In our last discussion we began talking about combining design styles; so let’s continue on that topic and get some more specific decorating ideas on how to do just that.

Finding Mr. Right - We all know that important things can take a lot of time. There is going to be a lot of thinking, looking, arranging and even some returning of items in this undertaking. But very well worth it! Think about how much time you spend in your home and how much you will enjoy it when it is finished.

Set a Date - And set a budget. You don’t have to accomplish the combo all in one week, but do set a target date for completion and keep moving forward. If no goals are set, nothing much will get accomplished and you might be living in a mess for awhile, which is never fun.

Look Before You Leap - You are probably going to make some purchases when redecorating, and some of those purchases can be a ‘capital expense’. If you are interested in something from a showroom, visit it several times and measure, measure, measure. Large furniture is not easily returned and there is almost always a non-refundable delivery charge. I am a fan of Wayfair and their customer service rocks, but I do not recommend buying a sofa without actually sitting on it! The shipping costs to return the item might be prohibitive.

Made for Each Other - These are obvious things that look good together. Remember, gone are the days of ‘matchy - matchy’. Instead, try to coordinate and associate everything in the space to give it an interesting and unique look with some contrast.

Opposites Attract - Ok, this is where it gets really fun. Some of the greatest surprises in design are taking two opposite things and placing them together in the same room. In a master bathroom, designer Paolo Moschino placed a 19th-century English secretary in a traditional bathroom. It also added a lot of needed additional storage. Check out the AMAZING results:

Give Something a Second Chance - When arranging the space, place things according to the plan you had in your mind, something you liked on Pinterest, or the way you sketched it out on paper. Don’t worry if it is not exactly right the first time. When I arrange things, I keep moving everything around until I get it exactly the way I want it. I think my record for moving an accessory is 13 times!