How to Decorate For Your Myers-Briggs Personality Type (NFP)
Let your home interiors reflect and complement your Myers-Briggs personality type
Melody Bay
18 July 2017
Houzz Singapore Contributor. A freelance design journalist who loves to write about organisation, and decorating ideas that won't break the bank. When I'm not writing about design, I'm either geeking out about linguistics (I'm a postgraduate student at the National University of Singapore), doing some calligraphy, or playing the drums.
Houzz Singapore Contributor. A freelance design journalist who loves to write about... More
The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator is a popular psychology tool for analysing personality traits – you may have seen DIY versions and tried it on social media. There is an official test on MBTI Online. There are 16 types based on these four categories:
In this first part of our ongoing series on decorating for your MBTI personality type, let’s look at:
The ENFP type: You thoroughly enjoy the social and emotional connections you form with other human beings. A free spirit, you hate being stifled by rigid rules and boundaries, and much prefer to have the space to do what you like. You also detest the tedium of everyday administrative details – you’d much rather look at the bigger picture. While you’re often the life of the party, you do have moments where you need to retreat from the noise of the world sometimes.
The INFP type: You’re a quiet dreamer with lots of imagination and creativity. Like your extroverted counterpart, you enjoy connecting with other people – but rather than being a social butterfly, you like to focus on a few true, meaningful relationships. You’re also an idealist, sometimes to a fault.
Check out these decorating ideas to suit these personality types.
- Energy source and direction: Extraversion (E) or Introversion (I)
- Information processing: Sensing (S) or Intuition (N)
- Decision-making: Thinking (T) or Feeling (F)
- Dealing with the outside world: Judging (J) or Perceiving (P)
In this first part of our ongoing series on decorating for your MBTI personality type, let’s look at:
The ENFP type: You thoroughly enjoy the social and emotional connections you form with other human beings. A free spirit, you hate being stifled by rigid rules and boundaries, and much prefer to have the space to do what you like. You also detest the tedium of everyday administrative details – you’d much rather look at the bigger picture. While you’re often the life of the party, you do have moments where you need to retreat from the noise of the world sometimes.
The INFP type: You’re a quiet dreamer with lots of imagination and creativity. Like your extroverted counterpart, you enjoy connecting with other people – but rather than being a social butterfly, you like to focus on a few true, meaningful relationships. You’re also an idealist, sometimes to a fault.
Check out these decorating ideas to suit these personality types.
Deck out your social spaces in comfort and style
For both -NFP types, inviting someone to your home is a big deal – it’s a sign that you trust that person and cherish your friendship enough to allow them into your space. A bright, comfortable living space is essential for entertaining your friends.
A modular sofa like this one provides sufficient seating that’s adjustable when you need it, and is far less formal than two sofas facing each other. Plus, you get to put your feet up! Add in cushions and throws for extra comfort.
For both -NFP types, inviting someone to your home is a big deal – it’s a sign that you trust that person and cherish your friendship enough to allow them into your space. A bright, comfortable living space is essential for entertaining your friends.
A modular sofa like this one provides sufficient seating that’s adjustable when you need it, and is far less formal than two sofas facing each other. Plus, you get to put your feet up! Add in cushions and throws for extra comfort.
Feel free to give your creative side free rein in your living space; quirky decor makes for a good conversational piece. Don’t worry if things aren’t in the same colour scheme – if they’re pieces you truly love, like a chair in your favourite colour and a rug purchased on your travels, they’ll lend your home plenty of personality.
Make a gallery wall or collage out of your favourite art pieces and quotes
Since you tend to look at the big picture, a collage out of cherished pictures and quotes is just the thing to reflect your personality in your home. It doesn’t just have to be flat pieces: they can be items as random as an interesting hook or a wall scone. Here, the pot lid and toy abacus mounted on the wall make for some interesting talking points.
Since you tend to look at the big picture, a collage out of cherished pictures and quotes is just the thing to reflect your personality in your home. It doesn’t just have to be flat pieces: they can be items as random as an interesting hook or a wall scone. Here, the pot lid and toy abacus mounted on the wall make for some interesting talking points.
Collages can work in private spaces, like the bathroom, too. A medley of travel pictures gives you something to daydream about while soaking in the tub, or a group of hand-lettered quotes from your favourite books if you’re a literary junkie.
Smaller items work well in a collage over a desk space, though choose them carefully – they can be more abstract or motivational, so as to avoid being a distraction from work.
Keep your desk simple and free of clutter
Since mundane, administrative details don’t appeal to you, neither will a cluttered desk strewn with mail and papers.
Keep your desk empty and free of all these by using drawer units, or consider going paperless with a scanner and shredder system. The things that you choose to leave on your desk should be items that make your desk feel more homely: a plant, for instance, or a few well-loved pieces of stationery.
Since mundane, administrative details don’t appeal to you, neither will a cluttered desk strewn with mail and papers.
Keep your desk empty and free of all these by using drawer units, or consider going paperless with a scanner and shredder system. The things that you choose to leave on your desk should be items that make your desk feel more homely: a plant, for instance, or a few well-loved pieces of stationery.
If drawer units are too cluttered for you, consider wall storage instead. The sleek facade of a cupboard can hide even the most jumbled of stationery messes, leaving you to focus on the important work on your desk.
If you’re an ENFP who can’t sit still for long, consider a standing desk. It doesn’t have to be expensive: even a shelf, like this one here, will do for someone who doesn’t require much space. Add a barstool for a seating option when you’re tired of standing.
If you’d prefer more flexibility, another option is to purchase a desk with adjustable legs.
Browse home office designs
If you’d prefer more flexibility, another option is to purchase a desk with adjustable legs.
Browse home office designs
Keep your dining space cosy for quality time
Having a meal with loved ones is important especially for the -NFP types, who value emotional connection and quality time. Keep things cosy and intimate with a dining nook: a banquette bench provides more space for seating, and fits well in a small flat.
Having a meal with loved ones is important especially for the -NFP types, who value emotional connection and quality time. Keep things cosy and intimate with a dining nook: a banquette bench provides more space for seating, and fits well in a small flat.
Banquette seating also provides lots of hidden storage options, which is perfect for storing extra placemats, or board games for family time.
Browse inspiring dining room ideas
Browse inspiring dining room ideas
Give yourself a dedicated space to unwind and daydream
Though it may be tough to carve out some personal space in the bustle of a family home, it’s essential for the ENFP or INFP to have their own retreat – even if it’s just a corner of a room. Ideally, it should be a place where you can let yourself unwind and be alone, but it can be in any form that suits you.
For the bookworm, it can be a cosy reading nook positioned just below a window, with plenty of space for your favourite books. All you need are some cushions and a low, sturdy surface to position next to the window – preferably with storage space beneath.
Though it may be tough to carve out some personal space in the bustle of a family home, it’s essential for the ENFP or INFP to have their own retreat – even if it’s just a corner of a room. Ideally, it should be a place where you can let yourself unwind and be alone, but it can be in any form that suits you.
For the bookworm, it can be a cosy reading nook positioned just below a window, with plenty of space for your favourite books. All you need are some cushions and a low, sturdy surface to position next to the window – preferably with storage space beneath.
If you can afford the space, a bathroom can be transformed into a spa sanctuary for you to relax after a day’s work – add candles and thick fluffy towels for extra luxe.
Are you an ENFP or INFP? What are your must-haves in the home? Share with us in the Comments.
Are you an ENFP or INFP? What are your must-haves in the home? Share with us in the Comments.
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Do you think what a INTP/J (borderline on P/J) is in terms of decorating....the guy that did my test said that i must have a lot of internal conflict being in the middle of P - J ......yes, that is about right....!!!! :o)
To Creatively challenged. I am also borderline f/p.. internal conflict to be sure! But on the plus side both are helpful at times drawing on one strength or the other when needed. As to the above article, as an INFP, I like pastel colours, shabby chic/French laundry with splashes of vibrant to add some “Wow!!” My bedroom is my sanctuary.
This got me crying. Thanks for all the great ideas. Making sense of physical chaos is not my forte. This was very calming. Thanks for all the encouragement to let go of clutter and stop worrying about each and every design "rule." I needed that today. -ENFP