4 Reasons Your Home Doesn’t Feel Cohesive (And How To Fix It)

If creating a cohesive home feels like a mystery you are definitely not alone. In fact, I think that this is definitely the #1 decorating struggle that I hear from you guys and I totally get it.

I've been there too but over the years I've enjoyed the process of figuring out some tricks to get my home flowing from one room to another.

I also learned that a cohesive look isn't about getting everything to match or starting from scratch. Let's talk about the 4 main reasons why your home doesn't feel cohesive and the easy doable fixes that will get you on the road to a more cohesive look.

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1 | You Don't Have A Whole Home Color Palette

I bought my first condo (from my now-husband - shhhhhh, don't tell him that the decor was U.G.L.Y.) after my first year of teaching and to say it needed help is an understatement.

I was faced with a lot of hand-me down and mismatched furniture and zero budget, but it was the beginning of my mission to create a stylish and functional space that reflected who I am. Challenge accepted.

I discovered an easy and inexpensive way to get the hodgepodge working together: Paint.

Even now in my third home having a consistent color palette is the key to my home flowing from one room to another. It doesn't mean every room looks the same - it means the colors show up in different ways and different rations throughout the house.

Here's how I use paint:

• Neutral walls in the main living spaces and hallways
• Pops of color in pillows, art and accent pieces.
• Bold color moments in bedrooms or furniture pieces
• Kid rooms get their own fun colors but still tied into the broader palette.

You can see this recipe in action in my family room.

In the kitchen I switch up the ratio by bringing in one of my main colors, with the neutral still playing a large role.

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➡️ Want help creating your own whole-home color palette? Start here: Easy Steps To Create A Whole-House Color Palette.

2 | You've Never Defined Your Decor Style

Putting a name on your style can be a scary thing. What if you love traditional and midcentury and modern style?

Good news: you don't have to pick just one. But you do need to define your style because it sets boundaries that narrow your focus, eliminate overwhelm, and make decisions easier (and more confident).

Why this matters:

If you need new throw pillows, you can get overwhelmed just standing in the pillow aisle at Home Goods, right?

But if you have already defined:

• Your color palette
• Your style elements
• What textures or patterns fit your style

Then you'll know exactly what to look for and what to ignore. Not only that, you can be certain that whatever you bring home will go with what you already have because all of your decorating decisions were made with the same guidelines in mind.

➡️ Need help nailing down your decor style? That's exactly what we do inside my decorating course Style Your Way Home.

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3 | You're Stuck In Inspiration Overload

With so many online resources (hello Pinterest) it's easy to get trapped in inspiration overload. We get inundated with photos of beautiful spaces and if you're anything like me, it's difficult to decide which ideas to implement in your own home cause you like all of it!

Having your defined color palette and your style definition will help you focus when it comes to gathering inspiration, but beyond that you need to set some limits when it comes to gathering ideas.

How to get out of the scroll spiral:

• Define your color palette and decor style first so you can filter ideas
• Edit your Pinterest board - remove anything that doesn't align
• Set a time limit for browsing
• Pick one space and start small

Decorating confidence comes from taking action! (And this is another concept we cover in detail in my online decorating course!)

4 | You Haven't Decluttered Your Decor

If your home feels cluttered, disjointed and like "nothing goes" it might be time to say goodbye to a few things that no longer fit your style. Just because you once loved something or invested in it 10 years ago doesn't mean that it still belongs in your home.

I've adopted a new mentality when it comes to getting rid of stuff and this applies to decor too.

The truth is your style will evolve. That's why I recommend you keep big purchases neutral (in color and style) and add pops of color and personality with accessories that are easier to trade out as your style evolves.

For example, a sofa is a big investment and needs to last, so I chose one with clean lines in dark gray, but brought in pops of color and pattern with fun pillows and throws!

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The key is to be okay with the fact that your style is going to evolve and regularly declutter decor that doesn't align with your current style.

➡️ Want help with this part? Check out this post on how to conquer clutter with this Easy Mental Shift That Will Have You Decluttering Like Crazy!

A Cohesive Look In Your Home Starts With One Step

You don't have to fix everything overnight. If you crave a cohesive look in your home, pick one of the steps listed - color palette, defining your style, editing your inspiration, or decluttering your decor - to focus on in the next month. (Since your entry is the first thing people see, here’s how to style your entry table to create a cohesive first impression.)

When you get clear on your style so that you can narrow your focus and set some boundaries, you'll be amazed at how quickly your home starts to feel more cohesive - even if you're mixing interior design styles along the way.

If our homes are truly a reflection of who we are, they will be forever evolving. It's not about being perfect, it's about being intentional.

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P.S. What if I told you there's a whole new (and way easier) way to decorate your home—without the overwhelm, indecision, or endless Pinterest scrolling.