Proceed carefully when purchasing the big, more expensive items. Make sure they’re timeless. You can take risks with the small stuff.
Good design isn’t about making everything in a room match. Classic pieces can go well together regardless of period or style.
Start your design project by considering the nature and function of a space and let that determine how to proceed.
Use all your living space. Don’t keep some rooms as "museums" for those rare special occasions.
Mirrors can be magical. They enliven walls, they’re usually less expensive than artwork, and they add light and space to a room.
Look through magazines and books to see what appeals to you and—just as important—what doesn’t.
You need a refuge, a place that you love to come back to at the end of the work day. Put money aside for furniture the way you would save for a new car—even if it’s only $25 a paycheck.
Make all the world your furniture store, from auction houses to garage and estate sales and flea markets. And don’t be too proud to check out what others have discarded curbside.
