This Months Dirty Little Secrets

*Work with one small space at a time   Try to create vignettes and groupings of seating with furniture that provide additional conversation areas and help break up your room. Don’t just throw a comfy sofa in a room next to the hand-me-down coffee table and call it a day; it will feel empty.

*Kick out the hangers-on   I have literally been in hundreds of homes, and it’s inevitable. Somewhere in the home you can find a hideous futon, halogen lamp, or other item leftover from someone’s college days. Think about a before-and-after picture of your room makeover that rids you of these impersonal standard-issue items.

*When working with wood…   Many design styles will call for lots of wood furnishings. Avoiding buying a set of furniture or decor is a great way to save money and stay original, but that means you need to have an eye for matching distinct items. When purchasing wood furnishings, a good rule of thumb is to not have the color of all the wooden items in a space differ by more than three shades. If you absolutely love a piece but it is too dark or light, you can always sand it and add a new finish