Great quiz to help you decide your decorating style

[DemBones DemBones]

at

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_33320,00.html

(or just go to hgtv.com; you'll see the link to the quiz.)

I have learned a lot from decorating shows that I used to watch, such as Lynnette Jennings's show, but it helped me most to read a book that had a quiz to help determine my decorating style. The book then had a section on decorating for each style. If I had read that book years earlier, I'd have avoided some decorating mistakes (trying styles that weren't really "right" for me/ us), so when I saw this quiz at HGTV.com, I thought I should share it here.

The whole idea of the quiz is to make you think about what YOU like so that you decorate with a theme/ style in mind. That doesn't mean you have to have everything matchy-matchy (yuk!); you can mix styles to some degree but you need a unifying style so your house doesn't look like a hodge podge.

After you do the HGTV quiz, they have many photos in each style for you to look at. (I'm not sure if they have text sections on the different styles; haven't delved into the whole decorating section of their site.) I have looked at maybe 15 photos in my style so far and have gotten some good ideas for little things to do just to change the look of rooms from time to time. We're also going to have a new room added soon which I'm really looking forward to decorating and this will be a good reference.

To me, houses are like gardens: they are never really finished. Or they shouldn't be! The fun is to continue changing things -- big changes in the early years, small ones later on.

[fortyfeetunder]

1. I came out SWEET

mainly because I like the cottage look...too bad I am saddled with Early American Bachelor furniture from H's old digs...

[DemBones DemBones]

2. Ah, but knowing your style can help you

fit that furniture into a cottage look. (Or inspire you to get rid of it and get something else as soon as you can!) As I said, I wish I'd been more informed about decorating style years ago; it helps you to tie things together.

[Lugnut]

3. Same here

I'm not surprised by it though. I like a warm, cozy, casual feel in my house and my garden.

[NMDemDist2]

4. I'm an eccentric with styles from eclectic, Mediterranean and southwest

not sure that helps though LOL

[shanti]

8. that was me too!

i'm just an eclectic kinda gal!;-)

[Warpy]

5. I came out CLASSY

Since I describe the decor as early cheap hotel with dashes of Mad King Ludwig, that came as a real surprise.

[DemBones DemBones]

6. A drawback to this quiz is that they tell you

three styles that may be "you." That leaves it up to you to figure out which is most "you." Easy for some, not easy for others. The book I read classified you in one of five styles and then discussed the essentials of each style, plus how to mix styles successfully. Still, there are things to be learned from the HGTV site, IMO.

[Eloriel]

9. Name of the book?

Sounds interesting. I'm doing the quiz, too, but it's taking forever to load....waiting.....waiting....waiting..............................zzzz

[bleedingheart]

7. "You're eccentric with a touch of: sweet and classy."

hahaha...that's me...

[eleny]

10. Eccentric

"It's all about the mix. Any style is welcome so long as it complements something else. Eye catching color combinations like purple and gold. Contrasting patterns and unconventional architecture. Furniture that reminds me of my travels mixing modern with offbeat antiques."

That's me. I just got bedding and window coverings from Gordman's discount store. The set is purple, gold and green middle eastern patterned blocks in very muddied and muted shades.

I also needed a side table for my mom's 1940s hand me down living room chair that's covered with needlepoint upholstery. The table I found has a faux alligator top and metal legs. And it goes together with the chair like they were made for each other.

I love to mix it up and sort of need to since I have things collected over the years from family. Somehow, they all go together.

One of my favorite architects? Gaudi!

[Stinky The Clown]

13. Gaudi .....

We saw most of his work when we were in Barcelona a few years ago. His work is quite extraordinary ... and not like anything else. I think it is impossible to classify him.

Here is La Pedrera ..... an apartment building with no square edges.

Even the roof (which is fully finished and accessible) is like a fairyland:


This is part of the (still unfinished) Sagreda Famiglia, a Catholic Cathederal in Barcelona:


One of the outbuildings at Parc Guell


He's truly amazing.

[babylonsister]

11. Eccentric here, and their explanation fit me

to a tee! Weird!

[BamaGirl]

12. eccentric with a touch of hip and classy

I suppose that makes sense considering all the art deco I have around here.

[atommom]

14. Mine said I was "hip," and referred me to modern, contemporary,

and Asian styles in their portfolio. I'm not sure my pockets are deep enough for me to furnish my house in a "hip" way, though... :eyes:

[Spock_is_Skeptical]

15. I came out "Eccentric"

"For you, it's all about the mix. Any style is welcome in your world as long as it complements something else...."

[SW FL Dem]

16. The quiz couldn't be any further from reality for me

I came out liking eccentric, eclectic, southwestern and mediterranean. My house is pretty much casual french country and everything pretty much matches. I grew up in a Southwestern style home and I hate that stuff. My mom has tons of very valuable Indian art and sculptures, I've told her to give them to other family members, they don't fit in my house.

[DawgHouse]

17. I'm Sweet

thanks for sharing! That's a fun link!