Designing can be overwhelming: so many choices, styles, and input, and the only certainty is that your space isn’t “there” yet.
Add to this, most aren’t starting with a clean slate or an unlimited budget. We still need to “play nice” with our current motley collection. So, where in the world do we start?
Brainstorming.
How do you want to feel in your home? What do you want to think when you open the door?
Grab a sheet of paper (or device, whatever), and note anything that comes to mind as you ponder these two questions.
Clean, warm, modern, vintage, traveled, studied, nature, architectural, cottage, the beach, history, family, mountain retreat, relaxation, poetic, industrial, witty, layered, textured, soft, fun, glamorous . . . ? What concepts or images come to mind?
What is it about a friend’s house, favorite decor shop, or restaurant that makes you feel as if you could spend hours there? Can you pull out an adjective or characteristic? Do this all at once or add to it over time. When your ideas seem complete, review your list and circle the three or four that stand out to you. Which concepts best capture the look and feel you’d like to experience in your home?
These are your guiding themes.
When you make a purchase or when you de-clutter, use these themes to filter your decisions. For example, “Is this lamp colorful, simple, or does it add whimsy to the room?” If you like a variety of styles, it might be helpful to limit your description pool to one room at a time. (ie. I want my family room to have a more casual farmhouse style compared to my dining room, where I’d like some touches of glamour.)
One Step Further . . .
Can you sum up your style with a phrase? A memorable phrase allows you to carry the concept with you at all times, guiding as you go.
For example, my cousin decided the phrase that captures her style best is “Elegant Nature.” Throughout her home, 
rich colors and regal finishes combine with organic beauty: deep reds and greens clothe walls, brightened by gilded chandeliers. The natural stone fireplace, wood floors, and animal-inspired accessories bring the loveliness of nature inside. It’s beautiful, and, most importantly, it’s her.
What words best reflect what you want to experience in your home?
I love to travel. So did my grandmother, whose vintage suitcases I inherited. In our family room, they keep cards, games, and puzzles accessible. They’re practical and meaningful.
This planter, stolen from outside, displays a decade of beach treasures because I have such happy memories by the ocean.
This metal sconce preserves love letters from a long-distance relationship that turned into 22+years of marriage. (“Why didn’t you just text or email?” the young things ask us. Ha! It wasn’t invented yet!) It strategically hangs by my side of the bed: a gentle reminder of the love we fought for.