Choose three or four main colors to use throughout the home. Select one or two items, such as rugs or paintings, to establish the color scheme for each room. If using a rug with a red background and a gold and green pattern, for instance, pull out one of the pattern colors verses the dominant background when furnishing the rest of the room.

Concentrate on decorating and completing one room at a time so you don’t get overwhelmed.

If you have crown molding in one room, continue it throughout the home for a more uniform look.

If your budget allows, mix original paintings with prints, real plants with silks, and custom pillows and dust skirts with ready-mades.

Window treatments are the grand finale to any custom-decorated room. We recommend using them in the dining, family, and breakfast rooms for starters. Remember, windows are the eyes of your home. Draperies can make them seem larger, and can make the ceilings appear higher.