When it comes to defining your interior style, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. The second you open Pinterest you’re hit with a million different aesthetic types. Not to mention, more than half of it already looks wayyy over budget. Narrowing down the best interior style for your wants and needs is no small task and oftentimes figuring out where to even start, is a job in itself. 

Beyond lookin’ cute, your space has to serve you. Yes queen! As with everything in your life, rightttt? You better make sure your home is operating at the level you need it to! So how could you possibly accomplish all of that without quitting your day job? I’ve got you!

This first step is learning your Enneagram. 

The Enneagram basically helps you determine your personality type and what drives or motivates you, for better or worse. You’ll get a better sense for defining how you view the world and see yourself as a part of it, plus things like how you react to times of stress or what you do in times of accomplishment. Knowing these things about yourself will help you better understand how your space needs to serve you, both functionally and aesthetically. 

Once you figure out which Enneagram best describes you, your path to a fab interior will be way more obvious:

1. THE REFORMER - TRADITIONAL AESTHETIC

Ones are defined as “The Rational, Idealistic Type: Principled, Purposeful, Self-Controlled, and Perfectionistic”

As a One you might want to consider a traditional aesthetic. Dark woods, built-ins and timeless pieces of furniture. Think PotteryBarn and the stately homes of the East Coast or Europe. Traditional aesthetics feel cozy and inviting. It’s the perfect style for you self-disciplined queens out there. The timeless style choices will ensure you don’t have to change things often and everything you own will serve its purpose for years and years to come. Consider getting mega organized with wicker baskets so you’ll always know where things belong. This style choice will ensure you never feel out of control and are always centered and super intentional in your space. 

2. THE HELPER - FARMHOUSE AESTHETIC

Two’s are defined as “The Caring, Interpersonal Type: Demonstrative, Generous, People-Pleasing, and Possessive”

Because Two’s are so empathetic, they have the hardest time identifying themselves as Two’s and instead relate to all the different types. If that describes your process with The Enneagram, take some time to reflect and really dive into the characteristics of Two’s! If that really is you, a Farmhouse style home could make the most sense. With lots of clean whites, organic birch woods and mix-matched flatware you’ll feel right at home. Farmhouse is a very inviting style with a mix of mediums, just like you! You can appreciate some greenery and more traditional pieces, but maybe throw in a few fun stripe prints or a chalkboard wall to keep things light and fun. For inspo you can always check out Joanna Gaines and her home brand Magnolia. You can’t go wrong!

3. THE ACHIEVER - SCANDINAVIAN AESTHETIC

Three’s are defined as “The Success-Oriented, Pragmatic Type: Adaptive, Excelling, Driven, and Image-Conscious”

Three’s are all about efficiency and function, hence the Scandinavian style. With a home that functions from a minimalistic, but still eye-catching, perspective, you’ll be sure to peak your productivity. As an achiever you’ll definitely want a home that you’re proud of and have put some considerable thought into. Scandinavian homes have clean, simplistic lines and cool, calming tones. For inspiration, shop through Ikea’s lookbook.

4. THE INDIVIDUALIST - MINIMALIST AESTHETIC

Four’s are defined as “The Sensitive, Withdrawn Type: Expressive, Dramatic, Self-Absorbed, and Temperamental”

Four’s spend a lot of time in their own heads deep in thought drumming up feelings and ideas. This brings a lot of things to the surface that then need to be expressed, hence why Four’s are oftentimes artists of some kind. A minimalist interior will leave room for your mind to wander, but not so far that you begin to distract or doubt yourself. Keeping things simple will ensure you’re not overwhelmed but also make the decision making process easier if you want to switch things up every now and then. With a minimalist home you can easily adjust the simplistic art you have on the walls for example, or even hang your own art! Consider giving yourself a room or a corner dedicated to painting or music or however you typically like to express yourself so you always have a space designated to that outlet for yourself. 

5. THE INVESTIGATOR - INDUSTRIAL AESTHETIC

Five’s are defined as “The Intense, Cerebral Type: Perceptive, Innovative, Secretive, and Isolated”

Five’s seek environments that will serve their problem-solver minds and offer the privacy they desire. Think lofts with brick, high ceilings, and exposed pipes. Five’s like to create and experiment and figure things out, like engineers. An industrial space will allow for exploration and lots of thought experiments. To create this feel in your home looks to metals and chromes, cement and matte black. Avoid wood or more organic feeling tones and stick to darker hues. For inspiration think about a cool lounge in a modern hotel or a whiskey bar. Try searching online for loft spaces or industrial design in general to get a feel for the colors and materials used to create this style. Restoration Hardware may also be right up your alley as well for inspiration.

6. THE LOYALIST - MID CENTURY MODERN AESTHETIC

Sixes are defined as “The Committed, Security-Oriented Type: Engaging, Responsible, Anxious, and Suspicious”

Sixes are big-time home bodies so it’s really important that your space feels safe and comfortable. With a mid-century modern style you’ll have style and function all in one. Lots of natural wood tones or even wood paneling, textural fabrics like velvet or leather, and soft lines will help you achieve this feeling. An easy way to bring this aesthetic into your home on a budget is with lighting (ceiling lights or floor lamps) and an accent chair. Mid-century style is sleek and very cozy so not wanting to leave the house will be totally understandable.

7. THE ENTHUSIAST - BOHEMIAN AESTHETIC

Seven’s are defined as “The Busy, Fun-Loving Type: Spontaneous, Versatile, Distractible, and Scattered”

As a Seven myself I can fully attest to a bohemian eclectic look for this Enneagram time. A little scattered and a whole lot of stoked makes for an interior that is a medley of beloved art, textures, and colors. Be careful not to get too crazy here or you’ll create a distracting space for yourself, rather, narrow it down to one or 2 statement items per room and then build the rest of your aesthetic around those pieces. This will make sure you have cohesive space that won’t amplify any feelings of scatteredness you might already experience. Think wicker and lots of lush greenery to achieve this vibe! Check out Anthropologie for inspo. 

8. THE CHALLENGER - URBAN MODERN AESTHETIC

Eights are defined as “The Powerful, Dominating Type: Self-Confident, Decisive, Willful, and Confrontational”

Eights are tactful and decisive so having a space that’s clean and tidy is key. An urban modern style will help achieve this feel even on an off day. Clean lines, modern textures and architecture will keep you focused and regimented. Think neutral color palettes like tan, grey, and white. Soft textiles and sleek lines will give you a space that walks the line between simple and compelling. The best starting point for this aesthetic is choosing your art. While it will likely be the hardest part and take some time for you, this will also help to give you more of a direction for your space so you can confidently move forward once you’ve made your decision. 

9. THE PEACEMAKER - CONTEMPORARY AESTHETIC

Nine’s are defined as “The Easygoing, Self-Effacing Type: Receptive, Reassuring, Agreeable, and Complacent”

Nines and twos are similar in their ability to empathize, making it a tough Enneagram type to nail down. The main difference with Nine’s are that they’re more self-effacing and complacent, whereas two’s are more outgoing. This makes nine’s more likely to be a homebody (similar to Sixes) too. With a contemporary aesthetic you’ll be sure to stay entertained and content at home with mixed mediums from mid-century to urban modern pieces. As somewhat of an empath, you’ll find many different styles appeal to you. Opting for a contemporary look gives you the flexibility to explore working with multiple style types in your home. Check out Article for inspo!

If nothing else, knowing your Enneagram will help you better understand your role in the world and how that may impact the way you communicate, how you perceive things, and even how others perceive you. Beyond that, it’s an amazing way to help you decide how to build a beautiful home and where to begin when deciding what style and function is best for you. 

At the end of the day, no system or personality test is going to be fail proof and everything here should be taken with a grain of salt. The Enneagram isn’t going to cause world peace or make your kids start cleaning up around the house, but it might just help point you in the right direction and get you thinking a little bit. Self reflection, no matter how you get there, will inevitably leave your space feeling more like you. And when that happens you’re bound to spark more creativity, be more productive, and just all around have a better mood honey! So do yourself a solid and reflect a bit on how your interior space can better serve who you are today.

 Nikki + The ALCIB Team~