Find yourself by finding your aesthetic

Get to know yourself

Finding your aesthetic is a way to find your voice.

Does the thought of speaking up fill you with dread? Does the idea of introducing yourself to strangers leave you cold? Do you hate those “Say your name and tell us about yourself” icebreakers? We get you! We don’t like it either.

Let your home do the talking for you!

It is already your safe space and hopefully your favourite chill out zone, so why not make it your spokesperson as well? Its easier than you think. Allowing your home to speak for you can cement your personal style, give you the confidence to host and allow you to claim true ownership of the space you are in any case paying to live in.

How do I set up my home as a personal PR agent?

Be honest about who you are. Don’t force your home to liar.

Forcing yourself into a monochrome minimalist house if you are at heart a maximalist magpie who carries home driftwood and can’t walk past a thrift store without buying another little vase, will just lead to a PR disaster.

That’s why it is important to find your aesthetic before letting your décor do the speaking.

There are a couple of home décor aesthetics that have been trending for a while now, and we still love all of them.

The first vibe is the “forest green” one. You know what we re talking about. Dark, rich forest green walls, modernist accents and splashes of gold. Usually you find this in coffee shops and restaurants (Currently many of the W Café venues sport this look.)

Taking this trend home means it merges into the Jungalow, Dark Academia and Botanical aesthetics.

(For more inspiration, this aesthetic reminds of the American North-west as well as European forests and ancient university libraries.)

Key elements:

• Rich dark nature colours.
• Wood, leather or jewel toned furniture.
• Art that incorporates botanical elements, science diagrams, literary references, or other darker themes.
• Weathered metallic accents like faded gold, brushed pewter or silver and copper with a good patina.
• Coloured glasswork
• Leafy houseplants like creepers and ferns and Ficus’s

Top Tip: When decorating, think whether a professor form a stuffy Ivy league college would have the piece in their office…If yes, then bring it home!

The other aesthetic that seems to be here to stay is the coastal, “Hamptons” aesthetic.

Being influenced by the South African Westcoast, the south coast of England and the American North-east (hence the “Hamptons” name) this is a much lighter aesthetic that ties in well with a bit of light-retro (not mid century modern) and even the so called “soft girl” aesthetic.

Key elements:

• Light coloured slip covered couches in cool linens or woven cotton (very little leather)
• Clear glass and Chrystal accents like table tops and chandeliers
• Shell, pebble and light stone/marble finishes.
• Weathered light wood (distressed wood can work but don’t overdo it.)
• Colourways like faded blues and greys, shades of white, super light caramels, as well as a celebration of mellow, butter yellows. Seafoam greens and stormy greys also work well. Colours should all stay on the cool side of the spectrum.
• Curtains and carpets are light fabrics, patterns include pinstripes and broader lines and stripes
• Clear vases with white or cream coloured flower arrangements and white candles work here.
• Houseplants like cyclamens, palms and orchids bring live to a coastal home.

Top Tip: Please stay away from boat, wave and sea creature motives, unless you live less than 10km from the beach.

A new aesthetic that we love, and hope will stick around is the homesteading or Family Farm vibe.

This aesthetic blends well with the provincial farmhouse or Karoo chic style.

Key elements include:

• Scrubbed wooden surfaces
• Earthenware and wooden serving ware and vases
• Reed baskets, thick weave blankets and rugs.
• Handmade furniture and décor (whittled or woven), as well as handmade candles
• Reclaimed glass and Hurricane lamps
• Fynbos style houseplants/flower arrangements
• Whitewashed walls
• Fruits, vegetables and baked goods on display in an open shelved kitchen.
• Eggs form you own chickens
• Colours like warm mocha’s darker yellows, olive greens and patterns like ethnic weaves and geometric botanicals work well, but stay away from jewel tones and forest greens.

Top Tip: This is not the overly stylized “French farmhouse” vibe of a couple of years ago. This is something more real, more liveable and more sustainable…not a bad thing at all!

If none of these aesthetics appeal to you, good on you for knowing what you DON’T like. Here are some other trending styles for you to investigate.

30 Essential interior design styles you need to know.

Interior design trends that will define our homes in 2025

Remember, as always, YOU are the Homemaker, so you are the rule maker!

#YourHomeYourWay

Also read our article on mix and match decor.