Let’s just be honest with each other. It isn’t as easy as the designers and decorators make it look on our favorite shows. Putting together the perfect room, one that you love and love to show off, isn’t a quick project, but it can be fun and rewarding if you remember one simple thing- everyone makes mistakes (even the professionals). However, if you pay attention to these most commonly made mistakes you are already steps ahead of the game.

Choose Your Paint Color LAST
It is much harder to match colors in accessories and upholstery fabrics, so the smart choice is to begin with those. You want your colors to flow through the house, but too many colors can be spotty and take away from all the other great things you have done. A good rule of thumb is not to pick more than 3 colors for your walls. Finding a color you like and picking two more shades of that color will give you a nice pallet to work from.
Lighting Makes Your Space
The perfect lighting for a room is critical. You need to layer your light and pay attention to the light your room needs as the day progresses. You want to include overhead light, natural light, task light, and accent lighting in your plan. You want to make use of dimmer switches so you can change the mood of your room with the flip of a switch. Maybe you would like it a little darker for watching TV or relaxing. Sometimes you are going to want it to be brighter for doing home work with the kids or reading your favorite book. Take as much time doing your lighting plan as you do your decor plan. Everything from the type of bulb to the lamp shade style affects a room's lighting, make sure you consider it!
Don’t Make Impulse Buys
Just because it looks great in the store, does not mean it will look great in your room. Do your layout first on paper and then move the pieces you already own into the position you think they should be in your design. Look for the spaces where you want a new piece and make sure to measure the space and really think about your purchases. You may choose to live with a new item for years- make sure you will love it as much 6 months to a year from now. Make sure it is a true love affair and not just a fling!

Don’t Push All Your Furniture Against the Wall
Your home is not a dentist or doctor’s office. You want to place your furniture in conversation groups and build places people want to sit to spend time with each other. Place the furniture the way you think best and experiment a little. How do you move from one room to the other or how do you move within that room? Does it feel natural? Are you comfortable? Remember change at first is not what we are used to; live with it a little before you make your final decisions.
Shiny is not a bad word!
One way to open up any space is a mirror. By putting it across from a window you can capture light and expand your space. The good rule of thumb with a mirror is to make sure you place it where you have something pleasant to look at.
Metal is a hot trend right now in decor, so don’t be afraid to use glass, sequins, or beaded throws or pillows to create visual interest and focal points in your space-shiny is not a bad word!
Not Everything Needs To Match
Stay away from the impulse to make everything match. Every room needs to have a focal point- (an item or a group of items that draws our eye and attention). Remember that mixing patterns, colors, and textures shows more about your personality. If in doubt, pick shades you look great wearing- you already know you like them and they say a lot about you.
Accessorize…Accessorize…and Accessorize
You’ve done all the hard work, but one thing almost everyone forgets to do is to pay attention to accessories. You need to layer items into your room to add style to your space and that final touch of you! Think wall art, sculptures, pillows, rugs, candles, vases, pictures, floral arrangements, anything that reminds you of you and your family.

Now sit back and enjoy the perfect space you just created.