I USED to have a sign beside my desk which said "style is the perfection of a point of view".

A lucky few have the confidence to be very sure of the style they want in their homes, or their clothes, without needing the help of others. Many of us find inspiration from magazines, television and the internet. We are bombarded by images of wonderful homes, chic women in funky dresses or the ideal car for driving on Highland roads, and choosing what is appropriate for ourselves can be really tough. We are also beset by new collections which come out twice yearly, meaning that fashions in interior decoration come round more quickly than we can probably afford to follow them. Trends in interior design happen much more slowly, and it is worth remembering that the stunningly modern interior you admire today was probably conceived two or three years ago.

Knowing the style to choose for your home can be distilled down to your instinct, the shape of the house, what you have already and the depth of your pockets. I wrote recently about mixing old and new furniture in your home, which can easily be done, and now I want to look at some current styles and where they might best suit.

Having a traditionally furnished home does not mean that it has to be old-fashioned, and this style will work equally well in the town or the country. Finishes such as woven grass blinds, contemporary artwork and witty accessories can all contribute to lightening the look. One of the best things about traditional design to me is the excuse for masses of fabric, with heavy curtains blocking out the winter night, piles of lovely cushions and the soft, blurred edges of old things.

Many folk still hanker after the softer lines and cosier feel of a traditional interior. Take the country kitchen, which can be as appropriate in a Georgian flat as a Highland croft. To make it work you need to have a mixture of colours, fabrics, and disorder will win over precision. You can build up a collection of junk shop finds, quirky art, free-standing furniture and mixy-matchy crockery which will make the space very warm and welcoming. This is not for the minimalist.

I rather like the idea of living in an industrial space. I know people who have found and converted old factories, workshops, studios and school houses, which tend to have plenty of space and light. You can bring in the modern kitchen or the old, and have the chance to build an eclectic assortment of old and new furniture to fill the space. To me, the biggest challenge in creating a successful home from a large open area is having somewhere warm and enveloping to relax. These rooms can be rather chilly if not well heated, and the trend is away from swathes of fabrics. Personally, I love the idea of hangings and rugs on the walls and floors, so my style choice for such a home would be industrial meets ethnic.

Looking at all those glossy photographs, you may love the idea of a modern home, with white walls and straight lines. As we are advised to declutter our homes, the simplicity of a minimalist interior may seem very enticing, but are you sure it will be practical? I have great admiration for anyone who can maintain a very contemporary living space, and be that disciplined about avoiding clutter. Such homes can be stunning, and we are lucky in Scotland that we have a stream of new-build, architect-designed houses appearing in the landscape, many of which have amazing, modern interiors and complement both urban and country views.

Having recently finished the refurbishment of a rambling Edwardian house for my family, traditionally but with quirks, I am very tempted to decorate our new holiday home with a retro vibe. I have inherited a couple of pieces from the early 1960s, and I think the simplicity of the designs will suit a low-maintenance holiday home. The fabrics too can be young and lively with block prints and clever colour combinations. Quality post-war furniture and lighting can be expensive, but hunt around and you can pull together an interesting mix of old and new to breathe character into the most basic of spaces. Again this is a look which will suit town and country, old building or new.

I started by saying your home's style will depend on instinct, the space and your pocket. Modern is by no means cheaper than traditional, and, because it is currently in vogue, the industrial/retro look is getting increasingly pricey. Your most important asset has to be your instinct. Follow that and the rest will surely fall into place.

Mary Leslie BIID practises at Mary Leslie Interior Design, The Bothy, Rait Antique Centre, Rait, Perthshire PH2 7RT

www.mhleslie.co.uk