Look to the Stars
For expert advice, we turned to Carolyne Faulkner, author of the new book The Signs: Decode the Stars, Reframe Your Life (Random House, 2018). Faulkner, the in-house astrologer at Soho House group, also recently launched a DIY astrology site, dynamicastrology.com. Here, she reveals exactly why you should decorate for your Zodiac sign. “When I am working, everything has to be super tidy and organized, which is Virgo,” she says with a laugh. “I can’t stand clutter!” Read on for her sign-by-sign advice.
Aries: Go Deep
Forget myriad patterns—Aries prefer a granola look. “They tend to suffer from overstimulation, so they need to decorate in very low-key Moroccan themes,” Faulkner says. In terms of ideal palette, seek out “blood reds, rather than going for McDonald’s reds. They should go for more earthy tones to counteract all their fire.”
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Taurus: Jazz it Up
“A Taurus can tend to be a little too fixed and they can sometimes take the safe route when it comes to decorating,” Faulkner says. “What they need are some stimulating colors and stuff that would bring them out of their comfort zones, because they struggle with change. They need to try things on the walls that they wouldn’t necessarily choose.” You can always revamp the look. Experimentation itself is “hugely beneficial” for the tactile Taurus.
Gemini: Think Simple
Streamlined minimalism is the ideal decor vibe for a Gemini. “They can sometimes suffer from too many things left undone, so their decorating style needs to be really simplistic and something they can build on over time,” Faulkner says. “They will tend to take on too much and not finish half of it. So for them, everything needs to be minimalistic as a foundation.”
Cancer: Cozify Every Corner
“A Cancer’s big thing is protection and security,” Faulkner says. “They need to make sure for their own peace of mind that everything is safe and secure—their house needs to be really comfortable and warm. They don’t do so well with a Virgo-style house; Cancerians like old houses, Virgos like new houses. A Cancer tends to create spaces that are like wombs instead of rooms. As soon as you go in there you feel comfortable and nurtured.”
Leo: Bolder yet Wiser
What Leos want and need are two different things, Faulkner says. “Everything is about self-expression for them, so how they are feeling is usually how their place translates.” Usually, Leos inject bold statements, like multicolored patterns. “Like magpies, they like bright, shiny things, but actually, for them chaos is not so good. They’re very creative people. If they’re not allowed to be creative then they create drama and chaos. They need a calm, clear space.”
Virgo: Law & Order
“The perfect Virgo style house is one of those $42MM apartments where everything is white and silver and hidden!” Faulkner says. “They like everything to be controlled, because they’re terrified of their vulnerabilities.” In short: if you’re a Virgo, you’re probably a regular at The Container Store. “They need everything to be in order, clean, minimal. They’re the kind of people that have everything in closed cupboards.”
Libra: Art Reigns
Faulkner has a key word for Libras: luxury. “For Libra, everything is muted but very exquisite. They have most incredible art. I haven’t met a Libra yet who hasn’t cultivated a taste for art.” Place your favorite pieces across from your regular hangout spot (the sofa, the bed) for maximum enjoyment.
Scorpio: Base of Power
“We have this joke that scorpios usually have a lair, not a house,” Faulkner says. “Unless they’re not comfortable with their power. Scorpios are all about power.” For instance: “For a Scorpio, a bedroom is not merely a bedroom—it’s a boudoir.” Think large bed at the epicenter, with luxurious accents and accessories.
Sagittarius: Globetrotting Glamour
“A Sagittarius is a great adventurer, so usually they have more than one home and each one is decorated according to the style of whatever it is that they’re seeking in that country,” Faulkner says, noting that a Sag has very indulgent, expensive tastes. “They’d have a ski chalet, a place in Italy with best wine vineyards...they can be quite extravagant when it comes to their homes.”
Capricorn: Understated Elegance
Faulkner notes that Capricorns prefer the finest that money can buy—but they’re not flashy. “They like to have the best,” she says, “but it’s not necessarily showy. They would be the people that have the Ming vases. But unless you knew, you wouldn’t guess it was a Ming. It’s very understated, but very, very, very expensive.”
Aquarius: Quality Clutter
An Aquarius often prefers a look that’s very random and eclectic. “Their houses can sometimes look like old curiosity shops,” Faulkner says. “There’s always something to look at for beautiful and interesting, intellectual stimulation.” Think: artifacts picked up from an antique store. “For some strange reason, they love the color turquoise—it’s a real Aquarian thing.”
Pisces: Calm & Collected
“Everyone always says about Pisces, ‘Oh, they’re super laid-back and easygoing.’ Actually, because they don’t like feeling lost, they can tend to be quite controlling, so they micromanage little things which have a big impact.” How does that impact home life? “You can build the house around them, but don’t touch their bathroom,” Faulkner says. “If they’re guys, they need a man cave.” Pisces also prefer calm, and “though they wouldn’t be able to articulate it, they don’t like to be overstimulated as it causes anxiety.” One Pisces perk: They usually have “a very good eye.”
