Thank you for watching! How do YOU go about discovering your personal interior style? Where do you find inspiration? How do you make your space feel like YOU?
I get a lot of inspo from fashion, since there seems to be a lot of crossover between fashion and home decor. I recently got inspired by Anna Sui and her dark rock-and-roll-meets-boho (but also a little Victorian?) style and now I wanna decorate with all things black and ornate!
Turn on Sarah McLachlan and follow that with 90s grunge or electro swing, or some Celtic music, watch You which gets Me thinking, or a hot long shower in the dark, then go for a walk, hit up antique stores, have comfort food and then play jump by van Halen and then go to it. I studied therapy and psychology so going to therapy is good for sure. I agree with you too. Fixing You first makes a difference. Although I'd say Do both in increments.
I will say, after I lost everything in an apartment fire (not caused by me so it felt so much harder) I was in a rough spot. My place which previously was decorated with antiques, vintage and steampunk-esque decor, in my grief gave way to stark white and grey minimalistic modern decor. That was 5 years ago and while I still grieve for things I had that had been passed down through the family, I find myself in a new era. Where there is color again. My bed area is still gray and white and black as money is a factor, but my living area is plum and forest green and rust and warm wood tones again. It’s a different style but I still incorporate vintage or vintage inspired items and I finally feel ready to let that stark, simple, grief stricken style go. Sometimes you need a reset period where your home is calming and safe and clean feeling until you heal enough to be inspired again. And that’s ok too. 😊
Ooohhh that sounds gorgeous🎉 love your color palette energy..please share more about color choices please (this inquiring mind is dying to know names of colors/paint chips?
I'm so sorry. I went through the same thing in 2021. not good. I'm so sorry for your losses there. It took me until just recently to even call my new place home. Looks like Steffi, You and I are all same boating it. Good luck to Us all in future endeavors and let Us all find our new sweet spot.
In reference to getting your head straight before getting your home straight, I totally agree. Your home reflects you so if you are in a dark place or in chaos, it shows in your apartment or home. Perfect examples are hoarders or shopaholics. I have seen the difference from my dark period decor and today's. I think my decor reflects me perfectly and we are always evolving. Therapy does help. It helps to understand ourselves and what we need to work on.
one thing that helped me a ton was buying 1 thing... like a pillow or rug with a specific pattern/color scheme that I liked, and designing around that. I often found it overwhelming doing it the other way around... and finding the perfect pillow/rug for the already designed space... to the point where I would just never buy anything, or just go really simple because I didn't know what would go. This gave me something to work from, and it helped me pin point the vibes I was going with.
I came upon your video this morning and feel in love with it immediately. But I’m going back to when you move into your new apartment and Binge watched them to catch up. 🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾🙏🏾❤️❤️❤️
I love sunflowers so I have quite a few paintings, pillows fake flowers everywhere. I also love mid century modern decor. Because it looks so sleek and stylish. I’m still experimenting with accessory’s until I can get the balance right. But I liked what you had said in a previous video about repetition. It really does bring things together. Also I read about Feng Shui and the energy of a space. They say to pair things in twos, fours, etc because being in 3’s doesn’t work and you need things in twos if you want a partner and to keep a partner. Just thought I’d throw that in there. Wishing you the best and your space is just beautiful. 😼😊 love your kitty, what a sweetie.
i agree with your method of "getting the space tolerable then focusing on getting my head right before getting the space just right"! that just seems to work for me. i cant be fussed with big, expensive, or hard to undo decisions while im not in a good headspace. your space is looking so great + that's amazing you're getting back into therapy. one step, one day at a time you got this you're doing great even when you're not feeling great. super excited to tag along for your style rediscovering journey!
This video was incredible. I completely agree about getting your head straight. That aspect is so overlooked in everything we do. Everything looks great thus far and definitely take time to really understand your personal journey. I agree I’m in my early 50’s and I’m not sure if my head has ever been “straight” I need to try therapy again. Cheers.
I definitely agree w your 4th point! I didn’t even know my personal style until I took the time to remove toxic aspects in my life, let myself heal mentally/emotionally & learn how to enjoy living again.
I also like the moody style of decor. I have looked on the internet for inspiration before and your studio was spot on! I saw it on Apartment Therapy. I live in Long Beach ,CA but love the cold. So I knew I wanted to have art that was winter inspired I guess lol It helps me in the summer to visualize that it will be cool again and it calms me. I also have mid-century lamps as well as my favorite rustic lantern lamp. I love it. I also have a Japanese style platform bed because I do like the minimalistic look. My apartment is a lot of dark colors because I feel it soothes me. I have been inspired by the orange colors you add to your apartment. I am so glad you're going to therapy btw and finding who you are in 2023! Loved your video.
Such a great video. I'm glad to see you're taking care of yourself. I've been going through something similar, and I found that therapy has helped a ton. And I love the direction that you're taking your apartment in style wise. Can't wait for your next video to see how you start decorating it.
Steffi, I hate that you've been going through a special kind of hell...chaos. but out of winter comes spring and i live the "i want to paint it black"🎶🌌🎶 take charge of the lemon life offered, making it into a teacher about self, and then sharing your journey, because my own journey has offered more lemons than a pedge wood spray polish factory for a decade of "winter" in my life. I found you while looking for inspiration that spoke to me, like a bread crumb trail back home to my newest incarnation of self at this stage of my life. You have helped far more than you can ever know. Thank you for following your passion that we may (re)learn our own.
I'm TOTALLY with you on the chicken and egg thing. It is most definitely, in my opinion, also, the internal job before the external. The room is looking beautiful! If you ever sell that rug, I'd be a happy buyer!
I'm in the camp of get your home 90% straight so that you can begin to feel grounded and settled. Security and peace then follow which directly impact well-being and mental health. Life will have ups and downs, crises and chaos but your home will be your safe haven. Heartache takes longer and doesn't have a manual. You have carried the golden mustard colour over several years and so it's a vital element of your colour palette. I perceive your style as eclectic with a Goth/ dark academia edge.
Hello Steffi and Helo, I'm so happy to see your video. This was great, I wish you the very best in your healing. Thank you for sharing. I appreciate you 🌺
Is like we are living the same reality, I’m in the same situation in life 🥲 You inspired me to make a more Me apartment. Thank you ☺️ . Ps: love the dave ghrol meme 🙌🏼🖤🤘🏼
Loved the video. Industrial, vintage and witchy forest is all im feeling the last years and my house reflects that. As you said i went there from loving conventional colorful moden decor when i was a young adult. Its such a drastic difference but im a different person after all these years. I cant wait to see where will you go with decoration when time passes 😊
You raise a good point. The COVID shut down wasn't kind to us. My husband and I made the best of it. I hated being shut in and my husband was used to going to work. We realized there was some good. The earth was starting to heal from our greenhouse gases, my husband and I had dinner together. This sounds lame but we never had dinner together before. It allowed us to have a conversation with each other, If we needed personal space I read a book in the bedroom and he watched T.V in the living room, Putting a mask on when I went out was the horrible part. This year is a great year to get our heads on straight.😊
Maybe getting your house straight is part of the process of getting your head straight? And getting your head straight helps get your house even straighter? lol like they build on each other, back and forth, until they are both on straight and snug
I have a new apt! And move in this month. However, it is white and my style is very eclectic and dark wood based...and it has carpet...I do not care for carpet. That being said I will be using tricks like your mural...to bring some dark academia mixed with industrial to this very modern apt. Thank you for all of the inspiration and heartfelt visions. Truly.
Wonderful video. I like the get your head straight idea. I know I have used retail therapy to fill what's missing. It didn't do it and I'm stuck with some piece décor that in the light of day wasn't me at all. Then, that's what charity shops are for.😉
I'm waiting to move out of my shoebox place I hate that I had to dump myself in when my decade-long relationship ended. I am spending the year and some months I have here exploring my interests outside of my living space and finding what I'm into, like you I'm trying to find myself again, but I am foaming at the mouth to move and saving so many inspo things and buying art I love in anticipation. I'm thinking like, broody, dark, vampy Rococo/Victorian mix with a bit of a nerdy flare. I move in March, so close I can taste it, yet so far!!
I just discovered your channel. I’m much older than you, in my 60s, so I’m in a totally different phase of life, but I was thinking about “my style”, and I still don’t know what it is. I suppose eclectic. There is no particular style I dislike, but looking at things I’ve amassed over the years, I like chinoiserie and Chinese chippendale (but not too formal), and old books, vintage silver and crystal and china, but also a touch of modernism in leather seating, and marble or stone surfaces whether new or old. I suppose I like certain things simply because I like them. I’ve never been able to focus on a particular style, and I think my house is a mish mash, but people have said they like my home, my things, that they feel comfortable. I like your dark, moody aesthetic. I think, if you keep simply acquiring things that you love - which takes time - you will find that your very unique essence will emerge on its own. At my age, I have too much stuff and I need to downsize a bit for my own peace of mind, and moving house necessitates that anyway. But the things I’ve held on to dearly over the years, whether a chest or a painting or rug, always find a place in my new home. Whatever the style or aesthetic of decor or furniture you are enamored of, if you acquire that which you really love and emotionally connect with, no matter fashion and trends, and, even if it’s expensive and you have to save up and wait for the purchase, you will love it and it will always have a place in your home. Just a few rambling thoughts. I realize this video is almost a year old. I hope you are feeling better than you were. Those were a rough few years on all of us. There is much yet to be answered for. I hope we can all keep our sense of wonder alive, though. It’s still a world of much beauty, and you have much to add to it. 🙂
It's a very good start! The sofa set is sumptuous by the way. I'm not sure if it was a conscious decision but all looks very angular aside from that perfect lamp. I think the nice curves of an acoustic guitar would compliment the space and they are fun to tinker with even if you don't play. Don't forget about those generic switch plates they can be turned into small points of expression and besides that they must be eliminated! 🙃 (I am totally with you on the COVID it basically destroyed my life in so many ways.)
Hi wow I love the colour of your couch! Enjoyed this video ..I believe it's your head space first then your home I went through a tough time a while ago it's a clear head first. (Head straight) thanks enjoyed this video 💛😊🌻
I hope your console table will have height maybe like a hutch or complimentary high shelves and maybe something reflective like a bit of antique mirror or mercury glass. Almost like cabinet of curiosities for your witchy bottle/plants and candle storage maybe extra storage for things brought out for dinner guests or journals. And "alter" space for casting all your good intent into the universe type thing ok, ok maybe just where the booze and cocktail glasses are stored but I know you will rock it
Ohhh an antique secretary with drop down desk for laptop/dinner table...? Something with a Gothic spooky vibe? Or piece together your own rustic industrial style with component pieces...? Just tossing out random thoughts, I know you will slay it whatever you choose
I have spent years struggling to find my style of decorating. I knew what I wanted, but just didn't know how to do it. I took an interior decorating class and this might help you. Get a piece of paper and answer these questions truthfully -- 1.What are your favorite colors? 2.What are your least favorite colors? 3. What are your interests and hobbies? 4. What are your favorite style of furniture (rustic, Colonial, French Provincial, antiques, metal, vintage, etc.)? 5. What is your style of decor (Colonial, Cape Cod (nautical), French, Art Deco, Dark Academia, sports, etc) 6. What do you like to collect? 7. What are your favorite past times? Now this is your outline to help you get started. After years and watching Harry Potter movies, I discovered my style is called Dark Academia which fits me to a tee. Dark or Light Academia is showing an interest in the arts, literature, science and vintage or antique furniture. Examples are Harry Potter, libraries, English Gentleman's studies, Sherlock Holmes, college professor's office and museums. I am drawn into the "warm colors" or fall colors which are the dark greens, dark reds, browns, rust, darker golds and darker blues. Just heard this year that it was called Dark Academia. It has been a long search for me to discover this style. I was on the right path, but now I am finally happy with my apartment. I finally figured out the right balance. I think it goes back to getting your head straight. My head is at a good place and that is showing in my place.
I like moody...meaning rich colors, intense colors and textures. BUT not dark! Which could be related to the Dark side of things. Not appealing...at all.
So for the longest time I had everything colourful, saturated boho & it was very lively & energetic. But what I need from my space has changed over the last few years. It's now much darker, rustic, over grown witch's cottage in the woods. Because I need my space to be calm & soothing right now. And I've noticed that darker elements- both colour & themes are VERY soothing to me...
