Interior design is an opportunity for self expression. Everyone has an opinion on how they decorate their space, whether it’s an entire home or just one small area of their apartment. Thankfully, from how large the industry is, there are so many subsets of various aesthetics that people can mix and match. Some people choose to stick to one look, but personally I like to mix and match pieces. When I am decorating my space, I tend to pick my pieces separately, one at a time. It comes down to a combination of me being picky as well as not wanting to spend a lot of time and money fully committing to an aesthetic. So instead of spending my life savings on decorating my studio apartment, I instead spend my time looking through Pinterest to see what I like. Here are a couple of my favorites.
![](https://blogs.uww.edu/designonacollegebudget/files/2022/02/Danish-Pastel.jpeg)
Danish Pastel
I have always loved pastels. It’s about pastels and mixing various textures together. It has become more popular in recent years, especially in 2021. Pastels for Spring are groundbreaking, as Miranda Priestly said in Devil Wears Prada, but I don’t think they need to be a seasonal choice. It takes away the harsh hues that may be distracting in a smaller space. Bright bold colors can make a room feel smaller, so instead going with more muted shades, there’s an opportunity to visually open up your space.
English Cottage
Wallpaper. Framed art walls. Old lady wallpaper and patterns. All of it sums up the idea of the English cottage aesthetic. I’m not sure if this is as much of a trend in England as it is in the United States, but this idea of a home being turned into a cozy cottage you can pretend is in the hillside is popular. I would be lying if I said I didn’t want to add potentially atrocious wallpaper to the blank walls of my rented studio simply from these kinds of photos. Could a grandma live within this aesthetic and a college student with no complaints from either? Yes and I think that’s what I love about it.
![](https://blogs.uww.edu/designonacollegebudget/files/2022/02/English-Cottage-library.jpeg)
As for more popular styles, there are many to choose from. It all comes down to personal style and choice. Maximalists will fill every available section of wall space they have and collect trinkets and things they like on any open surface. They like to collect things not everyone will agree is important. Minimalists will keep themselves to a selected color palette typical and only keep out things that are important to them at the time. They don’t like having a lot of distractions, just what is needed. People who like the rustic farm house aesthetic, barn doors, shiplap and all, probably watched a lot of Chip and Joanna Gaines on “Fixer Upper” as a child. Meanwhile those who prefer bohemian are self proclaimed plant parents with an on going collection. It’s all up to the person living in the space. Everyone can have their opinions when they walk into your house or apartment, but at the end of the day, the person living there makes the final call on the space they call home.
February 17, 2022 at 11:45 pm
I have been wondering what the official aesthetic name was for ‘English Cottage’ for so long! this was cool to finally figure out!
February 18, 2022 at 7:00 pm
Love the ideas, Katherine!! I’m definitely a fan of the rustic farmhouse aesthetic, and you’re completely right, I did (and still do) watch Chip and Joanna. I never thought about bright colors making a room feel smaller, but that’s something I’ll remember the next time I’m picking out paint colors. My boss is currently in the market for a house so I’ve been helping her look. We found one recently that had the older look to it, kind of like the English Cottage look you talked about, and we loved it because of how homey it seemed. She ended up putting in an offer on that house for that reason!
February 21, 2022 at 5:59 pm
I am excited to follow along and learn more about interior design, especially while in a budget! I am someone, like you mentioned in your post, who grew up watching a lot of “Fixer Upper” and love shiplap and bringing woodsy, rustic pieces into the home. I am not very educated on the topic of interior designing, but now that I will be graduating soon and moving out on my own, I am looking forward to hopefully learning some more tip from you!
February 22, 2022 at 10:39 pm
This is awesome! As someone who’s getting ready to graduate in the spring and get ready for their “big kid” apartment, I’ve been debating on what style I would want to have. Typically I feel the style I like most is minimalist but, it’s interesting to see now what other styles are out there to spark some ideas off of. Looking forward to seeing what recommendations you have! Especially for a “big kid” apartment with a college kid budget!
February 22, 2022 at 11:51 pm
I like this idea for a blog. Looking forward to see what I can add to my house while on a budget!
February 23, 2022 at 3:16 am
This is a very cool blog idea! Can’t wait to read more!
February 23, 2022 at 8:52 pm
Katherine,
I am very interested in Interior Design and have thought about getting involved with it for a career. I am excited to hear more about your opinions and what you think looks good in newer blog posts!