Finding your design style that is unique to you can feel overwhelming. It doesn’t come naturally for everyone.
How do I know what I love?
What if the things I love don’t go together?
How do I even know what type of style feels like me?
These are the questions I was always asking myself before I identified my own style that I truly love.
But how did I figure that out?
How I Found My Design Style Through Following the Right Bloggers and Youtubers For Me
Have you ever seen the movie Catch Me If You Can? If not, do it!
There is a great quote in the movie that has always stuck with me. ( of course now that I reference it, I can’t find the exact quote!) Tom Hanks explains that federal agents learn to detect counterfeit money, not by studying the counterfeits, but by studying and becoming masters of the genuine article.
One of my favorite influencers has said a similar thing. She advises that you spend time studying high end homes and home decor, even if you can’t afford it. This will train your eye. Then when you are out thrifting and antiquing you can easily spot a high quality piece for less. Or what has the qualities and appearance of a high end piece.
I find these principles to be true in finding your design style as well. Study a finished and curated style, even if it’s not exactly you, and it will train your eye to recognize how curated style works.
Find bloggers and youtubers who’s style you adore and feel instantly drawn to. Home decor focused influencers have already cultivated and curated their style to an extent. They have essentially done some of the grunt work for you of piecing a style together, and you can glean from studying their finished product.
Watch their videos. Study their home. Identify what pieces they have that speak to you the most. Does what make them excited in design make you excited too?
Paying attention to these things will not only help you cultivate your own style, but it will keep you inspired as you continue to design your home.
You’re studying their style as a whole, as opposed to what I had always done prior. Which was walking through target and deciding if I liked this piece or that piece. Then bringing it home and hoping it all flowed together.
I talk in more strategic detail about finding your design style here.
Why I Love Bloggers and Youtubers for Finding Your Design Style Inspiration
I loved finding my design style with the individual blogger or youtuber because each offer such a unique approach. I also love that it’s not marketing, they are truly sharing what they love. Many bloggers and youtubers, at least the ones that I follow (scroll down to see the list of my personal favorites), are not tied to a big brand for home decor. They are piecing together their look from all over. It’s more organic
They are real people who are not living a life of fame or extravagance, and I can relate to that.
These bloggers all come from different demographics, levels of financial commitment to home design, and varied levels of DIY and thrifting versus buying brand new in their decorating.
These differences create completely unique looks and you can pick and choose who you relate to the most.
For example, I would not invest much time in choosing to follow someone who gets most of their decor brand new from Pottery Barn because that is simply not in my budget whatsoever.
But I can choose to follow skilled thrifters who have champagne taste on a beer budget if you will. That fits my life. That will not cultivate jealousy in me for what I cannot financially attain, but rather it inspires me to be creative with my resources.
Finding influencers who inspire you, rather than cause discontent in you, is key to enjoying the process and finding your design style. It will also help you glean joy form social media rather than a feeling of overwhelm.
Checklist for Finding Home Decor Bloggers and Youtubers That Are Right for Your Design Style
I’ve learned the hard way that I need to be really careful about who I’m letting influence me. Social media can be a gift or a curse, right?
But we are in control here, so let’s make informed and intentional choices about what voices we let into our hearts.
If I’m following a bunch of people living an affluent life, buying what they want when they want, taking extravagant trips, with entirely different priorities than my life, that is likely to plant seeds of discontentment in me. I’ve experienced that and it’s not fun.
However, Instagram and youtube can be an experience that brings a lot of joy and genuine inspiration when your feed is full of influencers who are encouraging, have homes that make you happy, are about serving their followers and not themselves. It helps if they might also be living a similar type of life as you with similar priorities.
For me these are things such as family, faith, cooking meals at home, and creating a beautiful space so that the home is a place of rest.
These are in the influencers you want in your life and feed.
Here is a checklist to help you find that wonderful type of home decor influencer:
- First and foremost, do you enjoy them as a person?
- Are their priorities in life similar to yours?
- Is this someone who’s home and style makes your heart feel happy and at rest.
- Are you finding yourself continually drawn to their style over time?
- Is their home and style actually attainable and affordable for you?
- Are they about serving their followers?
- Are they openly not about perfection in their home?
- Does their budget generally align with your financial capabilities?
My List of Favorite Home Decor Bloggers and Youtubers Who Helped Me Find My Own Design Style
Lisa from the blog and youtube channel Farmhouse on Boone
I had to list Lisa first because finding her on youtube was my fist real experience with finding someone I truly wanted to follow. I have followed her for over 4 years now and have never faltered from being excited to see her next video or blog post!
Lisa lives a simple farmhouse type of life. Ever since I was a girl it has been my dream to live a simple farm type of lifestyle like I watched my grandparents have. It’s what has always made me the most happy.
Along the way of growing up I got distracted by thinking I wanted a suburbia life like my friends around me, but finding Lisa’s channel brought me back to my roots. My heart’s real desire.
Watching her channel made me feel happy, content, and comforted. She shows you how to live that slow and simple farm life, and early in her youtube/blog career she shows you how to live that life in town.
Now they live on the homestead of my dreams and watching her channel helps keep me motivated to save for our future home we hope to have in the country someday.
I’m truly grateful to have found her! Watching her helped me solidify my true desires for my life’s direction my true design style, and even lead me down this path of blogging. I have taken her blogging course Create your Blog Dream, and I cannot recommend it enough for the beginner blogger! She also offers a free blogging master class that you can register for here.
Find Lisa here:
Blog: https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/farmhouseonboone
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/farmhouseonboone/
Podcast: https://www.farmhouseonboone.com/podcast
Andrea from the blog and youtube channel Pine and Prospect Home
To start, Andrea is just one of the sweetest, genuine, and most thoughtful people you could ever meet. I’m extremely blessed to now call her a dear friend, so I know of which I speak.
Andrea has created her beautiful home on a very small budget over time. She is so talented at taking garage sale and thrift store finds and incorporating them into her gorgeous spaces. She has a beautiful english cottage style that I found extremely unique upon discovering her. Andrea’s style was also my gateway into developing an appreciation for antiques and old world european style.
Watching Andrea was definitely the beginning of me feeling inspired to find more of my home decor second hand, yet confident I could maintain an upscale look.
I also find her love for rustic antiques so inspiring! Her love for them has grown that love in me as well. I have certainty learned from her trained eye what types of pieces to bring home.
She keeps it extremely fresh, fairly minimal, and everything she does is incredibly budget friendly. She is a wonderful teacher of her style and offers many creative upcycle DIY’s for thrift store finds. Her blog and youtube channel are full budget ideas for creating an english cottage style home. Her vision for beauty just blows my mind at times!
Andrea is absolutely an encouraging, attainable, and budget friendly follow.
Find Andrea Here:
Blog: https://www.pineandprospecthome.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCeOw9B1RzeFGIiig1BaQVOg
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pineandprospecthome/
Sarah from the blog and youtube channel She Holds Dearly
Sarah is a unique follow in that she is actually a professional interior designer! She’s an absolute wealth of knowledge and a wonderful teacher. I have learned so much about home design by watching her channel.
Sarah has the most classic and gorgeous vintage style. I’m always drawn to her design ideas and I wish I could slowly stroll through her home in person and take it all in.
She is a vintage decorator and incorporates many thrifted and antique items in her home. She too is brilliant at creatively upscycling her second hand finds to create beautiful pieces.
If you follow her on Instagram she offers a tip of the day most days and they are pure gold!
Her youtube channel offers so many learning opportunities in design and of course, loads of inspiration.
Right now she even has a very affordable 3 day mini course called Pintrest Like an Interior Designer that runs September 27th – 29th. It’s all about finding your design style in any space and it’s only $10! I’ll be there and I hope to see you too!
I love watching her not only because of her endless creative inspiration, but her personality is so genuine and relatable! Sarah is such a valuable and fun follow!
Find Sarah Here:
Blog: https://sheholdsdearly.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0OelPmT036uwGysxx51xjQ
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheholdsdearly/
Deb from the blog Seeking Lavender Lane
Finding Deb is where I began to enter into the world of old world european farmhouse style.
Deb has curated such a gorgeous and captivating style. She expertly mixes her stunning antique finds with modern elements for a completely fresh, yet warm and inviting feel.
Her style introduced me to a love for moody tones, and I’m eternally grateful. She incorporates a lot of moody artwork, antique pieces, and I will never forget being so inspired by the green velvet drapes in her living room.
When I think of her style I think old world chic. It’s filled with imperfect antique pieces, but polished with her gorgeous modern touches.
Her home is such an inspiration because it was a renovation project in which they also added on their kitchen, and the results of her creative vision is stunning.
Following Deb on instagram is the most fun because she is genuine and interactive. She really keeps her followers in the loop and you feel you are really part of her world.
I have been blessed to be personally encouraged by her over and over and again in my journey. She is so about others, so kind, and a very encouraging and inspiring follow.
Find Deb Here:
Blog: https://seekinglavenderlane.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seekinglavenderlane/
Angela from the blog and youtube channel Parisienne Farmgirl
Angela is where I fully enter old world european style and embrace it with all it’s crusty, rustic, cottagey goodness. Angels is also the editor of her own magazine publication and private design group called the Old World Design Society. She has created a vibrant community of old soul antique lovers!
Angela is a true artist, and I think that may be what I appreciate most about following her. She is always looking for the beauty around her and that simply stirs my heart. Her content is therefor so very encouraging, uplifting, and peaceful.
She is such a genuine person. When I first discovered her channel I watched her Everyday Chateau series on youtube. She documents her family living in and transforming a 1980’s home into in old world beauty. You see very real family moments surrounding their DIY projects and it’s very encouraging for this mama of 5 boys to see how the process can be beautiful, but a little bumpy along the way.
Angela is also an incredibly talented gardener and homesteader! Her european style gardens are beyond dreamy.
She is a campion of the homemaker and is a co-host of my favorite podcast ever Homemaker Chic.This show transformed my homemaking and was all of the validation I didn’t know I needed being a stay at home mother and homemaker in our modern world.
Angela will absolutely inspire you with her passion for old world beauty, give you moments of peace with her gorgeous videography, and encouraging you as a mom and homemaker.
Find Angela Here:
Blog: https://www.parisiennefarmgirl.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/ParisienneFarmgirl/videos
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parisiennefarmgirl/
Shaye from the bog and youtube channel The Elliot Homestead
Shaye is just the coolest! Her style is incredibly unique, warm, saturated, and inviting. Being drawn to her style taught me that I love more than just neutrals with texture. Her bold color choices are completely cozy, classic, and even soft which surprised me.
Watching Shaye has encouraged me to move forward with color in my own home and I’m so glad I have welcomed color into my life!
Her personable and casual personality is so relatable and charming. I so appreciate her honesty about life.
Shaye is an artist as well and her art is mostly expressed through photography. She recently came out with an entire line of original still life prints that are absolutely stunning. I encourage you to check them out and see if they fit into the aesthetic of your home.
Her photography is a constant source of inspiration for me.
She too is a co-host of the Homemaker Chic podcast. She strives daily skill up her homemaking skills and she is a great source of encouragement for the homemaker as she does the same thing right alongside of you.
Shaye is also a skilled gardener and homesteader. Her outdoor spaces are simply incredible. She beautifies both the inside and outside of her home and it’s a true gift that she shares her visions with us.
I would describe her style as eclectic english cottage. Vintage items are found throughout the entire home, almost as if she is turning back time when you step through her front door.
Following Shaye never ceases to inspire my creative soul.
Find Shaye Here:
Blog: https://theelliotthomestead.com/blog/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCgUsMN5zOxCIU1L6MFNnh6w
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shayeelliott/
Will You Use Influencers to Help You in Finding Your Design Style?
I hope so! The most fun part of all of this is the community you find within these influencers followings. You are all there because you like their style, and you therefor are going to mostly fall into the same style niche.
I don’t have a lot of friends in my immediate community who love thrifting and antiquing like I do, so it’s been a joy to find other old souls through online communities. I now have others who share in my joy and excitement over a good find!
It is my hope that you could discover this kind of community along the way to finding your design style as well! It’s the best feeling to have company in your enthusiasm!
Who are some of your favorite home decor influencers?
I would love to hear about them in the comments below! I’m always looking for more inspiration!
Until then, have a lovely day my friend!
PIN FOR LATER
@lovinggracehome
