It’s been said that you can tell a lot about a person by how they keep their home. A cluttered environment supposedly points to a level of disarray in the mind or emotions. Some would argue though that people who may not be the neatest might just be more creative than the rest of us. As a neat freak who is also a creative being, I would have to disagree with that though.
I thought it would be fun to correlate specific interior design styles to ways of thinking and use them as a guide to look at how we can design our destiny using these mindsets.
There are many interior design styles so I chose to focus on five: Shabby Chic, Garden, Contemporary, Traditional and Eclectic.
Here is how I have broken them down into mindsets:
SHABBY CHIC
A person with this mindset often starts off with a clean blank canvas and mixes traditional ways of being with more modern ideas. Often brought up in strict religious families, they respect time-honored modalities, but long to make their own mark in the world. Shabby Chic personalities make good business partners as they can set milestones for long-term goals and reach them and also go for the quick wins. In love they are willing to compromise and are usually fun and engaging partners.
How they design their destiny:
They build on their success with diversification. They may wind up working in quite a few fields before settling on one career and even then, they will call on their previous experience in other areas to achieve goals. They know how to build healthy personal and professional relationships that will serve them well in all areas of their life.
Challenges: Spreading themselves too thin and completing the many projects they undertake as well as learning how not to make too many promises they can’t keep.
GARDEN:
A garden being is a walking, talking hot mug of green tea. They passionately adopt a zen-life existence and are very capable of shedding any outdated ways of thinking passed down by their parents. They can disagree with you without even speaking a word and will leave you with a feeling of calm even when you are very angry with them. In their professional pursuits, they seek out work that makes them feel like they are making the world a better place and will often do pro-bono projects. Their creativity is off the charts and they are often in great shape.
How they design their destiny:
This personality type uses their positivity to attract business partners, friends and relationships and can build huge networks that will tirelessly work on their behalf no matter the objective. The key to their success is making each person they come into contact with feel like they matter. An intern is treated with the same respect as a CEO in their world, and by modeling this treatment, they make everyone around them better.
Challenges: Staying relevant and not alienating others who may not understand them.
CONTEMPORARY:
People who wear the comtemporary label are usually on the cutting edge of everything that is popular and trendy. They are early adopters of technology, know all of the best places to eat, travel and worship and dress to the nines. They are driven beyond compare and will not apolgize for their love of the finer things in life. To know someone with this mindset is to either love, hate or envy them and they probably don’t care either way!
How they design their destiny:
They make it their business in the beginning of their lives to know the gatekeepers in their chosen fields of interest and it is their life-long goal to be the gatekeeper in the long-run. They are world-champs at networking, schmoozing and being seen at the right time with the right people. They build their fortunes and date cards by taking risks, spending money and aligning themselves with the stars.
Challenges: Being true to themselves, modeling authenticity and fostering true and meaningful relationships.
TRADITIONAL:
These fine folks love security and will often attract professional positions and relationships that last for decades. Often they are lovers of the status quo, movie nights at home with their sweetie and are usually married in their early twenties. The traditional mindset is one that believes if you work hard and long enough you will achieve anything. They are most often judges, school teachers and sometimes work in the clergy. There are many Republicans in this group, but Democracts are also known to reside in this house.
How they design their destiny:
They keep close counsel of their parents, childhood pastor and college sorors and frat buddies. Within these familar ranks they are able to build strong bonds and allegiances that can take them from waiting tables and tending bar all the way to the White House. They also depend heavily on personal favors and will often respond in kind. They are often able to retire young as they start saving money very early on in life and often forgo the material things others crave during this time.
Challenges: Being tolerant of others with different mindsets and staying in step with the changing times.
ECLECTIC:
You can spot eclectic personalities a mile away! They wear colorful clothes, their hair is big and their ideas are even bigger. They don’t believe in the words “I can’t,” “No,” or “Maybe.” Some of them were raised by strong single moms who pushed them to be better and others were raised in households with two parents who stressed achievement at all costs. Sometimes bucking their traditional upbringing, they go to the extreme in expressing themselves in art, business and in love.
How they design their destiny:
These mavericks think way outside of the square! They apply for business loans and max out their credit cards on get-rich quick schemes, build businesses with money given to them from friends and family and often break the bank and end up broke. They can rebound just as quickly though and get up without a scratch while others watch in amazement. Taking chances and risks is how they live, breathe and survive.
Challenges: Knowing when to hold them, fold them, when to walk away and when to run!
Do you recognize yourself in any of these intricately decorated houses? Which “interior design of the mind” style are you? Please share in the comments section. Let’s have fun with this!
Admission: I am a mix of Eclectic and Shabby Chic!
For more info on the aforementioned interior design styles mentioned, click here: Interior Design Styles
© 2012 – 2014, TamekaMullins. All rights reserved.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Wow! This is so interesting, Tameka!
Of all the profiles, I am closest to the Traditional, though it’s not a perfect fit in some regards.
Still, I enjoyed reading about all the different personality types here. Fun!
Blessings to you!
Interesting very very interesting. Although, I am not one for labels unless it’s to tell me if the can is corn or sauerkraut… lol I’m curious though. You know me pretty well through my blog and my FB, what do you think I am?
What a great post! I loved the idea…very unique! I’d say that I would probably identify most with the Garden style.
I’m going to share this!
Martha, I really had fun with this. I was watching one of the design shows online yesterday and came up with the idea. I’m glad you enjoyed it. Yes, I do see you as the traditional. I think we all have bits and this and that in our personalities, but we most often relate more strongly to one type the most. Cheers and thanks for always adding to the conversation in a great way!
Ha! I heard that Jenni. I do agree with you about labels. Some I take to and others I don’t. Food labels are probably the MOST important anyway. 🙂
Hmmm. Let’s see, I think you’d fall into the Shabby Chic category with a hint of the traditional. Am I right?
Hey Jessica! Thanks so much for sharing! I appreciate that! I see you as the Garden type too. Have a great evening. 🙂
OYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY my house is a mess and so is my mind….living with DID there is no rhyme or reason to be found…literally…so unfortunately I dont fit into any of the mentioned categories…..hmmmmmmm maybe I’ll just have to invent one LOLOL…As always…..XOXOXOXOXO
I couldn’t pinpoint here what I would be. My house is neat and clean to appearances, but dare to open a closet. I don’t hoard, the stuff in there is just a disorganized mess. Everything is relevant and recently used. Colors? I seem to gravitate to red black, blue and white, everything in my house is “early yard sale”, Except the kitchen, I have been slowly getting more and more decent cookware. I love glass and metal combos for the living area tables and such mixed with dark wood bookcases, warming it up with overstuffed cushy chairs and couch….What ya think???
Really made me think and I am quite sure I do not fall 100% in any of these categories I need to think about this before I just ” give” an answer. Maybe I’ll have one when we meet in New York in about 12 days !!
Jim
I think you might be eclectic Bongo! I think we all are a mix and combination of different styles at different times anyway! Thanks as always for stopping by!
You sound like Shabby Chic to me Jan! Hmmm, I may have to do a part two to this post and add some more styles. What do you guys think? Would you like a part two? 🙂
Ha! Hey Jim! You’re really making the case for me to do a part two of this post! I think five more styles ought to do it. Can’t wait to meet you and Phyllis! Cheers!
Yes add some more styles. this is a great post.
Thanks Jan! Will do! 🙂
I guess that I’m a mix of Eclectic and Traditional. I say that only because the other styles don’t fit my eye or personality. I’m a constant contradiction in terms with just about everything I do, right down to being balanced-brained rather than left- or right-brain dominant! It keeps life interesting, I’ll say that much. It can also be exhausting because I deal with what I call “low boredom threshold” where I want to always have that next horizon to conquer. And yes, I already have that next horizon in my sights! Fun post, sister!
– Dawn
I think I am classic chic…
meaning I like the mod cons but with an air of retro..
love the image but I’d change the wall paper. I’d paint it ecru which goes great with a dark red and paint the cornices white… oh and one last thing.. I can’t handle thing are things lined up in a row. I prefer the aesthetics of a display type setting. Asymmetrical yet balanced…
Can I go now? Loved the post btw. very clever. Better than a horoscope.
A
Hi, Tameka! ~
Love this concept and I think you might be onto something!
First, I need to comment on the notion that “you can tell a lot about a person by how they keep their home.” This may be true, but what you can tell may not be as obvious as some people think.
My ex-husband is a neat-freak that would probably put you to shame — haha! I’m more of a messy-artist type when it comes to housekeeping. However, when it comes to keeping a tidy mind, I am a neat-freak! When my ex and I discussed this he admitted that he probably feels compelled to ‘control’ his environment because he’s not as in control of his thoughts as he’d like to be. Just something to think about.
Now, what’s my style? There’s a little ‘shabby chic’ in there. And maybe some ‘retro’ and ‘cottage style’ — I’m describing my home, so I’m not totally sure how that applies to my personality. But, I will be giving this some thought…
Thanks for stirring my brain 😉
Okay as I think this over I am a mix a mongrel a half breed!! Small Part Contemporary and Eclectic … lol Not sure if it makes sense but thats what I think
http://jpweddingphotograpy.blogspot.com/2012/02/image-of-week-jims-over-21-version.html
Hey Alejandro!I’m glad you liked the post. I noticed you as well as some others are focusing more on the interior decorating aspect of the post, but I really want to know if you can relate to the mindsets I created that were inspired by the design styles. I always love when you stop by dear! Thanks!
Linda, I’m so glad you shared your perspective and I agree with you! Notice I started with “It’s been said,” which calls into question if there is any way to pin down whether how we decorate or keep our homes have a linear connection with our mindsets or not. I even illustrated that with me that it’s not so clear cut. I’m super creative and a neat freak so that doesn’t really mesh or so they say. I loved your input. Thanks as always! So I’m taking it that no one really relates to the mindsets I’ve created. Interesting! 🙂
I think what’s cool Dawn is that a lot of us don’t fit neatly into one box in any aspect and that is what makes us some fascinating folks! It is fun though to look at personality types and decorating styles and see where we do fit in. We can learn more about ourselves and others this way. Thanks for your visit dear!
I can see that in you Jim! Thanks for taking another crack at it! 🙂
Tameka:
To clarify regarding your comment: “So I’m taking it that no one really relates to the mindsets I’ve created.” Not true!
I relate to several of your descriptions for OTHER PEOPLE — haha!
Maybe you just need to offer more different styles to choose from 😉
Ha! Gotcha Linda! There have been requests for a part two for this post and I will try to get it up by next week. I’m thrilled that people are liking it and finding it fun. I had a good time putting it together! Cheers mama!
Oh Tameka, did you know that if I had my waywhen I was younger, I would’ve chosen Fine Arts major in Interior Designing as my course in College?
But I’m also glad I ended up a nurse, God took me some place else 😛
Now, homestyle, I’d say I prefer Asian Contemporary Garden ;)I wish to be simple…with less furnitures and more space.
When it comes to my mindstyle,I think I’m half of a garden 😉
Hello Tameka.
I’m having problems commenting on this post, so if you get double comments, I’m sorry.
I do not like to close myself off by saying I fit this or I fit that…only I determine me. I refuse to be like everyone else…my style is my own (smile). For laughs though, I went through all the categories a second time & you could say there’s a bit of me in all of them!
Thanks for putting this together. It’s certainly fun & enlightening. The responses are a hoot too!
Nice work.
Oh no worries Andy! This was meant to be a fun piece. Nothing here is written in stone or definitive, I just wanted people to have fun with this. Thanks for reading it and I’m glad you enjoyed it! Cheers! I’m doing a part two, so maybe I can get you on the second go around. 😉
You have such a unique way of putting across your thoughts and ideas Tameka.I am always floored by your writing as always. Now I really dont know which category I fall into. A bot of shabby chic and traditional I guess. Sorry havent been able to comment on your earlier posts because of very slow network.
Rimly! No worries dear. I can relate to having technical difficulties at times. I hope your service is back to normal now. Thanks as always for your words of praise about my work. It means a lot to me. I can definitely see you as shabby chic and traditional. A beautiful mix! Cheers!
Hey Melissa! Sorry I’m just now responding. You’re super talented so I can definitely imagine you being an interior decorator. I see the ZEN in you! Thanks!