For many, the main goal of home decorating is to make sure that every element in a room matches every other. Does the couch match the drapes? Does the wall color match the area rug? Well, there's a decorating style that dispenses with this obsession for matching, and it's growing in popularity. Called eclecticism, it's about putting different elements together with a sense of freedom, and it can lead you to a whole new level of creativity in home decorating.

Sherry Koppel is an interior designer and color consultant who has been creating unique personal spaces for 25 years. Her homes have appeared in House and Garden and Metropolitan Home and she has been featured in the Chicago Tribune Magazine. Here she offers tips to help you create an eclectic personal space that reflects your personality and taste:

• Mix and match.
  In Koppel's living room there are chairs from the 40s, love seats from the 70s, and a lamp from the 30s. It all works together, she says, because she believes in it, and her eyes can see how the elements create a unique whole. This is the main tenet of eclectic design- that interesting contrasting pieces can create a beautiful space.
  
• Bargains.
  Eclectic decorating is easy for bargain hunters, because great vintage items from various decades can always be found at flea markets and garage sales. You can scour such locations and never find two matching lamps, but if you like the look of two different lamps, then you're all set.
  
• Inspiration.
  Koppel suggests you turn to books and magazines for inspiration and remember unique pieces of furniture or decorative art that catch your eye. If you like the look of a certain sofa that you see in an advertisement, for example, you can imagine what it would look in a room without worrying about extending the color or pattern to the other elements.
  
• Your style.
  Eclecticism is all about decorating to please yourself, rather than your neighbors or guests. The things you buy should express your personality, and even though they may not match in a traditional sense, they will go well together because they are all things that you like.

For more information about interior design and decorating, check out the following organizations or websites:

BHG.com: Decorating Center
www.bhg.com

Interior Design.net
www.interiordesign.net

Yahoo: Home Decorating
http://dir.yahoo.com

Decorator Secrets
www.decoratorsecrets.com

Free Interior Decorating Ideas
www.free-interior-decorating-ideas.com

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