In 2012, a pair of researchers at Northwestern University ran an interesting experiment. They asked participants to complete attention tasks while wearing different clothes. When people wore a white lab coat they believed belonged to a doctor, they made almost 50% less errors compared to those in street clothes.
But when the same coat was described as a painter's smock, their alertness to the tasks was reduced entirely.
The researchers called it "enclothed cognition." That is, the systematic influence our clothing has on how we think, feel, and act. A comprehensive 2023 review later analysed 105 effects from 40 studies, confirming the finding: what we wear shapes our psychological perception of ourselves every single day.
Think about what this means. Every morning when you get dressed, you're making sophisticated design decisions. You're considering colour harmony, proportion, texture, how pieces work together, and how the whole outfit makes you feel, think, and behave. You do this automatically before your first cup of coffee.
Research shows that design is an acquired skill, not an innate talent. And you've been acquiring design skills your entire adult life, every time you choose what to wear. The ability to coordinate your clothes defines how you will feel, think, and behave on any day, and can coordinate your living room to define how you experience the space.
If that's the case, why are we not confident in designing our spaces?
The profit motive behind your hesitation
The design industry doesn't benefit when you trust yourself. It benefits when you believe you need saving.
Think about the messaging you've absorbed over the years of home design content. Magazines like Architectural Digest showcase spaces you could never recreate affordably. Shows like Extreme Makeover, where professionals swoop in to rescue homeowners from their terrible taste. Articles warning you about costly mistakes only experts can prevent.
The subtext is always the same: you can't do this alone, and you shouldn't try.
But, as we've seen from the Northwestern study, you're already doing it alone every time you get dressed. The stakes are just different in spatial design.
If you mistakenly buy a $40 shirt that you don't like, you can hide it in your closet until you can give it away. A $2000 sofa might not be as easy to let go of if it doesn't vibe with your space. Higher stakes can trigger self-doubt, making you vulnerable to the message that you need professional intervention for every decision.
What 2026 reveals about changing attitudes
The design landscape is shifting to a more authentic zeitgeist in both fashion and interior design. Brad Ramsey, principal designer at Brad Ramsey Interiors, summarises this shift well when he notes that design is becoming "less about chasing a specific look and more about reflecting the people who inhabit the space."
The all-white walls aesthetic that has dominated interiors for the last couple of years, designed for resale value, is out. Spaces created purely to photograph well for social media and trends are taking a back seat. As Tokyo architect Keiji Ashizawa observes, "memorable interiors aren't those with the strongest statements, but the ones where people naturally want to stay longer."
Translation: your comfort matters more than what's trendy. Your authentic taste matters more than following someone else's rules.
The same shift is happening in fashion. Celebrity stylist Anna Lavo agrees with this sentiment in a Parade.com article. Shoppers in 2026 will be focusing on pieces that speak to their unique tastes rather than fleeting trends. Small, intentional edits instead of dramatic overhauls driven by what influencers say you should want.
People are waking up to something the industry hoped they wouldn't: you already know what you like. Now don't be afraid to show it.
The role of design support
This doesn't mean professional design support has no value. It means the value isn't what you've been sold.
You don't need someone to tell you what to choose. You need someone to help you trust your choices and asks the right questions to help you access your own.
Does this sofa make you feel relaxed or restless?
Which of these colours makes you want to spend time in this room?
If you could only keep three things in this space, what would they be?
You have answers to all of it, and the right support doesn't replace your instincts; it amplifies them.
This is why we created our design transformation experience. For $850, you get tailored support that meets your specific needs and lifestyle. Genuine guidance that helps you create a space that reflects your identity, plus the long-term confidence to evolve that space as you grow.
What changes when you trust yourself
As we've seen above, the cognitive tools you use to coordinate an outfit are transferable to interior design. Colour theory, proportion, texture, creating visual flow, these are design principles you've been practising every day.
The design industry profits when you believe you lack something you actually possess. Your self-doubt is someone else's business model.
But 2026 is proving that people are done chasing looks that don't reflect who they are. The same choices that help you walk out the door feeling confident every morning can help you create a home that is authentic to you. And you need support that believes in what you already bring to the table.
Ready to trust yourself?