As springtime summons a familiar desire to refresh a space (or two) in your home, does paralysis by analysis sound familiar? Many of us are overwhelmed by the sheer volume of options available.
For Victoria Swier, her livelihood is providing a guiding light to those of us thirsty for home design inspiration. Here are her top tips for embracing your own unique style and cultivating something extraordinary.
Avoid a cookie cutter mentality
Rather than purchasing decor pieces from the same major retailers as everyone else, Victoria encourages zeroing in on elements that are thrifted, collected and passed down. Latch onto those unique items that have been acquired secondhand.
Don’t buy it just to buy it
That said, she’s not above a Target find. Rather than swearing off big stores entirely, Victoria advises shoppers to be more selective: Do I have space available for this item? Am I lacking a color or texture that this option will provide?
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Another trick is to put the item in your cart and keep it with you while you browse. If by the time she’s ready to check out, she can’t think of a space or use for it, it goes back on the shelf.
Rule of three
Victoria lives by a rule of three: if one new item is brought in, three others have to go. Not only does it keep things feeling fresh, it also ensures you’re not gaining clutter.
A picture is worth a thousand words
Photographic evidence can be a handy resource for making decisions that withstand the test of time. Victoria suggests taking photos of a room before going shopping or antiquing, for an easy reference of which tones or textures will work in the space.
Another tip is take pictures when reorganizing a room – ideally, try out a few different layouts, and use the photos to determine which works best.
Accept a pro assist
For those of us who struggle to articulate what exactly our style preferences are, there is value in working with a design pro (like Victoria!) who can help hone in on what will work.
“I’ll let my clients run wild and throw all their original ideas at me,” she says, “then I can help them finetune what’s realistic and affordable for their actual space.”
