Who says research has to be boring? As Evan Thomas noted, sometimes it’s best to think of themes you like and explore them on Pinterest as your starting point. Once you see various examples, you should get a feel for whether that aesthetic will work for your space. For instance, if you’re interested in exuding a beachy vibe, search “beachy home interior” on Pinterest to understand how you’ll need to decorate your home to channel that aesthetic. Most examples of that beachy theme feature a mixture of white and light neutrals with blue and decorations that lean minimalistic rather than overly bold.

Meanwhile, if you search for inspiration for “industrial home interior” on Pinterest, you’ll find many interiors featuring dark browns, black, and gray. The decor in these homes is very no-frills, with a lot of brick detail and dim lighting. On the other hand, anyone interested in ’80s-inspired home decor will see that this theme typically requires decorations and even furniture with bright colors and lively patterns when searching “’80s home interior” on Pinterest. Thus, Thomas is right in that Pinterest will give you an excellent idea of how different themes look in various home interiors.