It may involve drafting and a lot of manual labor, but good decorating is nothing if not creative. To create something beautiful and livable is an art that requires imagination and inspiration. Unfortunately, the artistry of the whole endeavor can be lost in the budget and planning stages. Below are a few simple ideas on how to clear your mind and unleash your inner designer:

- Find one wonderful piece. Every room should contain at least one item that you have fallen in love with. Once you’ve found it, make it the centerpiece of your plan.

- Look for inspiration in unlikely places. Magazines, TV, and blogs are great for tips and tricks, but be careful they don’t keep you from making your own decisions. Take a walk or go to a museum. You can find your muse anywhere.

- Don’t copy! Every room is different, and there is no one-size-fits-all design. If you find an example you love, identify the elements that attracted you to it. Now expand upon them and add your own flair. The result will be purely you.

- Be yourself. My husband and I decided to turn our passion for video games into a design statement. Our console collection is proudly displayed. We even bought some retro advertisements for art and stenciled the walls with our favorite characters. You won’t see many living rooms like ours, but it makes us happy. (I even get compliments from people who aren’t into gaming.)

- Buy one-offs, vintage collectibles, and artisan furniture . There are some great mass-produced pieces, but there is something about a unique find that really sparks the imagination. You can even help the environment and humanity by purchasing wares from impoverished craftsmen in other countries .

- Take a break. Many bad design choices are made during weekend overhauls and in the rush to fill up a newly purchased house. Avoid making spur of the moment decisions. It is practically impossible for a home decorator to throw a space together in only a few days. Get comfortable. Figure out the flow of the area. Take note of the strengths and weaknesses in architecture and layout before spending time and money decorating. Done all that? Spend another week relaxing. Your subconscious will do a lot of the hard work for you.

- Have fun. This is, of course, the first commandment of designing for yourself. If you don’t enjoy the process, you won’t enjoy the room.

There is much more to furniture design than matching color, pattern, and form. The size and placement of large pieces is likely to affect the feel of the room more than any accessory. Think of their layout as the foundation on which all of the flashy finishing elements will be laid. Without a good foundation, your whole room can turn into a disaster, so pay close attention to what you are doing with furniture.

Start with a Plan
It may be tempting to run off the the furniture store, but hasty decisions can often lead to buyer’s remorse. Consider the function of the space and make mental notes about seating, table space, and traffic. Before you start moving furniture in, it helps to plot things out on paper. A detailed sketch will help you visualize the room and allow you to play around with the footprint of each space without doing any heavy lifting. There are even many types of design software available for those of us who are not gifted with artistic talent.

The most important part of your planning should be making sure that the space is usable. You may have the most beautiful furnishings in the world, but they are useless if they are all crammed into a small area. It’s always a good idea to look at magazines and home design programs to find arrangements that keep things livable .

Balance it Out
Keep in mind that each piece placed in a room creates a visual weight. A good decorator should position things so that the room is balanced. For instance, large couches in living rooms are often placed opposite armoires or fireplaces. This assures that every section of the rooms feels filled. (Don’t confuse balance for focal points. Both are essential for good design.)

Finding a balance also involves selecting furnishings that are the correct size and similar in style. You should be able to calculate the ideal dimensions for each piece of furniture from your finished plan. When picking out your new appointments, make sure that each of them holds a similar visual weight.

Make it Work
So you’ve sketched your sketches, furnished your furnishings, and arranged your appointments, but it doesn’t work. Last minute changes are commonplace for even the most experienced designer, so don’t fret. Keep your receipts and get ready to change your mind.

Many of the most distressing furniture setbacks have simple solutions. Too crowded? Get rid of something. Too sparse? Go shopping. Tricky layouts? Rearrange until you find the perfect fit. Sooner or later, you’ll be ready to move on to the easy stuff.

Furniture is a tricky thing. It can fade into the background, create an exciting focal point or absolutely ruin an otherwise acceptable layout. As much as I love home decor, I hate picking out furniture. Finding something with charm that also fits and complements a room is a difficult task. Oftentimes, those of us without the means to redesign spaces from top to bottom have to make concessions as far as furnishings are concerned.

Having to make old furniture work or picking out an new suite both present their own challenges. Check out these tips for making things work no matter which end of the spectrum you find yourself on:

- Pay attention to style. All good design concerns itself with style. If a large piece doesn’t mesh with the rest of the area, it can be distracting and unattractive. For instance, it would be unwise to try to cram a chinese bed into a room full of country or patriotic decor. Some discordant features, such as over-embellished legs, can be hidden with slipcovers and creative placement, but you should try to avoid using such tactics by choosing elements with a congruent style.

- Think about scale. One of the most common mistakes a home decorators and seasoned professionals make is picking things that are not to scale within the room. This problem usually begins with a fantastic find (“Who thought I would happen upon the perfect coat rack for my front hall?”) or five (“Well I can’t pass up this Bald Head Light replica! It goes with my lighthouse decor.”) and ends with you trying to convince your family members that it’s okay you’ve blocked the front door. Good design should not make a room cluttered or impossible to navigate, but encourage the flow of traffic though the home. Consider the footprint available for the piece you are looking for before you head off to the home furnishings store and bring a tape measure. In some tricky situations, it is even possible to choose something that is too small for the room, so visualize and measure before making a decision.

- Refinish and reupholster. Don’t be intimidated by these projects. Once you learn how to use a sewing machine and a can of stain, you can cut your project budget in half by rehabbing dumpster and antique store finds. Start by gathering inspiration from online success stories . You’ll find that basic carpentry is possible even for the most inept among us. You might even become skilled enough to start crafting your own wildlife furniture .

Of course, these pointers are only the beginning of good furniture design. If you’re looking for more tips on smart home decor choices, check out my painting and DIY ideas.

Ah, painting. It may be one of the most hated aspects of home renovations, but it is undoubtedly one of the most important. There are few things that can create a feel for a room as effectively (and as cheaply) as a can of paint. For this reason, choosing a wall color is one of the major aspects of a design plan.

Choosing a Color Palette
Just as choosing the right color can tie everything together, the wrong choice can make things look out of whack. Unfortunately, these hue snafus usually stem from a overzealousness or fear of color. So, all you chromophobes and color fanatics, follow these steps before running off to the paint shop:

1. Create a room palette. Look at the fabrics and furniture (as well as constants like the flooring and trim) to determine what kind of space you are trying to create. Choose a few shades that are complimentary. If you are having trouble matching things up, try reading about color theory and look at a color wheel.

2. The wall color should match or complement others in the room. The safest way to achieve this is to have your local paint supplier match the tone of your favorite fabric or accessory. Separate the choices into groups like neutral, dark, and vibrant if you can’t narrow them down.

3. Take a test drive. Paint a small area and live with it for a few days. Things like lighting, wall texture, and even architecture can effect how a pigment looks on the drywall. Most stores will let you take home samples for free.

4. Use the proper tools. Buy clean rollers, and don’t skimp on getting a nice edging brush. The job is much easier when you are properly equipped .

Stripes, Squiggles, and Murals
Those who have are looking to add a little zing to their next paint job can start to incorporate more advanced painting techniques into their home. You don’t have to be an artist to add stripes, simple graphics, or even polka dots to your room. There are many guides online or at the paint shop that can help you get started. Just make sure you choose contrasting hues that complement one another.

If you’re handy with a paint brush, lend your talents to your own home. Murals and personal artwork aren’t appropriate for every space, but the right plan can turn a blank wall into the perfect custom instillation.

Don’t Forget the Details
Most places have floorboards, doors, window sills, molding, and other trim that could use a little love too. Put some thought into what color will highlight or hide the details of your room. Above all, remember that trim doesn’t have to be white. An unconventional choice can add some much needed pizazz.

Bonus Tips: Paint Finishes
A lot of first time paint buyers are confused by finishing options. These physical characteristics can make a big difference once the area is dry, so put the same though into picking one as you would into any other design choice.

Matte : Great for cover-up, but short-term. A coat of this can cover just about any problem, but it swallows up light. Also, this kind of paint does not stand up to much cleaning.

Flat Enamel : Similar to matte. Depending on the paint brand, it is usually slightly more rugged than matte finishes. However, it is still a poor choice for high-traffic areas. It’s tendency to absorb light makes it great for ceilings.

Eggshell : Popular and low-risk. It has an average amount of shine, gloss, and texture. A good standby for those who want to add some color without the fuss.

Stain : Heavy duty, but still soft. It has the obvious benefit of standing up well to cleaning and wear-and-tear. In the right light, it almost looks like smooth fabric.

Semi-Gloss : Perfect for trim, and adds some drama to walls. This finish isn’t quite as temperamental as glossy, but it can still highlight poor preparation.

Glossy : Very modern, but very tricky. It shows any and all painters’ errors and structural blemishes because of its reflective qualities. Unless you’re a pro (or are high-motivated and own a sander) stick to using it on small pieces.