What is your very best decorating tip?

I say ... look at other people's ideas, magazines, etc. but stick to what you love. For example: I LOVE a clean cottage look much like what you may find in a house in Maine, over looking a beautiful inlet. Every time I get seduced by some new trinket that doesn't "go" I regret it later. I stick with my vision and use other people's pictures and ideas to enhance it but not deviate from it very far.

As far as an actual tip? I love to paint brick in a way that looks like it has been well worn over the years.

I also have a quick fix for mismatched frames - My mother keeps giving me these pretty mirrors that are all different and look horrible together. I am painting the frames all the same color and using a grouping. Cheap and peaceful.

If you can actually picture seeing it in a certain color, 9 times out of 10, it will work. The bigger the room is, the darker you can go. the smaller the room is. The lighter you should go. Instead of having white on the walls, try on the trim. Bright white brings out such class when it is on old trim. But don't touch the natural wood if its in really good shape. Relax and have fun. Its my favorite pass time. Relaxing. Stress Relieving

Every season, I have different things to place around the house to make us feel more festive. Valentine's Day is coming up, so I will get out all my heart pillows,Valentine books, and etc. I even have a tiny tree that I hang little hearts on. For Valentine's Day, I will probably serve Red Velvet cake.

On St. Patrick's Day, I have lots of shamrocks that I place around the house , I have a shamrock tree. I even have a leprechan or two.

On Easter, I have an egg tree. I will serve deviled eggs in my egg plate shaped like an artist's palette, and is very colorful. I will have Easter baskets all over the house with plastic Easter eggs in them. I also have ceramic and porcelain ones. I love to hang up Easter cards that show that Christ is risen.

On Fourth of July, I have lots of Red, white and blue around the house plus the American flag flying outside. I don't have anything for a Fourth of July tree yet, but I'm working on it.

In October, I don't go much for Halloween, because it is too scarey. Oh, I will have plenty of real pumpkins and gourds around, and I have a few ceramic Jack o' Lantern faces, but I don't like witches.

In November, I usually end up getting fresh pumpkins and gourds. I like to get out my pilgrim figurines and sit them

around. I have strings of wooden autumn leaves that I decorate my walls with. I have also invested in Fall placemats and cotton napkins with turkeys on them.

Of course, you know what I do for Christmas. It's all over the house. I have about 3 trees. I keep my creche' up all year long so I can remember why Jesus was sent to this world. (to save us from our sins). We have about 30 Christmas mugs that we keep out all during December.

In January, we keep out the mugs with snowmen or snow scenes on them until February. I even have a snowman tablecloth.

Hope this is not TMI! It was fun thinking of all this, though. I really do all those things. Grams

P.S. I also sit out seasonal Ideals magazines.

They are so pretty and colorful. G.

Always work your room decor around the most expensive item in the room, since it's likely to be the item you hang onto the longest.

Judging by the number of people who strip paint with masking tape i would recommend always use LO-Tack masking tape....Ive answered half a dozen who have used the wrong type of tape and ended up peeling paint off the walls...

steve

I think the most important tip is to decided how you want to room to feel. Do you want it cozy? Warm? Bright and cheery? Do you want to create more space, or the illusion of it? After you decide that, than you can decide on the furniture, paint, and everything else.

Start with something you love, a piece of furniture, a painting or picture, a pillow - you get the idea. Then go from there.

paint it if u don't like the color u can repaint it. change curtains.