To Thine Own Self Be True


Perhaps it’s age, experience, or some combination of the two, but I’ve come to realize that many of us fall into predictable “decorative driver” categories depending on what life phase or circumstance we are in currently. Furthermore, there’s a likely evolution into what the next phase will bring in terms of needs and wants. I see it in myself looking back, though I’m not sure I was really cognizant of it at the time. It’s hard to see the forest through the trees sometimes. However, when we evaluate our own life phase and take a step back, I think we can all agree that our needs can be assessed pretty effectively. Here are a few of the categories I’ve come to note mentally and consider from a decorator’s perspective:
  • Families with young children
  • Families with teenagers
  • Empty Nesters
  • Baby Boomers
  • Type A personalities
  • Type B personalities
  • Conformist
  • Non-conformist
  • Analytical thinkers
  • Creative Thinkers
  • DINKS (Dual Income No Kids)
  • New Home Blended Family
  • Societal Prominence – generational
  • Societal Prominence – entrepreneur
  • Animal Rescuers…oh, the animal rescuers
Does my classification of prospective clients in this way negate my acknowledgment that everyone is unique and that a space should tell one’s own story? ABSOLUTELY NOT! Let me shout that from the rooftops. This is simply the construct I’ve built over time as a shortcut to the superficial needs that each life situation demands. Of course no one can be encapsulated so plainly – nor should they be!

Let it be said that I have an affection for my people in each and every one of these categories. We are all typically some combination of one or two or three of these subsets. For example, I am a Type A Mother of Young Children (rapidly approaching teenager status - gasp) who is a Creative Thinker. My husband is a Type B Analytical Thinker.

I’ve actually decorated spaces for cross-sections of all of the above, and we’ve managed to accomplish their desired goals in terms of function and form for their projects. All unique, all lovely, and all practical.

In the coming weeks I’d like to explore each of these categories in depth with a post dedicated to each one. Likely I’ll think of more along the way, too!

As the French philosopher Auguste Comte would say, “Know yourself to improve yourself.” Perhaps he would also say, “Know yourself to home-improve yourself.”

Just sayin’.
Caron Woolsey
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