To “de-influence” your home, you first have to understand how our interior design decisions are being influenced. The internet is working overtime to tell us what we should like or need, and has considerable impact on our sense of aesthetics. Take those heinous sheets of adhesive that are meant to look like tile or marble countertops that were everywhere in 2020 and 2021. I get it: People were stuck at home, wanting to express themselves creatively and update their spaces, but in my opinion, those types of choices only lead to future headaches. Often, there’s no going back on those purchases and you can quickly live to regret them.

It’s important that we instead pull inspiration from what we see around us: the detail of that historic building on your corner, the woodwork in your neighborhood coffee shop, the staircase at your local library. Looking up from your phone and taking note of the beauty around you will help enhance your thoughts about your style, which you can then take to your Pinterest board.

The next step is to focus on the space you’re designing so that you can make choices that are true to that environment. Natural materials like wood, rattan or stone are always better, but identifying what’s natural for you, and your space, will get you the best results. There are so many layers youcan consider: the climate, the lighting, what direction the windows are facing. Alternatively, you could grow your understanding of the aesthetic or style you’re going for.

All this takes time: Don’t feel like you have to rush to achieve an aesthetic or deliver on an overall design, as that’s often when you’ll make decisions that you won’t be happy with a year from now. Shopping for vintage or secondhand furniture, for example, can be a great way to find well-made pieces. Ultimately, you’ve got to be willing to take your time to find the exact piece that you have in mind.