Switching up your style is a great way to get yourself out of a creative rut. If you’re feeling frustrated with your current wardrobe or home design, it’s probably time for a makeover. Here are three tips for rethinking your personal style and design tastes.
1. Keep switching things up.
In order to stay out of that creative rut, it’s important to keep switching things up. While it helps to have a foundational style to build upon, it’s also okay to throw the whole thing out the window and start from scratch if it no longer feels right. Our tastes change as we grow and experience new things. What you once loved could start to bore you, or you might find you didn’t really like it that much in the first place. Your style shouldn’t be permanent—it should evolve with you.
Even things that seem permanent, like tattoos, can be changed or removed. Tattoos are a great form of self-expression, but their permanency can be deterring or even leave some with tattoo regret. The truth is, you can actually get most tattoos removed in just a few sessions. Tattoo removal has come a long way in recent years, and new laser treatments can remove even the most stubborn tattoo inks without leaving a scar. In addition to the complete removal of black ink, the best tattoo removal clinics can also completely remove reds, yellows, and even greens without leaving a scar. So don’t be afraid to take a chance on something new, whether it’s a tattoo or a haircut — because you can always switch it up.
2. Get creative and DIY.
A little bit of creativity can elevate basic items to stylistic masterpieces. Find new ways to wear the same clothes or upgrade them with some bold accessories. Simply tucking your shirt in a certain way or throwing on a belt can completely change your outfit. You can also repurpose old clothes or thrift shop finds with minimal sewing. YouTube and Pinterest are great resources for finding style tricks and tips — and not just when it comes to the wardrobe. You can also find many DIY home projects that turn simple items into elegant pieces of décor.
DIY home improvement projects, like painting cabinets and adding new fixtures, are great ways to express yourself while increasing your home’s value. If you’re handy enough, try to tackle some home renovations yourself, like installing hardwood floors or new countertops. Cutting out labor costs by doing it yourself can make an enormous difference when budgeting for home renovations — but you should leave the serious projects to the professionals. Unless you’re a licensed electrician or plumber, it’s a good idea to find the right contractor for those kinds of renovations.
3. Don’t focus on what’s trendy.
Fashion trends can be a wonderful source of inspiration, but it’s easy to lose focus of your own tastes by paying too much attention to what’s popular. Keep in mind that style and fashion are two different things. Whereas fashion is more of an artistic expression, style is “an approach, a method, a technique that has been chosen by you to best represent who you are as a person.” While it’s okay to get style ideas from magazines or influencers, you shouldn’t let it dictate your own tastes.
Find out what core style best expresses yourself, and go from there. The best way to do this is to think about your favorite pieces that have withstood the test of time, then figure out what words best describe them. Once you have a solid idea of your personal style, you can find new ways to express yourself while building on that foundation. The same goes for your design tastes.
Style and design are essential ways to express oneself, but it’s easy to get lost in trends or cling to things that don’t really work for us anymore. With a little bit of introspection, creativity, and daring, you can get back on track and let the best you shine through.