At our firm, we love using Pinterest and find it an invaluable tool for better understanding a client’s interior vision and style. Many people just don’t know or can’t articulate their likes and dislikes but the old adage is true: a picture is truly worth a thousand words.
Many clients are adamant that they dislike "traditional" design or say they would never want anything "mid-century" or "bohemian" but when you show them images of actual pieces and spaces designed in those styles, they adore it.
Subscribing to labels is human and helps us wrap our brains around a big, ambiguous world but in design, as in life, we have to make sure they don’t limit us. A lot of design unfortunately is semantics and in order for us to suss out a client’s style, we have to suss out their personal vernacular. One of the most impactful tools, we find, is Pinterest.
I’m too busy...and I’m not techy. I can’t pin.
The simple (and it really is so simple) act of pinning things to categorized folders allows you to stay on task as you navigate the web all day-- quickly pinning an image that catches your eye knowing you can revisit it later, avoiding time-sucking web-surfing rabbit holes. More importantly, it allows you to start seeing through-lines, trends of things to which you are drawn. We can’t tell you how many people have changed course and solidified their style through looking back over those folders with us. (See our blog on using Katie Holmes as a muse for a client.)
But I hate that feeling of angst I get on social media, seeing people’s airbrushed lives and horrible comments!
Pinterest doesn’t have comments and while you feel connected, there is just so much less pressure to present yourself a certain way. We encourage people to make their Pinterest boards private for our purposes so they don’t feel unnecessarily compelled to impress anyone. We know the latest Insta-stars’ spaces are amazing and everyone goes nuts for them but if that’s not how you personally want to live, that’s so ok. In fact, that’s great. It’s the first step in understanding your unique style.
Another reason we encourage secret Pinterest boards is so you can pin spaces you know you don’t like. We want to know what to avoid. It’s often more important to know what you don’t like rather than what you do. Our job is to push you as much as you allow us, creatively. If you can show us that a certain furniture style or color scheme offends you… we are still free to push the envelope... but within your boundaries.
Pinterest is fun and positive!
Pinterest is the only social media platform reported by users to increase happiness and confidence while using it. Search for your favorite travel destination... or car, flower.. or even old movie and, with two or three clicks, save it into a folder of like things. You’ll barely remember you did it but later when you have a few moments, you have your own personal respite from the world.
Communication is the key to a well-designed space and a well-designed collaboration between you and your interior designer. While it’s not a necessity nor required, we find that communicating through the ease of Pinterest is a great way to set up our partnership for success. Happy pinning!
Click here to book a free Discovery Call with us and let's explore your personal style!
Comments