Getting Started

People tell me all the time that they WANT to decorate, but they never do it because they're worried about making an expensive mistake. That's a pretty fair concern. Furniture, fabric and paint can be expensive and what do you do if you end up not liking it when you're finished?

With that concern in mind, I have developed some helpful hints that I hope will help you feel more comfortable about making decorating decisions for your home. I have also listed here some tips for saving money.

Tip #1:
Go buy all the decorating magazines you can get your hands on or, if you can, go to the library. They give away old copies and back-issues of most major publications for free. Flip through each magazine and mark with a sticky note EVERYTHING you like. (Write on the sticky note what it was you liked, otherwise you might go back and wonder what in the world you were thinking when you marked a certain page. Trust me...I've done that.)

If you like the overall color scheme, mark it. If it's the curtains in the room that appeal to you, mark it. If it's simply the style of the room, mark it...or even if it's just a pair of lamps, mark them.

After you've marked everything, go back and see if you spot a trend. If most of the rooms you have marked are modern, well then modern is your style. If they're traditional...you're a traditional gal (or guy).

Then move on to colors...if you tended to appreciate softer colors more so than bolder colors, this will tell you a lot about the "feel" of your room and the kind of colors you should select. If you prefer bold colors...take that to be your direction.

In my opinion, if you continually find yourself drawn to the same style and colors over and over, you can feel more confident about your purchases and your design decisions and then it won't be so scary to take the leap.

And what if you liked EVERYTHING you saw? Well, you are what we like to refer to in the biz as "easy to please" and we like you very much.

Tip #2:
Before you commit to a paint color, choose your fabric first! Use the fabric swatch to then choose your paint color. You can do it the other way, it's just more difficult and takes a deep faith in the decorating gods. It's much easier to have paint mixed to go with your fabric than it is to find fabric to go with your paint color.

Tip #3:
Paint a swatch on the wall and live with it for 24 to 48 hours. You want to see how the movement of the sun will change the color throughout the day. This is a mistake even pros make. I once painted the den in our old house a soft olive green...at least that's how it appeared at around 3:00 in the afternoon when the sun was on the other side of the house. First thing in the morning, when the sun was shining directly into the room, it was neon green.

That was an expensive mistake...not so much in terms of dollars, but DEFINITELY in terms of hours spent listening to my husband complain while he re-painted the den.

Tip #4:
Think about flow. In today's open-home floor plans, rooms should flow seamlessly from one to the other. A good general rule of thumb is to have a "master color" that shows up in every room. That way the change from room to room is more subtle and not so abrupt.

Tip #5:
Splurge on the upholstered furniture in your home that gets the most use...like your sofa. Think of it as an investment for your rear end. A well-made sofa in a neutral color (with down stuffing and the best-quality fabric you can afford) will last fifteen or twenty years and remain as comfortable as when you first brought it home...even with kids! If you get tired of the upholstery, it's worth it to have a well-made sofa re-covered...and whatever you do, opt for the scotch-guard protection!

If you or your spouse is particularly tall...say six feet or taller...you should both shop for your sofa together. My husband is 6'4" and it took us seven years and three sofas before we finally found one that "fit" him.

Tip #6:
Don't splurge on anything made of wood...like tables and side chairs. I have just two words for these things...Goodwill, baby! Once you have determined what kind of furniture you need, start haunting second hand stores, flea markets and antique malls. If you're patient, you'll find what you're looking for at a significantly lower price. You may have to refinish it or paint it, but it's worth it for the savings.

And not only that, I believe that most older furniture is made a lot better than new furniture. Back in the day, they used real wood as opposed to the veneer and particle board they use today and it holds up to the wear and tear of everyday life a lot better.

Tip #7:
Don't worry about things being too trendy. If you like it today, you'll probably like it tomorrow. Most home decorating trends seem to me to have a life span of about ten years. After a decade, you'll probably be ready for something different anyway...so don't sweat it.

Tip #8:
Shop everywhere!! You'll be amazed at where you get the coolest stuff at the best deals. These days most of the chain stores carry accessories, lamps and artwork that is remarkably similar to everyone else's. If you're willing to step out of your comfort zone a little, hit a few yard sales, flea markets and starving artist shows, you just might something interesting and one-of-a-kind that no one else but you will have.

Tip #9:
I know it's a pain to help people move, but do it! If you do, you'll be the first one to get the hand-me-down armoire when your friend realizes it won't fit in the new house. Also, this is a very important phrase....learn it, memorize it, live it. Repeat after me..."You're not going to throw this away, are you?" This one little sentence gets you THE BEST FREE STUFF! You'd be surprised how many priceless family treasures people are willing to just give away simply because they don't want to mess with moving it.

Tip #10: (and probably the most important)
If you like something, it doesn't matter what anyone else thinks. There should always be a place in your home for the things that make you happy to look at. Now, if you're my husband, that place might be in the basement, but still...there's always a place.