**DISCLAIMER** I'm not a decorator, so...

Does it matter? Is there a form somewhere that you have to fill out that has a "choose one" option?

My vote is always to do what you like. If you think mixing colors and "styles" looks good, makes you happy, evokes the desired mood, whatever, then by all means, do it.

No offense to anyone, by when a whole room has a certain, easily defined style, I think it just lacks imagination and any sort of personal meaning coming from the people who live there. It looks staged, like something from a magazine or catalogue. Some folks like that look, and spend a lot of time and money getting it, but I think it makes a place look completely devoid of any character.

Like they say............just do what you like. Don't worry about pleasing your friends or neighbors. Make your home work for your needs and tastes.

{{!gwi}}

Post some photos, so we can see what you are seeing.

I agree...go with what you like, blend colors and styles and make it your own.

GREAT PIC dilly_dally!!! That is certainly a house anyone would LOVE living next to. ;~]

umm try this website it might give you some ideas
http://www.weplan.com.au/pictures

Here is a link that might be useful: home improvement

don't click on the link above, it froze my screen, may be a virus.

thanks mitch!

I posed a very similar quetion, gastroc. It was determined that my style is "eclectic". Now, sometimes I worry that "eclectic" just means there *is* no defined style...kind of what you say you like if you are just clueless, LOL. I have been searching "eclectic" room photos for quite sometimes now. I can see now that to do ecelctic *right* it takes some skill.

Check out the link below...I have it on "eclectic family rooms" and there are many pages for it (go to different pages at the bottom of the page.) Also, go to the left of the screen and you can click on living rooms, kitchens, etc. It is a fun site to play around on!

Here is a link that might be useful: [houzz-eclectic[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-family-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_720~s_2104)

Here is my original thread. BTW, it has one of those famous GW "glitches" at the end, the last post was lost midway, and I could not respond to this thread anymore. Anyway, I found the comments helpful!

Here is a link that might be useful: gardenweb

You WILL find something within your taste that is a unifying theme. It may not be a specific style, but look at your colours, patterns, textures, the scale of objects, materials, shapes, etc. There is something you like that you gravitate towards and it will repeat itself a few times and not just in pieces that came in a set.

I look for inspiration photos. I select a few objects that I own and love, Google a brief description of them along with the word "decor" and see what comes up. Sometimes I see combinations that I wouldn't have considered on my own.

Just yesterday I saw an episode of "Dear Genevive" in which she combined country lodge decor with Moroccan. I never would have planned something like that, but it was spectacular, in my opinion.

Be open and trust what you like. You have to live in your home. Go for trendy and you'll just have to keep changing it... which is fine if you have the time, budget and patience.

...Pam

Thank you guys! After watching decorating videos online I think I discovered that although I do like the cottage style, when I picked my colors and accesories, I was actually into the Spanish Revival/Mediterranean things. We do live in a bungalow so that's pretty apropos.

Thanks again!

LOL I would NOT want to live next to the house Dilly shared with us :) At some point your "style identity" can get out of hand.

I'm sort of in the "who cares" category. My style in our alaska place is definately eclectic with a mix of many styles, more scale/color and texture based in the design than style. Our house here is victorian, and while I will keep to the "style" somewhat so the house shows well it will be more eastlake in style than what folks expect in a victorian (flowers and lace come to mind right? not here).

The only room that has a specific style is the Chinese room in our basement (which houses all of the plastic crap from China a 4 year old ever needed) but you rarely see that style in a decor magazine....or here on GW lol

If a major decorating/design magazine will be photographing your home within the next month, then, yes, you need to be worried about what your decor style is. If not, just do what you want to do and surround yourself with things (and people and other creatures) that you love and enjoy!

LOL igloochic.

Thanks folkvictorian- makes sense. I think that's what drove me crazy- reading all the magazine articles and watching home improvement shows. Each and every single space had a specific decor style. I do tend to lead toward the spanish revival/mediterranean colors, but that just happened to be how I painted the rooms in my house, I didn't know that's what it was categorized until afterwards. In pictures, I'm a big fan of all things cottage-like, and now I've come to realize that just because my colors are considered one style and my accesories look more like another, it doesn't mean I have sacrifice. I can have the best of both worlds! lol

Thanks for all your help everyone =)

Now, see, the more you figure out what makes your heart happy, the more your decor choices sound like mine. I have a heart for cottage and a love for all things Tuscan. If I had a style, I'd call it Italian country...like French country, but with things that didn't fit in my Florence villa instead of my Paris house. (LOL)I'm imagining a cottage on a vineyard in Tuscany...what would be inside and how would it be decorated? Now, all I have to do is translate that vision into something that works in my Texas house.

In fact, this is the beginning for me to freshen and revamp my decorating. I've been trying too long to decorate like someone I'm not.

Make your own heart happy. It will all come together in the end.