Finding Inspiration in a World of Endless Options
The secret to finding ideas that feel like your own.
Let’s be honest… sometimes finding inspiration feels like chasing a unicorn. You sit down, ready to dream up a brand identity, pick out your first couch, or figure out the perfect shade of green for your first home’s living room, and suddenly you’re staring at a million tabs on Pinterest, overwhelmed and convinced that everyone else already knows what they’re doing.
You’re not alone. Inspiration is exciting, but it can also be exhausting when the internet is serving up 500,000 versions of “neutral living rooms” and not a single one feels like yours.
So where do you start?
1) Step Away From the Scroll
This might sound counterintuitive, but sometimes the best thing you can do is close the laptop. Go for a walk, flip through an old magazine, peek into a coffee shop. Inspiration hides in textures, typography, and the way light bounces off a wall. Honestly, my best ideas usually show up when I’m not even looking for them.
If you’re in Charlotte NC, check out Sumaq Coffee for some inspo ☕
Image credit: sumaqcoffeeclt.com
2) Find the Story First
If you’re branding a business, don’t start with the logo, start with the story. What do you want people to feel when they walk through your doors, scroll your site, or see your packaging? That story is the seed—the fonts and colors are just the branches.
Same with decorating a home. Don’t begin with the paint swatch, begin with the feeling. Cozy and relaxed? Bright and energizing? Once you know the vibe, the choices get easier.
Not saying every Jessica is a creative genius… but Jessica Helgerson Interior Design is pure inspiration when it comes to home design 🏠
Image credit: jhinteriordesign.com
3) Steal Little Moments (Not Entire Moodboards)
Notice the book cover that makes you pause. The café menu with lettering you can’t stop staring at. Even your favorite snack packaging can spark something. It’s not about copying, it’s about paying attention to what pulls you in… and then figuring out how to make it your own.
I haven’t made it there in person (yet), but one spot that’s always inspired me from afar is La Cubana in Toronto 🥪
Image credit: instagram.com/lacubana_to
4) Set Some Limits
Too many options = decision paralysis. Instead of typing “inspiration for living room furniture” and drowning in 50,000 results, get specific: “cozy modern beach house living room.” In design projects, I do the same. Set constraints and watch how quickly ideas start to take shape.
5) Keep an Inspiration Stash
Screenshot it, save it, clip it, throw it in a folder. Your future self will thank you. I have an “inspo” folder on my phone that’s an absolute mess, but every time I scroll through it, something jumps out and sparks a new thought.
6) Let It Simmer
Sometimes you have to give an idea space. Step away, take a shower, go grab coffee. The best ideas tend to sneak up when you’re not forcing them (looking at you, shower epiphanies).
Image credit: Axios Charlotte
Here’s the Thing —
Inspiration is everywhere, but the real trick is filtering it down to what feels like you. Whether you’re designing a brand or painting your baby’s bedroom, you don’t need the “perfect” answer. You just need something that feels true. Once you find that spark, the rest falls into place.
Stop scrolling, start creating.
If you’re new here, welcome!
Shokler Creative is where design, strategy, and storytelling meet. Whether it’s branding, web, or marketing campaigns, we’d love to help you bring your vision to life.
