How to Find Your Home "Signatures"

Think of this as your home’s “Big 3”.

If you’ve ever stepped into someone’s home and immediately thought, Oh, this is so them, you already know what we’re about to explore.

There’s a kind of invisible language that speaks through a home. Not just in the paint colors or the furniture, but in the energy of the space—the way it holds you, the way it reflects back who you are, the way the visit lingers with you long after you’ve left.

This happens because our homes are extensions of us.

And just like we have personal signatures like our go-to scent, our everyday coffee order (the kind the barista knows by heart), the way we sign off texts—our spaces hold signatures, too.

I touched on this in one of my FAVORITE Substack posts, "How to Discover Your Signatures," where I talked about finding the small, effortless ways we show up as ourselves.

Today, I want to help you find your home’s "Big 3" (yup, like in astrology). We’ll define the feeling, reflect on your home’s authentic personality, and the impression your space leaves others.

By the end of this post, you’ll walk away with three(ish) words that define your home. This practice was also inspired by the genius way Allison Bornstein helps people define their personal style through three words. But instead of your closet, we’re applying it to your entire space.

This practice isn’t about defining your interior design style in one elusive word (there are enough quizzes online for that). This is about discovering a language that helps you make sense of and celebrate all of your nuance so you feel at home while at home.

Because despite living within your four walls, you certainly don’t fit into a box. 

---

Why Home “Signatures” Matter

Let’s talk about why my concept of “signatures” is (IMO) actually life-changing and not just a cute exercise.

1. Signatures eliminate decision fatigue.

Have you ever stood in HomeGoods staring at a shelf of decor, feeling like technically any of these vases would work on your coffee table? And then you get home with one of the aforementioned vases and as you look at it, you’re not so sure anymore?

Without clear signatures, we make choices based on impulse, trends, or what we think sorta looks good. And that’s how we end up with clutter, regretful purchases, and a home that feels a little ‘random.’

Your signatures give you a filter. Instead of wondering, Does this look good?, you ask:

• Does this make me feel at home?

• Does this fit my home’s pre-existing and authentic personality?

• Does this support the experience I want to create for others I invite in?

If the answer is NO, you walk away (I’m holding your hand as I say this). 

If the answer is YES, you’ll know that the piece(s) you bring into your space feel like they belong.

2. Home Signatures create a home where your authentic Self wants to live.

Your home isn’t just four walls. Your home is a living, breathing, reflection of you. If you’re not intentional about its energy, it’s easy to lose yourself in the noise of decor trends, Pinterest boards (*the* ultimate rabbit hole), and whatever Instagram is screaming about this week.

But when you know your signatures, you stay true to your vision—not someone else’s aesthetic. You buy (and keep) things that genuinely resonate. You style your home in a way that feels intuitive, not forced.

3. Feng Shui teaches us to love everything we own.

In Feng Shui, every single object in your home carries energy. The question isn’t just, Does this match my decor?—it’s, Does this item support and match my personal energy and needs?

When you surround yourself with things that align with your home’s signatures, your space becomes magnetic and lovable. Every piece carries purpose, meaning, and resonance. And that’s the energy of a home that feels good.

So yes, defining your home signatures makes styling easier. But more importantly, it turns your space into an extension of your most authentic, nuanced self.

I’ll help you find yours — three words that map your home’s Big 3, like its own sun, moon, and rising. (Because let’s be honest, I know I’m not the only astro girlie here.)

---

Your Home Signature Word #1: The Feeling of Your Space 

When you walk through your front door, what’s the first feeling you want to be wrapped in, every single day? Like your moon sign reveals the emotional core of who you are, your home’s feeling should cradle and nurture you the same way.

Close your eyes and picture yourself arriving home after a long, hectic day (grocery store was too bright, someone in your DMs was unhinged, Mercury’s doing something sketchy in the sky again). You kick off your shoes, drop your bag, and take a breath. 

What’s the energy you need your home to wrap you in?

• Grounded – A home that anchors you, like stepping barefoot onto cool earth.

• Expansive – Light, open, and airy—like there’s fairy dust left on the shelves.

• Cozy – Warm, textured, soft—a “never leaving the couch” kind of space.

• Alive – Full of plants, color, and sensory richness, like a maximalist apothecary.

• Sacred – A sanctuary where your intuition gets loud and your soul feels supported.

Take a moment to connect with your first word. This is now part one of your Home Signature. You just defined the signature feeling you want your home to evoke in you, every day.

This word is particularly important because it will shape your rituals.

It’s the reason you always reach for the same chipped coffee mug, even though you have six others. It’s the fresh flowers you grab at Trader Joe’s without overthinking it, the candle you light the second the workday ends, the playlist that shifts the room from "email brain" to actual human being.

The rituals that make a house feel like home aren’t random — they’re extensions of the feeling you’re trying to live inside.
And once you know the feeling you’re aiming for, those small habits start to look a lot less random and a lot more like love notes to yourself.

---

Your Home Signature Word #2: The Personality of Your Home (Your Style & Decor Signature)

A lot of people define their home decor style in broad, soulless categories—boho, mid-century, modern farmhouse (I have my thoughts here). But we’re not doing that today.

Instead, imagine this: If your home had a style that felt less like a label and more like a personality, what would it be? Or to keep the astrology thread going — what’s your home’s sun sign? A Leo, maybe? (If so, your home is that girl.)

Here are some examples:

• “Collected and conversational” – A space full of stories. Think layered objects, art with meaning, and pieces with history. (You thrifted it, you manifested it, you fought for it on Facebook Marketplace.)

• “Romantic and nostalgic” – Soft, feminine, candlelit, full of old-world charm. (Stevie Nicks would absolutely write a song here.)

• “Minimal but meaningful” – Clean, considered, but with personality. (Think: white walls, but the one piece of bold art is eye catching and the couch is actually comfortable.)

• “Lush and a little bit extra” – Overgrown plants, deep jewel tones, textured fabrics in layered patterns. (Like a mystical greenhouse where you want to journal about your feelings.)

• “Timelessly quirky” – Classic, elevated, but with surprising moments. (Like if Diane Keaton and Harry Styles designed a home together.)

• “Cozy chaos” – Textured, layered, soft but alive. (You burn incense, your books are stacked high, and your furniture says, ‘stay awhile.’)

This is your home’s personality signature — use it specifically when making decor decisions, shopping, or debating whether that vintage lamp is your vibe or just the next cool thing you spotted while overstimulated at a bustling flea market.

Take note of the words you’re drawn to — and notice how they reflect something within you. Often, these vivid words represent an energy you admire and appreciate about yourself. And that's exactly the point.

---

Your Home Signature Word #3: How Others Feel (& What They Notice) When They Step Through Your Door

This is the word you can’t choose for yourself or define by yourself. It’s the way you make OTHERS feel at home when you welcome them to your home.

It’s your home’s Rising Sign: the first impression it leaves, the aesthetic people instantly pick up on, and the energy they quietly admire and remember.

I recommend you crowdsource this last word and spark some fun conversation with the people you often host.

Ask your out-of-town guests who stayed for a weekend and were dragging their feet on the way out, or the coworkers you recently had over for a pizza party and game night, or the in-laws you’ve hosted and went out of your way to impress.

To make it easy (just like I did in my original Signatures piece), you can simply copy and paste any of these texts:

TEXT OPTION 1:

“Hi love! Random question for you: if you had to describe the energy of my home in one word, what would it be? What’s the feeling you leave with when you’re here? And *bonus points* if there's a piece of decor, art, or even a detail in the space that’s stuck with you, I’d love to hear that too. You can also share what your home feels like to you if you're into it!”

---

TEXT OPTION 2:

“Okay, weird (but fun) question: What’s the vibe of my home? Like, if it had a personality or signature energy, what would it be? Is there something in the space that you always notice or associate with me? A certain piece of furniture, the lighting, the scent, even the snacks? Selfishly asking for a self-study moment. Happy to reflect back what stands out about your space too.”

---

TEXT OPTION 3:

“Hey, I’m doing a little reflection on my home and how it holds people, including my friends and community. When you think about my space, what feeling comes to mind? Is there a specific detail like an object, color, piece of art, or corner of the room, that you associate with me or that you always notice? I’m also happy to share what makes your home feel like you.”

---

TEXT OPTION 4:

“Working on defining my home’s ‘signatures’—the emotional energy, the style, and the little details that make it feel like mine. What would you say is the essence of my home? How does it make you feel? And is there something tangible you associate with it, like a certain object, scent, or moment that really stands out? If you’re inspired, I’d love to share what I love about your home, too.”

---

Their responses will tell you everything.

Look for the patterns — the feelings, the memories, or the little habits they’ve witnessed you doing almost subconsciously because you feel so at home. Or the details they always notice: the ceramic dishware you serve dinner on, the candlesticks you light on the mantle, the way your couch practically consumes them, making it hard to get up and leave.

Gather the words. Group them under one keyword that feels true to you. (No need to overthink it. This is a practice for clarity, not perfection.)

And once you have your Home’s Big 3? Come back and tell me your words.
I’m not just being polite — I’m genuinely dying to know.

LOVING THIS CONCEPT OF SIGNATURES? READ MORE BELOW: