Make Some Room
My style has evolved so much within the last 5 years, and I'm just now feeling like an "adult" with my interior style choices. Lets take things back a bit. In 2010, I had a bright yellow room with magazine cutouts taking over a whole wall, a fuchsia cushion mirror hanging from my closet door, a floral bedspread, and lastly but definitely not least, a hot pink faux fur rug that I had to beg my mom to get me. Clearly living life with no regrets here...
In my first apartment as an adult and a struggling fashion student in a new city, I was very financially limited, so i did a lot of upcycling. It might seem like a really good idea, which it was temporarily, except that I undecidedly had stepped into the shabby chic territory. Most of my furniture was sanded down, and painted white. Eventually, it looked like my bedroom had taken a day off from a "Cottage Decor DIY" magazine.
Now as an adult in the city (3 apartments in the making), I've been able to educate myself about different artists who make incredible pieces for your home. George Nelson is a genius (my hot pink rug self would be like "wtf who dat"). Although I am still not in a position to bring home a George Nelson Thin Edge Dresser for Herman Miller, I have found that I favor the mid-century and neutral-minimal styles over everything else.
I now don't purchase Goodwill furniture on impulse. I fall in love with a specific artist's way of designing a piece of furniture (whether it'd be shape, color, texture, etc.) and then I search Goodwill/ValueVillage/SalvationArmy/CraigsList until I have something similar. It's actually saved me lots of money by sticking to things I need, instead of collection random junk that I think I might use in the future.
Things I don't find at second hand shops, I usually find the similar next big thing at Ikea, Anthropologie, Target, Walmart, or Overstock.
My advice to you is to have fun with your style, don't invest in trends (*looks at pink fur rug*) and create an Interior board on Pinterest. Good luck!
Magazines: Kinfolk | Milk glass bowl: Goodwill; I use it to hold my watches | Gold Mini Goblet with Lid: Goodwill; used for stud earrings | Gold Stone Fruit Planter designed by Chen Chen & Kai Williams: Need Supply
By the way, I still do a LOT of DIY's, just a lot less shabby.
Painting by me, Agave print by @brollish | frames by IKEA | Candles: NaNin, Malin+Goetz Otto New York, Voluspa Anthropologie
Dresser: IKEA | Knobs: Anthropologie | Mirror: IKEA | Case Study Ceramic Pot: Modernica (this pot has been on my Wishlist for some time now and my lovely man surprisingly crossed it off for me for Christmas *cheers*)