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Have you ever started decorating a room and felt unsure about your style? If you’ve ever wondered how to find your decorating style, you’re not alone.

You love so many different looks on Pinterest, but when it comes time to decorate your own space, everything can start to feel a little scattered.

One of the simplest tricks I’ve learned for creating a cohesive room is choosing three words that describe how you want the space to feel.

This simple exercise can help you find your decorating style and create a room that feels more cohesive and intentional.

Recently I’ve been diving into a few home design courses on MasterClass. I love learning more about decorating and design, even though I don’t have a formal background in it.

In Joanna Gaines’ course, she shares a practice she uses with clients that immediately stuck with me.

When she meets with a homeowner, she asks them to describe their space using three words.

Those three words become the guiding direction for every design decision in the room.

I loved this idea because it makes decorating feel intentional instead of overwhelming.

WHY THREE WORDS WORK

When you define how you want a room to feel, it becomes much easier to decide:

what furniture fits the space
what colors to use
what decor pieces to bring in
and what items no longer belong

Instead of asking yourself “Do I like this?” you start asking a better question:

“Does this fit the feeling I want for this room?”

That small shift makes decorating so much easier.

STEP-BY-STEP: HOW TO FIND YOUR ROOM STYLE

Step 1: Create a Pinterest Inspiration Board

Start by creating a board on Pinterest for the space you want to decorate.

Save anything that catches your eye. Don’t overthink it.

Just pin rooms, colors, furniture, lighting, or styling details that you love.

After a while, you will begin to notice patterns.

Step 2: Look for Repeating Themes

Once you have 20 to 30 images saved, scroll through your board and ask yourself:

What do these rooms have in common?

You might notice things like:

soft neutral colors
cozy layered textiles
vintage pieces
lots of natural wood
bold color and contrast

This is where descriptive words begin to emerge.

Step 3: Choose Three Words

Now narrow your vision down to three words that describe how you want the room to feel.

Some examples might be:

light and airy
cozy
collected
timeless
earthy
vibrant
calm
moody

These words will become your design filter moving forward.

EXAMPLE FROM OUR PRIMARY BEDROOM

When I was designing our primary bedroom, I landed on three words:

Cozy
Fresh
Refined casual

Cozy

I wanted soft, layered bedding that felt inviting at the end of the day. A plush rug underfoot also helps add warmth and comfort.

Fresh

I wanted the room to feel light and airy with calming colors. For me that meant soft blues and plenty of natural light during the day.

Refined Casual

Our home needs to be livable, but I still love a space that feels intentional and pulled together.

That balance of relaxed but polished is what guided many of the decisions in the room.

QUICK TIP

If a piece doesn’t match your three words, it probably doesn’t belong in the room.

If you’re trying to find your decorating style, the three word method is a simple and helpful place to start. You might be surprised how much easier decorating becomes when you have a clear direction.

I’d love to hear from you. What room are you working on right now, and what three words would you choose for it?

Check out more details on our primary bedroom here including sources and links to shop the space.