’m very grateful for that! As to labels, be it decorating styles or fashion styles, I often wonder about our obsessive need to put everything into neat little descriptive boxes. You do you and I’ll do me and everyone would be happier! Love your blog and your home! Oh, need a descriptor? “Cindy’s Home”
Author
I love that line – No one puts Kim in a box! I totally agree with everything you said and have wondered myself why I feel I need a label when I’m a person who hates labels! As a blogger with a decorating obsession, I get asked a lot and cannot describe it without sounding like a bumbling misfit. I’ll try Cindy’s Home or Cindy’s Style and see what comes about. Thank you for the fantastic comment and I’m excited you find inspiration. You made my week and it’s only Monday! 😉
Kim,
I loved your comment!! I think I have watched Dirty Dancing at least several hundred times and that is my favorite quote!! I love yours about the box!! I may have to borrow that if I may???? I definitely think that if we all just decorated our homes with what makes us happy, it would be far more interesting than all the cookie cutter houses out there… I hope you have a great weekend !!
Hugs,
Deb
Debbie-Dabble Blog
I actually love your style, and honestly I steal some of your ideas to use in my displays at a thrift store. I volunteer at a Christian outreach thrift store that supports a food pantry and we help with electric bills, medication etc…, so every penny counts and your idea of the top of a silver serving bowl is inspiration….cause we get a lot of silver donated….but the displays give customers an idea how to use it…so thank you….
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I love it Marianne! I also get to volunteer at our local Christian outreach grocery store. I think I’d like to move to the thrift store sometime. Sounds like fun and I bet with your merchandising that sales are up! Thank you for sharing that. It gives me an idea for a blog post! Maybe – vignettes with thrift store finds? And thank you too for encouraging me today. I am grinning from ear to ear.
Your style is you and it’s perfect! It’s fun, bright, lovely, unique…on and on I could go. It’s CR styled!
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Perfect?! Wow, that’s quite the compliment! Thank you sweet friend.
I love your style! It’s homey, cozy and beautiful! I love that so much of it is one of a kind because it’s your own creation!
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Oh Amanda, thank you! I never thought of it that way!
I love your style (whatever you want to call it) because it is fun and full of personality! I too enjoy items that always put a smile on my face (I have a soap with “WASH AWAY YOUR SINS” on the label along with numerous other fun items) and my friends think I must be weird but that’s OK. I am!
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LOL Gabi! Your soap sounds like something I’d have and love! We can be in Club Weird together. I think it’s pretty cool. 😉 Thanks for stopping by and for the great compliment.
Well it is a very charming style. I can see some simple, traditional roots forming the base or background, this allows the creativity of your finds to shine. I suppose “Found” could be a style. I like that also because it alludes to having been found and loved by Jesus 🥰 But the word that really came to my mind as I read and studied your photos is alchemy. the definition “a power or process that changes or transforms something in a mysterious or impressive way” I’m not sure others would actually understand Alchemy as a style but they one might say you are an alchemist. I certainly glean ideas from you on the creative, quirky, fun ways you use or reinvent things. I have always struggled to know what to call my decorating style too so I get it.
Author
Oh my, I’ve never thought myself an Alchemist. And you are right, I’m not sure others would understand that but I can see it. I love FOUND. Especially since I am a child of the King! You’ve been a great help in trying to decide what to call my style. Thank you! Hope you enjoy your weekend. Happy Sunday!
Your style is “pure Cindy” and I admire it and love it so much! There is always so much to see! I wish I had your eye and could see the possibilities that exist when decorating! It’s a gift!
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Oh my goodness Laura, thank you. What a sweet compliment! My gift is from the Lord for sure. Took me a while to recognize it. I enjoy making the world around me a prettier place. I even moved the chairs and side tables around last week at my mom’s doctors office. Girl, they needed help. 🙂
Cindy..I have absolutely no idea what to call your style..but what ever it is..I’m in love with it. You don’t follow trends ..Thank you for that..nor do I. Perfect placement of your treasures. We have similar tastes, I seem to pick up my vintage treasures as if I’m saving them…. But not cluttered or over done…I have labeled my style as that Goldilocks School of Design and yours too…Not too little and not too much by just right❤️❤️.
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Oh my golly – I love that! I love the Goldilocks S of D and that you are “saving” your treasures! I will forever remember that. Thank you Kathi.
p.s. Us girls that do what we want need to stick together. 😉