When you walk through your front door, what do you feel?  Are you at ease and happy the minute you get home?  Or is it quite opposite, are you tripping over shoes, dog toys, bookbags, lunch boxes, and completely unsettled with the way your home looks? If you are overwhelmed by chaos, or your home is telling the story of how un organized, and unsure you may be, then you most likely need to change some things.  I feel the greatest homes reflect the personalities of who lives there and where they have been.  Your home should almost tell a story, where have you been, what do you like, what makes you happy….However, the story does not have to begin and end all in one place.

Often times it is better to decorate in stages.  I look at decorating as an evolution of great finds.  It can be a very daunting task to approach decorating head on, all at once.  Instead, why not buy one great piece and let the room tell your story for your.  I found fabulous storage totes in amazing colors and patterns one day.  I loved them, absolutely had to have them, bought them, and decorated the entire room around them.  It’s less intimidating and more fun when you decorate in stages.  I like to tell my clients decorating is like a never ending story, you can always find new pieces or even new uses for existing items.  One of the most fun parts is realizing you had the perfect piece all along.  The old trunk you had in the attic, can be turned into a coffee table on wheels.  Or that really fun fabric you have had in your closet for years can be used as pillow covers, or even that old kitchen table in the garage, spice it up with some fun paint and put it in your childs room for a great desk, pile the kids toes and shoes in baskets under the table by the door.  You will be amazed at what inspires people to decorate, and how everyday common items can have a variety of  different uses you just have to look a little deeper.

One trick I like to use when inspiring people to decorate, or re-decorate their homes, is to take a survey of your wardrobe.  What colors do you absolutely love wearing.  What fabrics are you drawn to while shopping.  If you tend to buy mostly black and white, that’s OK, but how about throwing a pattern in there, or add some drama with a splash of red, or pink with throw pillows, and accented curtains.  Sometimes the smallest amount of color can change the entire look of a room.  But don’t forget about using texture as well.

The second tip, or question I like to ask when decorating is what colors make you happy?  Do you absolutely love the  color blue?  Does it remind you of the ocean and that amazing trip you just took to the Caribbean with crystal clear water and even clearer skies?  Then paint your walls blue.  Every time you walk into the room you will be reminded of your fun, peaceful vacation.  Or do you love yellow?  A bright sunny yellow wall can be a great starting place to tell your story.  Yellow is a happy color, every time you walk into the room regardless of your mood it should snap you out of it, because it’s so fun and energetic.  (Be careful with where you put color though, you most likely don’t want your bedroom sunny yellow, you will never get an ounce of sleep)! If you are not that daring start small, buy a yellow tea pot, or fun colored pots and pans.

Chosing paint color is a fine place to begin your tale, but it’s just that, a beginning.  It takes texture, patterns, colors, furniture, lamp shades, window treatments, and personal style to mix and match and “bloom your room” with flair. Don’t forget everything does not always have to match.  Mix it up with a polka dot bedskirt, and a checked curtain, add a flowered comforter with a paisely blanket folded at the bottom, an assortment of different throw pillows,  in different fabrics and patterns, and a solid matching color sheet for the perfect “you” inspired room. 

Just keep size in mind, this is one of the most important design elements, when mixing fabrics and patterns.  I like to pick one larger pattern and 3 or 4 medium and small patterns.  Of course you want to make sure you are repeating the same color scheme, but don’t be afraid to try something that you think will absolutely not match, once you get it home, nine times out of ten you will be surprised with what you have found. 

My last tip of the day is decorating does not always have to be new.  You can find some really amazing pieces to mix into your modern setting if you look in the right places.  Flea markets, antique stores, grandma’s basement, the perfect pieces are out there, you just have to keep your eyes open!  And don’t forget a touch of drama can add fun and funk to your room by being completely unexpected!