What Your Home Décor Says About You

While it’s widely accepted that our outfits offer the world a glimpse into our personalities, we rarely credit our home décor with the same expressive power. Yet the way we choose to dress our four walls may reveal more than we realise. Psycho-decorating - a term popularised by Margaret H. Harmon, Ph.D., in her 1977 book Psycho-Decorating: What Homes Reveal About People - describes the connection between the psyche and the spaces we inhabit. In other words, our interior design choices are often closely tied to other aspects of our lives. Curious about what your home might be saying about you? Turn to Liberty’s guide to what your interior design style could reveal about your personality.

Here at Liberty, we’ve got a soft spot for the maximalists. The ones who collect beautiful, over-the-top artefacts wherever they go, curating their space over years and years, chronicling each memory in clashing colour and print. Celebrating excess and unrestrained joy, eclectic maximalism is about layering pattern, texture, shape and colour to create an intentionally curated chaos. However, maximalism isn’t about cramming anything and everything you can squeeze in between four walls – it’s just as skilfully executed as any other interior design style, if not more so. Maximalism leans into big, bold design-making and putting things together in an unexpected, playful way. Those who favour maximalism in their home tend to favour it in their wardrobe too – they don’t see much value in a “capsule wardrobe” but instead tend to opt for statement pieces that make their heart sing. They’re creative, extroverted and very likely the life of every party. Chances are they have strong opinions and might not be the best at keeping their voice down. Sounds fun.

Contrary to popular belief, minimalism is not all white walls and empty countertops – you can emulate this interior design style and still impart your own unique style stamp on your space - the philosophy is more ‘less is more’, not ‘nothing at all.’ With a focus on simplistic, practical design choices, a neutral, earthy colour palette made up of a handful of related shades, this style is a commitment to balance, cohesion and curation. The minimalists among us are the type to meal-prep their work lunches every Sunday, and wax lyrical about the importance of investing in a pair of ‘good quality, sensible shoes’. They might not follow a fussy twelve-step skincare routine, but each product in their bathroom cabinet is intentionally selected for its results-driven formulation and sleek packaging. They probably start their day with hot water and lemon, and they have a standing desk in their office. Proper grown-ups.

Cottage-core has been at the forefront of interiors and fashion trends over the past few years but seems to be cementing itself as more than a passing craze. Known for its whimsy, charm and comforting feel, this design style captures the essence of a countryside English cottage. Finding joy in rustic materials, playful colours and mismatched textiles, this design style embodies perfect imperfection. A perfectly squishy sofa is a must, alongside perfectly placed antique furniture and a scattering of colourful, mismatched art. Basically, the cottage from The Holiday. Those who favour this interiors design style are the romantics among us – those who love a rom-com, are a member of at least one book club, and start listening to Christmas music in October.

It might’ve seemed like an ephemeral obsession for the interiors-obsessed, but the popularity of mid-century modern design is showing no signs of waning. Yes, perhaps we’ve moved away from creating a space that looks like it could be a Once Upon A Time in Hollywood set, but there’s something eternally cool, simultaneously retro and timeless about this design style. Used as a catch-all term for the functional, streamlined, modernist design from the 1930s to the 1960s, it conjures a rich palette of warm teak, velvet in sepia-toned shades of rust and velvet, chocolate brown leather disrupted by sleek glass and chrome. Characteristic of this style is open-plan layouts, low profile furniture and a focus on clean lines. Despite the distinctly ‘form-follows-function’ philosophy, sculptural lighting and abstract, geometric prints are thoughtfully incorporated, too. If you favour mid-century modern design, it’s likely that you are endlessly practical, but immensely creative. You might be the kind of person that doesn’t just ‘buy’ a jacket, but ‘sources’ one, or that your go-to order at the bar is either a classic old fashioned, or the cheapest beer on the menu. You probably have selvedge denim in your wardrobe, and a library card in your wallet. Classic, yes, but so cool.

If the Virgo star-sign was an interior design style, it would be Japandi. A combination of Japanese and Scandinavian aesthetics – both of which have centuries worth of personal history - this interior design style is grounded, serene and considered, favouring functional, minimal and tranquil interiors. Opting for curating your space in this style permeates into more than just the look of the home – feng shui principles and simple, minimalistic design encourages a sense of calm that frankly, Virgo, you need. Defined by a neutral palette with an emphasis on earthy tones and organic, natural materials, this design style is favoured by the Type-As, the “I always have a pen on me” types - the ones who never forget an umbrella. However, despite their uncompromising efficiency and dedication to cleanliness, they also have a discerning, refined sense of taste, which infuses their every design choice. Trinkets and souvenirs might be few and far between, but each piece that comes into their home will be something they truly love, and antagonised over purchasing for ages.