Seas of white carpet, polished sterling trays, tables and shelves of gorgeous trinkets displayed with style. Sound like heaven? Or cleaning and maintenance hades? Let’s face it—the inside of your home should be organized a lot like the inside of your head. Type A’s need a whole different living environment from ‘anything-goes’ types. The lure and loveliness of another kind of style might dazzle you but if it doesn’t suit your DNA, actually living in it can be a real struggle.

To Dust or Not to Dust?
If you live to dust, you’ll get along just fine with lots of home accessories. Table skirts, blinds and drapes that pool on the floor all require regular dusting and cleaning—a famous style czar once said ‘there’s nothing worse than a stylish, dirty house.’

If keeping house isn’t your number one pastime, you may want to forego the frills and stick with clean and easy. Think slipcovers (take ‘em off and wash them at will), hardwood floors (blow and go) and vast, open surfaces (one wipe’ll do it). Sure, you can accessorize but go spare. You’ll be glad you have a comfortable interior that’s easy to maintain.

Half full, half empty?
Do you see the sunny side of everything or do you tend to wax melancholy? Happy, bubbly sorts can weather most any kind of interior—cool grays and blues evoke tranquility and a dark room can be dramatic, even sexy. For those of us who are wired to be less Pollyanna, dips in mood can be aggravated by interiors that calm. Think bright—not necessarily color but light. Plentiful lighting is essential, and natural light is miraculous. The blues and grays that bring peace and order one day may be the same colors that feel decidedly depressing the next. Warm wall tones or bright accents can keep rooms feeling fresh and vibrant.

Dogs, cats, kids…
If you love the energy and bustle of a full house, whether it’s guests, family or friends of the four-legged variety, keep rooms open and navigable. Depending on the occupants, you’ll want to tailor your furnishings and accessories to your lifestyle. Upholstery, floor coverings, even traffic flow around furniture orientation…make sure your space is a welcoming place.

Not sure?
Wondering what style-genes you possess? It’s easy to figure out. Ask yourself–what do you enjoy doing with your spare time? When and where do you feel happiest in your home? Do you savor Saturday mornings as ‘tidy-up’ time or is sleeping in your thing? Prefer a formal dining room or the back patio?

Whatever your decorator DNA, remember—it’s better to have a clean, spare room than a highly designed, highly dirty masterpiece.

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