How to Flirt with Design Styles Before You Commit

Hannah Susan
Jun 25
4 min read

view into our living room with a mix of design styles — / our living room with a mix of design elements

We’ve all been there: obsessed with a color, a pattern, or a vintage detail - but unsure of how (or if) it will actually work in our home. Should you go all-in on stripes? Is needlepoint too traditional? Can marble add warmth into a space? The truth is: design elements don’t have to be all or nothing. You can experiment with them in different scales, shapes, and contexts until you figure out if they truly belong in your space - and your life.

This is a low stakes guide on how to explore design styles and elements - like color, texture, patterns, and ornamentation - through layers and proportions that help you get a feel before making bold (and potentially expensive) decisions. Pro: these ideas are perfect for small-space living and are renter-friendly as well!

start small: test with accessories and accents

Before committing to a bold wall color or a vintage cabinet, try introducing that element in small, movable ways.

Color: Use throw pillows, candles, vases or lampshades in the shade you’re drawn to.
Material: Bring in a marble tray, wrought-iron candle holder, or a jute coaster set to test the vibe.
Embroidery: Add a single cushion with a cross-stitch detail or a mini needlepoint wall hanging to see how the texture feels in your mix.

/ experimenting styles: red vein marble as a catch-all, decorative stripe plate in colors of our home, mini needlepoint lampshade

Think of these as “design samples” you live with - no paint required. All of the above require minimal commitment and are easier to swap with a friend or sell if it doesn’t work out.

// a material or motif may surprise you when the form changes.

play with scale: from subtle to statement

Scale changes everything. Stripes can be bold and graphic in wallpaper or soft and charming in tea towels. Needlepoint can feel nostalgic on a pillow, or striking and unexpected as a framed art piece.

playing with the scale and proportions of stripes — / playing with scale and proportion of stripes

Here are some ways you can experiment with the scale of design styles.

Stripes or Checkered Pattern
- Small: dish towels, napkins, throw pillows
- Medium: upholstered bench, stool
- Large: painted ceiling or wallpaper, curtains, area rug
Tramp art
- Small: picture frames, jewelry boxes
- Medium: mirror frame
- Large: side table or console
Marble
- Small: catch-all, coasters, decorative link-knot
- Medium: table lamp, pedestal bowl, accent table
- Large: coffee table, dining table or base

Trying something in varying scales lets you find the balance that feels right - and avoids overwhelm.

mix shapes and forms

Some elements feel completely different depending on how they’re shaped or presented. Test a design element in various forms to see what resonates.

photo booth picture in a beaded frame with fabric mat — / an intricate beaded frame with checkerboard mat

Wrought-iron in an accent side table feels edgy and modern while iron as a curved lamp base feels soft and luxe.
Ceramic lamps with fabric shades give off a softer feel; in rattan or paper shades, the lamp looks more structured.

A material or motif might surprise you when the form changes. An intricate beaded frame might give grandma chic vibes but when paired with a checkerboard pattern fabric mat, it resonates with my style.

// repetition creates rhythm and comfort - and helps you decide if you're ready to go bolder.

repeat, don't overdo

One way to safely explore a new element is through repetition - not saturation. Repeating a motif or material two or three times in a room in varied forms or scales can build cohesion without commitment. Let me highlight a material and color in our home as examples.

I’ve been consciously layering brass into our rental home; it adds warmth and character to the space especially when it’s vintage. One of the colors I’ve been drawn to is a soft, muted blue which I try to incorporate on a smaller scale currently throughout the living room.

A thrifted wooden tray with brass corner detail holding a brass bowl in blue with motifs on our red marble coffee table
Our entry cabinet holds a painter’s palette board with oranges-blues next to a brass Victorian mirror
The artwork on our gallery wall has hints of soft blue with vintage brass decor scattered around our low cabinet
A touch of blue on the vintage needlepoint lamp and the brass drawer handle on my writing desk

I might go bolder on the color choice and add dusty blue drapery panels in our guestroom since that’s in immediate view from our living space. This will allow the color to flow better from one area of our home to another.

Repetition creates rhythm and comfort - and helps you decide if you’re ready to go bolder.

embrace the experiment

Design isn’t static. It evolves as you do. Let your home be a lab - try them on first in small doses, different shapes and soft layers.

Rearrange. Swap things around.
Be curious - design isn’t perfection.
Live with something for a week before you decide.
Make mistakes - then pivot.

Home is a reflection of who you are - and that’s allowed to change.

closing thoughts

Your home is an experiment; we’re complex humans in a state of constant growth and change. Give your home the breathing space to evolve into your family’s portrait of becoming. It should be a space where you get to try things on - not a place where you feel locked into one “look” or a specific design style.

By playing with scale, shape, repetition, and material, you can thoughtfully explore design elements like embroidery, pattern, material, color, and more - without the pressure to go all-in. And in doing so, you’ll start to build a space that doesn’t just follow trends or curate a home for external validation - it reflects your story, layer by layer.