(ARA) - The old adage states: “The only constant is change itself.” When it comes to home decorating, changing the style may seem overwhelming and expensive, but it doesn't have to be. New styles can be created by turning an eye to accessories and small details throughout the home, and it doesn't have to break the bank.

Changing the style of your home can be a gradual process and can be built around specific furniture or architectural details within a home. “Consumers may be bogged down or stuck in a rut, but they know they want to change or upgrade their décor. But they don't, or can't, change everything at once,” says Jacqueline Goewey, design editor for InStyle magazine. “They need to work with some things they already have which is why they've kept some home furnishings or collectibles all these years.”

Before transitioning to a new style, it is helpful to understand how designers categorize the styles most people choose from when decorating their homes. According to Kathleen Yates, Moen senior product manager, consumers typically decorate their homes in one of the three primary thematic approaches: casual/contemporary (also referred to as modern), traditional and country. The latter includes secondary themes such as Shaker, Country French and Mission.

How Do I Determine My Style?

But which style do you typically follow? Take the following quiz to see which one you are more drawn to:

1) Do you prefer:

A. Antique, nostalgic looks

B. Ornate designs

C. Simple, clean lines and geometric shapes

2) When choosing furniture, you gravitate toward:

A. Comfortable, overstuffed pieces with distressed and crackle finishes

B. Leather, cherry wood and dark stains

C. Light woods, like natural maple

3) When you accessorize a room, you would most likely choose:

A. Homemade items that make a room cozy and inviting

B. Family heirlooms, accented with items you've found at estate sales

C. New accessories that are placed sparsely and carefully throughout the room

4) Where do you do most of your home shopping:

A. Arts and crafts fairs

B. Estate sales, auctions and antique shops

C. A chic, modern home store or trendy mail order catalog

If you consistently choose A) then you're a little bit country; B) you're probably more the traditional type; and C) modern/contemporary/casual -- also known as transitional -- is probably your bag.

Can Style Be Easily Changed?

But what if your style is not as specific or you want to change your style? Not to fret -- there are fans of traditional, country and modern decorating styles, as well as those who believe it's fine to mix. Goewey's personal thoughts on home decorating? “Remember, not everything has to match -- the only 'rules' to follow should be your own.”

“For instance, my kitchen features a modern Moen faucet and sink, Jenn Air industrial-looking stainless appliances, all mixed in with small traditional hexagonal floor tiles, along with some white bead board wainscoting,” she notes.

Products that provide style versatility -- an ability to transform from one style to another -- are on the rise. Moen's Aberdeen pulldown faucet, for example, in a copper finish with two handles is the centerpiece of a grand country kitchen. Yet the same product as a single-handle stainless finished version is the epitome of a modern kitchen. In many cases, it is possible to change the look of a room by focusing on smaller accent details, rather than larger furnishings or appliances. In your kitchen or bath, you can simply change the hardware and handles. Replacing chrome hardware with polished brass can add warmth to a room, and adding ceramic fixtures in unusual shapes can bring a modern touch to the room. The same holds true with additional accessories -- by simply changing the den's throw pillows, pictures frames (remember you can keep the same family photos), and adding a slipcover or a new lamp shade -- you've got a completely new look for your room.

Another product which gives you a multitude of style options is Moen's Asceri Accent faucet and shower series. It provides more than a dozen different looks including florals, animal prints and beautiful mosaics. These are all easily changeable because of the M•PACT common valve system that allows you to change out the faucet and shower trim in just minutes without going underneath the sink or behind the shower wall. Changing the faucet just requires unscrewing the handles and spout, lifting them out and replacing them with the new style. Replacing the shower trim is accomplished just as easily. A completely new look can be achieved without going under the sink or behind the shower wall. The result? You can now change your style as easily as you change your mind.

The Origin of Style

And how are styles determined? Usually from consumers themselves. “When it comes to style, we continuously talk with our customers -- builders, builder design center consultants, plumbing wholesale associates and retailers -- along with a vast array of architects, interior designers and consumers,” says Yates.

“For instance, the furniture industry is a leading indicator of style trends. Interior designers also look to haute couture for more long-term trends -- the women's fashion industry can provide insight into home interior color and fabric trends.”

Goewey concurs. “We're seeing more decorating trends following fashion. In the past, fashion was very minimal -- now it's more established -- more ethnic or Bohemian in its details. So today's rules say it's okay to mix styles, for example, to put in a clean-line sofa in a more traditional setting.”

The bottom line? Goeway says: “Sometimes people don't necessarily have or want to 'label' their style. They just know what they like.”

Courtesy of ARA Content