🔓Feeling Stuck on Style? Let's Unlock Your Home Renovation Style

Years of flipping through magazines, tearing out pages, and pasting them into notebooks—this is where my renovation style really started to take shape.

You Don’t Need to Be a Designer to Make Great Design Decisions

Let’s be real: choosing a style for your renovation can feel like scrolling through an endless mood board of other people’s houses. Pinterest. HGTV. Instagram. It's a lot. You know what you don’t want—but you're not exactly sure what you do want. Here’s a secret: I didn’t just “know” what I wanted when it came time for my own kitchen renovation. Last year, Jared (my fiancé) and I finished a major kitchen remodel in our home. People always say, “You make decisions so quickly and confidently!” But truthfully, it’s not about speed—it’s about preparation.

I’ve been saving ideas in notebooks and creating mood boards for years. I revisit them regularly for a bunch of different reasons, but for my kitchen in particular I wanted to see if I still like what I once did, or if those ideas were just passing trends. Over time, you start to notice patterns—colors you’re consistently drawn to, shapes that feel familiar, or layouts that just make sense. That practice helped me trust what felt right, because I could see those preferences emerging clearly through repetition.

I was limited to a 30" cabinet, which narrowed my sink options to just two—but a farmhouse sink was non-negotiable for me.

I also looked closely at our actual home. Built in 1982, it had only ever had one owner before us, and everything was original to the home when we moved in. We have 3.5 acres that are mostly woods, with towering trees that surround our home. There are lots of materials and textures in the house that are immovable—and honestly, part of its soul. Think flagstone paver floors, original oak trim & hardwood floors, and a couple of stone fireplaces (I could write an entire post just on these—but I’ll save that for a different time). I didn’t want to fight any of it. I wanted our new kitchen to feel like it had always belonged. That idea—designing with your home, not against it—is something many people overlook. We focus on what we hate about a space instead of using those elements as a design starting point.

Practicality played a huge role too. We have a 9-year-old daughter who has friends over almost every weekend, and three dogs, so we’re constantly tracking in dirt, fur, crumbs, you name it. That narrowed our flooring options fast—we needed something durable, easy to clean, and in a tone that wouldn’t show every paw print. Real life constraints help narrow down the search and make it easier to make decisions and help you feel less overwhelmed.

If your walls are yellow and repainting isn’t something you'll get to for a while, don’t treat them like a problem to fix later—treat them like an opportunity. Look at what’s there and consider how it might guide the rest of the space. Instead of fighting the color, flow with it. I actually see this kind of challenge as a creative prompt. Working around something you wouldn’t typically choose can sometimes lead to even better results. This is one of those subtle mindset shifts that can change everything. When you use what’s already in the space as a design anchor, it not only makes your renovation feel more cohesive, it also makes decisions easier and more enjoyable. Choose colors and textures that make the yellow feel intentional, softened, or even enhanced. Often, the house is already offering direction—we just have to notice it.

The goal was a kitchen that felt like it had always belonged here—so we leaned into an earthy palette that nods to the home’s original textures.

✨Start With How You Live

Before you dive into color palettes or tile samples, think about how you actually use the space. Do you entertain on weekends? Cook every night? Need places to stash backpacks and laptops? Do you want things to feel airy and bright or cozy and grounded?

Your lifestyle is a practical lens that can cut through all the Pinterest noise.

✨Notice the Patterns in Your Home Renovation Style

If you’ve got 400 pins and no idea what to do with them, try zooming out. What shows up over and over again? Maybe it’s raw wood. Maybe it’s dramatic black accents. Clean lines. Natural light. You don’t need to name your style—you just need to notice your pull.

Even if you don’t think you have a “look,” chances are, you do.

✨Perfection Isn’t the Goal

There is no single “right” style. There’s only what works for you and your family. A successful renovation doesn’t mimic someone else’s aesthetic. It reflects how you live, what you care about, and what feels good to walk into every day.

That might mean honoring the quirks of your house. It might mean changing less than you expected. Or more. The point is: your home should evolve with you—not just impress guests or live up to what an algorithm thinks your space should look like.

✨Choose What Lasts

Some trends fade fast. Others feel fresh for years. If you’re unsure, focus on materials and forms that have stood the test of time. Natural stone. Real wood. Clean, repeatable lines. Choose colors that feel like you—not just what’s on your feed this week.

Design should age well—because it lives with you.

Noticing what I kept saving over and over again—soft greens, wood tones, layered textures—helped me understand my style before I ever named it.

Final Thoughts

Your home renovation style journey starts now! Remember- you don’t have to label your style. You don’t have to know everything before you start. And you don’t have to change everything to make your home feel better.

1. Begin with what your home is already offering you.

2. Start a mood board. Build on the colors, materials, and quirks that still feel like you after the trends fade.

3. Let your real life be the starting point.