Personalized Home Decor: Making Your Home Uniquely Yours

Lisa Gilmore Design - Personalized Home Decor

Personalized Home Decor for Spaces That Tell Your Story

A beautiful room is one thing. A beautiful room that feels unmistakably like you? That's where the magic happens. At Lisa Gilmore Design, we love layering patterns, textures, and finishing touches to make a space feel like home. And some of our favorite details aren't things we buy at all. They're the pieces our clients already own, love, and sometimes forget they even have.

Forgotten Treasures Make the Best Personalized Home Decor

Sometimes, the best personalized home decor is hiding in an attic, garage, or the back of a closet. These are the pieces you might overlook at first, but they have something no store-bought accessory can offer: a story. Give one of these forgotten treasures the right spot, and it might just become your favorite thing in the room.

Here are three examples of personal treasures that found their way into our clients' homes.

Jurassically Fabulous Personalized Home Decor 

On a recent install day, Lisa and Nicole were sorting through a client's books, vases, candlesticks, and other accessories to pull everything together for the big reveal. While poking around in the garage, Lisa spotted a paper-mâché dinosaur sitting on a top shelf, covered in dust.

Naturally, she asked Nicole what she thought. Was he weird? A little. Was he cool? Absolutely.

photo: Paper-mâché Dinosaur - Lisa Gilmore Design

Lisa had recently had the client's System of a Down concert tickets professionally framed for a gallery wall, so she knew there was a more unexpected, edgier side to their style. This dinosaur felt right at home in that mix. Nicole agreed, and they gave the wacky little guy a place of honor on the jewel-toned built-ins.

photo: Personalized Interior Design - Lisa Gilmore Design

They assumed he was one of the kids' art projects. Nope! He was actually made by the homeowner's husband in third grade, with his mom.

And the best part? He's now the client's favorite accessory in the room. Turns out, you don't always have to go shopping to find the perfect finishing touch.

photo: Dinosaur on Display - Lisa Gilmore Design

A Gallery Wall Grounded in Family Roots

A gallery wall is lovely, but you know what makes it even more special? When the pieces have a family story behind them.

When we were designing this home, we wanted to find a special way to honor the homeowner's father, who had passed away a few years earlier. One of the family's favorite pieces was a painting by William Pleasant depicting him in uniform, just after returning from the Army to his home in Savannah.

photo: Family Photo Wall - Lisa Gilmore Design

And this painting had a story of its own. Years earlier, a fire had damaged the family home, and the portrait was caught in it, too. But here's the thing: the marks left behind gave the painting an aged, almost antique look, and the family had always loved it that way. What some might see as damage had become part of the painting's character.

When we started talking about a gallery wall of family photographs, there was no question this portrait needed to be part of it. With the family's help, we brought it into the design and gave it a place right at the heart of the gallery wall.

It's a lovely reminder that a piece doesn't have to be perfect to belong in a beautiful home. Sometimes, the history it carries is what makes it special.

Lisa’s Childhood Art Becomes Personalized Home Decor

Not every meaningful piece comes from a gallery or an antique shop. Sometimes, it comes from your own childhood art box!

photo: Wallpaper Entry - Lisa Gilmore Design

This Picasso-inspired piece began as a school project when Lisa was in second or third grade. Her great-grandmother was an art teacher who taught her to paint and draw from a young age. Lisa regularly sent her great-grandmother drawings and art projects, and her great-grandmother occasionally sent them back with red marks and critiques. Apparently, she didn't believe in handing out participation trophies!

For some reason, this particular piece was a favorite. Her great-grandmother kept it hanging on her wall for as long as Lisa can remember. After she passed away, Lisa got the artwork back and had it specially framed.

Today, it has a place in Lisa's own home. It's colorful, wonderfully personal, and a little unexpected. And every time she sees it, there's a story behind it that no store-bought piece could ever replace.

FAQs: Personalized Home Decor

1. What is personalized home decor?

Personalized home decor is about creating a space that reflects the people who live there. From meaningful artwork and family heirlooms to unusual collectibles and objects with a story, these details give a home character that can't be replicated.

2. How can I personalize my home decor?

Start with the things you love and the pieces that tell your story. Display a treasured keepsake, incorporate artwork you've collected over the years, or give an unexpected object a place of honor. The trick is finding a spot where those personal touches feel right at home.

3. How do you incorporate sentimental items into interior design?

Think about an item's shape, color, scale, and story when deciding where it belongs. A meaningful object doesn't have to sit quietly on a shelf, either. Even childhood artwork or a handmade sculpture can become a striking focal point when given the right setting.

The Best Homes Have Stories to Tell

That's what I love about finding these unexpected treasures. Sometimes, all it takes is a fresh set of eyes to see something you've had for years in a completely different way. That dusty dinosaur might look like an odd garage find, but give him the right spot and suddenly, he's the star of the room. And when you discover the story behind him? Even better.

At the end of the day, personalized home decor isn't about filling a room with beautiful things. It's about surrounding yourself with pieces that mean something to you, whether they're family heirlooms, childhood creations, or a papier-mâché dinosaur you forgot you had. Those are the details that make a home feel like yours. And that's what we mean by liveable glamour.

Ready to make your home feel more like you? We'd love to hear what you're dreaming up. Fill out our design inquiry form, and our team will be in touch to talk through the details. For more behind-the-scenes peeks at our projects, design inspiration, and ideas for bringing a little liveable glamour into your home, follow us on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter.

Lisa Gilmore Design is a luxury interior design firm based in Tampa Bay, Florida, helping busy professionals fall back in love with their homes. Recognized as an Architectural Digest Leading Southwest Florida Designer and a Top 25 Design Florida Firm by Design + Decor, our work has also been featured in Florida Design, ASPIRE Design and Home, and Rue Magazine. We serve homeowners in Tampa, St. Petersburg, Clearwater, Hyde Park, South Tampa, and beyond.

Wallpaper Art: How to Turn Your Walls Into Art

WALLPAPER AS ART | LISA GILMORE DESIGN

What If Wallpaper Is Art?

Have you ever thought about wallpaper as art? Not as a backdrop, not as "the thing behind the art," but as the art itself? My friendship with Liz Lidgett, and getting to be part of her book, Art for Everyone, has had me noodling on this more than usual lately. We tend to think about art so one-dimensionally: something you buy, frame, and hang. But my job is to make a home feel unmistakably like the people who live in it, which means I'm always hunting for unconventional ways to sneak personality into a space. Wallpaper is one of my favorite tricks. It lets us pull art right out of the frame and let it take over an entire wall.

So what do we mean by wallpaper art? Think of it as wallpaper that plays the role traditional artwork might play in a room: creating a focal point, adding personality, and setting the mood rather than simply filling an empty wall.

Wallpaper Art Ideas From Our Recent Projects

I've been obsessed with wallpaper for years. It is, hands down, one of the fastest ways to completely shift the mood of a room – cozy, glamorous, moody, playful, you name it. Here are a few of my favorite wallpaper art moments from recent projects.

Oversized Floral Wallpaper as Art in a Feminine Primary Bedroom

Confession: I had this peony wallpaper tucked away for years before it finally found its home. I'm talking years, just sitting there, waiting for the right project to come along and deserve it. The second I saw this Clearwater condo's primary bedroom, I knew. Those oversized blooms practically take up the whole wall, and they do more heavy lifting than any framed piece could: instant softness, instant romance, zero extra effort. Moral of the story: if you love a wallpaper enough, hold onto it. Its moment will come.

photo: Floral Wallpaper - Lisa Gilmore Design

Geometric Wallpaper Shines in a Midcentury Primary Suite

This one started with a daydream about New York City hotel suites and that boutique, tailored-suit feeling they always seem to nail. I wanted this waterfront midcentury primary suite to have that same energy, so we built the room around a bold geometric wallpaper that channels it.

photo: Midcentury Wallpaper - Lisa Gilmore Design

The house has good bones and history we wanted to honor, not erase, but the goal was never to make it feel like a museum. It needed to actually work for the people living there today. That geometric print became the bridge: a little retro, a little unexpected, incredibly alive.

photo: Geometric Wallpaper - Lisa Gilmore Design

Statement Wallpaper Transforms a Coastal Condo Entry

A retired couple bought this condo with one very clear request: give us a Florida retreat that does not look like every other Florida condo. No seashells, no "beachy," thank you very much.

photo: Statement Wallpaper - Lisa Gilmore Design

They wanted to feel like they'd checked into a beautiful boutique hotel every time they walked through their own front door. So that's exactly where we started, right at the entry, with a wallpaper so striking it sets the whole tone before you've even made it to the living room.

photo: Wallpaper Entry - Lisa Gilmore Design

Wallpaper Art on the Ceiling: A Snake Print Surprise

This little second bedroom got a glow-up into a dressing room, and I was not about to let the ceiling be an afterthought.

photo: Ceiling Wallpaper - Lisa Gilmore Design

We papered it in a bold snake print, a choice that has no business working in a room this soft and feminine, and yet, it absolutely does. There's something so fun about looking up and getting a little surprise the rest of the room doesn't warn you about.

photo: Dressing Room Wallpaper - Lisa Gilmore Design

FAQs: Using Wallpaper as Art

1. What is wallpaper art?

Wallpaper art is wallpaper used as a statement-making design element rather than simply as a background. Oversized florals, murals, geometric patterns, and even ceiling wallpaper can function much like artwork in a room.

2. How can I use wallpaper as art?

Think of the wallpaper as the focal point. A bold mural behind a bed, a dramatic pattern in an entry, or an unexpected print on the ceiling can create the same visual impact as a large piece of artwork.

3. Is wallpaper art still in style?

Absolutely. Wallpaper is having a major moment, especially bold patterns, murals, textured designs, and wallpaper used in unexpected places. The key is choosing something that feels personal rather than simply following a trend.

4. Can wallpaper really replace artwork on a wall?

Definitely. A large-scale mural or bold pattern can create the same focal-point effect as a statement piece of art. The trick is to treat the wallpaper intentionally, considering scale, color, and what you want the eye to notice first.

So here's the thing about wallpaper art: it's not really about the wallpaper. It's about giving yourself permission to be a little bolder than you thought you were allowed to be. A peony wall, a geometric ceiling, a snake print where you least expect it. None of it is “safe,” and that's exactly the point. If there's a pattern you keep circling back to, take that as your sign. 

Ready to bring your own vision to life? Fill out our design inquiry form and we’ll be in touch to talk through the details. Want more of this kind of thing: behind-the-scenes project peeks, wallpaper obsessions, everyday liveable glamour? Come hang out with me on Instagram or sign up for our newsletter. 

Lisa Gilmore Design is a full-service interior design firm based in Tampa Bay, Florida, helping busy professionals fall back in love with their homes, from first consultation all the way to reveal. We work with homeowners in St. Petersburg, Clearwater, South Tampa, Hyde Park, and beyond.

How to Mix Patterns in Interior Design Without It Feeling Chaotic

Mixing Patterns in Interior Design: Why It Works (and Why It Sometimes Doesn’t)

Mixing patterns is having a moment right now.

Maximalism is back in the conversation. Pattern play is everywhere. Color is finally getting the attention it deserves. And while that’s exciting… it can also feel like a lot.

Because mixing patterns in interior design is one of the quickest ways to make a home feel layered, interesting, and full of personality.

It’s also the fastest way to make a room feel like it got away from you.

Most people don’t avoid pattern because they don’t like it. They avoid it because they’re not sure where the line is between curated and chaotic.

But here’s the part most people don’t realize.

This isn’t new.

Lisa Gilmore Design has been designing with color and pattern since the very beginning - long before it was trending, long before it felt safe. It’s always been part of how we see a space. Not as something to tone down, but something to build with.

Because when it’s done well, pattern doesn’t feel chaotic at all.

It feels layered. Collected. Full of personality.

And while you can absolutely experiment with this on your own, this is also where working with a designer makes all the difference. Our job is to create spaces that feel cohesive and elevated… often in ways our clients didn’t even know were possible.

Or as we like to say, creating something you never knew could exist.

Pattern Isn’t the Problem. Lack of Direction Is.

Some of the most beautiful rooms are full of pattern - florals, stripes, geometric shapes, textures - all layered together in a way that feels effortless.

And then you walk into another space with far less pattern… and somehow it feels busy.

The difference isn’t quantity. It’s direction.

When a room feels chaotic, it’s usually because nothing is leading. Every piece is trying to have a moment, but nothing is actually guiding the eye.

The rooms that work always have a starting point.

A rug. A fabric. A piece of art. A color story.

Something that quietly sets the tone and allows everything else to fall into place.

Once that anchor is established, pattern stops competing for attention and starts working together.

The Best Recipe for Patterns in Interior Design

There’s a difference between a room that feels decorated and one that feels collected.

A decorated room often looks like everything came from the same retailer. The patterns match, the colors coordinate, and everything feels… finished. In a way that can feel a little flat.

A collected room has more life to it.

There’s variation. A mix of scale. A little contrast. Pieces that feel chosen rather than assigned.

And this is where pattern really starts to shine.

When everything is trying to match, pattern can feel forced. But when a room is allowed to have personality, pattern becomes the layer that adds depth.

It should feel like the room came together… not like it was instructed to.

Because the goal isn’t perfection.

It’s presence.

Color Is What Keeps a Bold Room Feeling Calm

When people think about mixing patterns in interior design, they tend to focus on the patterns themselves.

But what actually holds a room together is color.

Color creates a sense of continuity. It gives your eye something familiar to land on as it moves through the space.

When patterns share a common color story, they stop competing and start relating to each other. A floral, a stripe, and a geometric can all live in the same room and still feel cohesive when color is doing its job.

Without that connection, even a few patterns can feel disjointed.

It’s not about limiting how many colors you use. It’s about choosing colors that belong together and allowing them to repeat in a way that creates rhythm.

That’s what makes a room feel layered… instead of overwhelming.

It’s Not About Doing More. It’s About Choosing Better.

There’s a common assumption that mixing patterns means adding more.

More pillows. More prints. More layers.

But the most elevated spaces aren’t the ones with the most going on… they’re the ones where every piece has a role.

A bold pattern that anchors the room.
A secondary pattern that adds contrast.
A quieter element that gives your eye a place to rest.

When everything is trying to stand out, nothing really does.

But when each piece is chosen with intention, the room starts to feel composed - even if it’s full of personality.

That’s the difference.

Not more pattern.

Better pattern.

FAQs: Mixing Patterns in Interior Design

1. How do you mix patterns in interior design?

Mixing patterns in interior design works best when the room has a clear direction. Designers focus on scale, color relationships, and balance so patterns feel intentional rather than overwhelming.

2. How many patterns can you use in one room?

There isn’t a fixed number. A room can handle multiple patterns when they are tied together through a cohesive color palette and thoughtful composition.

3. What patterns go well together in a room?

Patterns with varying scale - such as a large floral, a medium geometric, and a subtle texture - often work well together. The key is contrast with connection, so each element feels distinct but still part of the overall design.

At the end of the day, mixing patterns in interior design isn’t about getting it exactly right.

It’s about creating a space that feels layered, expressive, and a little more reflective of who you are now.

Because the most interesting homes aren’t the ones that played it safe.

They’re the ones that chose personality on purpose. The ones that allowed for color, contrast, and pieces that don’t all match perfectly… but somehow still belong together.

And when it’s done well, it doesn’t feel chaotic at all.

It feels settled. Comfortable. Lived in, in the best way.

If you’re ready to start designing a space that feels unapologetically you, we’d love to help you explore what’s possible. Follow along on Instagram, join our newsletter, or reach out when you’re ready to begin. Because the most beautiful homes aren’t designed for approval - they’re designed for living.

Lisa Gilmore Design is a Tampa Bay–based interior design firm specializing in luxury residential design for busy professionals. Known for creating vibrant, personality-filled homes, the firm blends artisan-crafted pieces, antiques, and custom elements to produce spaces that feel layered, distinctive, and deeply personal. Lisa Gilmore Design serves homeowners throughout Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Hyde Park, South Tampa, and clients around the world.

Interior Design Trends 2026: What Designers Are Actually Doing (and What They're Leaving Behind)

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INTERIOR DESIGN TRENDS 2026 - LISA GILMORE DESIGN

Which 2026 Interior Design Trends Are Worth It and Which Ones Are Fading

Every year, a fresh batch of interior design trends starts making the rounds. One list insists everything should be minimalist. Another declares color is back. Someone else says pattern is over. Then a week later… pattern is the most exciting thing happening in design.

It can start to feel like your home is supposed to reinvent itself every six months.

But the truth is, beautiful homes don’t work that way.

When clients ask me about interior design trends in 2026, what they’re usually asking is something much simpler: What still feels fresh… and what is starting to feel a little tired?

Because most people aren’t trying to chase trends. They just want their home to feel current, personal, and a little more reflective of who they are now.

And that’s where good design actually lives.

Interior Design Trends 2026: What Designers Are Actually Seeing

There are definitely shifts happening in interior design right now. Some trends are evolving in really interesting ways, while others are quietly stepping out of the spotlight.

What I hear most often from homeowners tends to sound like this.

Are Accent Walls Still in Style?

Accent walls haven’t disappeared… they’ve just grown up a little.

The old version of an accent wall was usually one random painted wall that didn’t quite relate to anything else in the room. Today, designers are creating intentional focal moments instead.

That might be wallpaper with personality, architectural paneling, a dramatic paint color, or built-ins that give the room a strong point of view.

The difference is that the moment feels connected to the whole design rather than looking like it wandered in from another room.

Are White Kitchens Going Out of Style?

White kitchens are not packing their bags and leaving anytime soon.

They’re timeless for a reason. White reflects light beautifully, it plays well with almost every material, and it gives a kitchen a sense of openness that people still love.

What is changing in many interior design trends for 2026 is how white kitchens are layered.

Designers are bringing in warmer wood tones, stone with natural movement, darker islands, and mixed metals to give white kitchens more depth and personality. Think of it less as stark white and more as white with character.

Are Black Finishes Still Trending?

Black is still very much in the conversation… but it’s being used more thoughtfully.

Instead of black showing up everywhere, designers are placing it strategically. A black window frame, a darker kitchen island, or matte black hardware can add just enough contrast to give a space some architectural backbone.

A little black can do a lot of heavy lifting.

Are Valences and Traditional Window Treatments Coming Back?

Window treatments never really disappear - they just get reinvented.

The overly formal, heavy valences of decades past aren’t exactly making a full comeback. But valances and more structured drapery designs are quietly returning, just in a much more tailored way.

Instead of layers of heavy fabric and elaborate swags, today’s versions feel cleaner and more intentional. Think structured valances, tailored drapery panels, and fabrics that frame the window beautifully without overwhelming the room.

When done well, they add softness, polish, and a finished look that simple blinds alone just can’t achieve.

The Real Trend: More Personal Homes

The biggest shift happening in design right now isn’t tied to any single material, color, or style.

It’s confidence.

Homeowners are becoming more comfortable creating homes that reflect their own personality instead of following every new trend that appears online. That might mean mixing patterns, layering color, displaying meaningful pieces, or simply choosing what they love and committing to it.

And honestly… that’s when design becomes interesting.

A home should feel like it belongs to the person living in it. Not like it was assembled from the latest trend forecast.

FAQs: 2026 Interior Design Trends

What are the biggest interior design trends for 2026?

Many interior design trends for 2026 are moving toward warmer, more personal spaces. Designers are incorporating layered materials, richer colors, natural textures, and custom details that give homes more depth and individuality.

Are accent walls outdated?

Accent walls aren’t outdated, but the approach has evolved. Instead of a single contrasting paint color, designers are creating focal moments through wallpaper, architectural details, or built-ins that feel intentional and integrated into the room.

Are white kitchens still popular in 2026?

Yes. White kitchens remain incredibly popular because they are timeless and versatile. Designers are simply pairing them with warmer materials like wood cabinetry, textured stone, and mixed metals to give them more personality and balance.

Trends will always come and go, but the most successful homes aren’t built around trends alone.

When you approach interior design trends in 2026 with a clear point of view, your home becomes something far more interesting. It reflects your life, your style, and the season you’re living in now.

And that will always feel better than trying to keep up with whatever the internet decides is trending next.

If you’re ready to start designing a space that feels unapologetically you, we’d love to help you explore what’s possible. Follow along on Instagram, join our newsletter, or reach out when you’re ready to begin. Because the most beautiful homes aren’t designed for approval - they’re designed for living.

Lisa Gilmore Design is a Tampa Bay–based interior design firm specializing in luxury residential design for busy professionals. Known for creating vibrant, personality-filled homes, the firm blends artisan-crafted pieces, antiques, and custom elements to produce spaces that feel layered, distinctive, and deeply personal. Lisa Gilmore Design serves homeowners throughout Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Hyde Park, South Tampa, and clients around the world.