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" Lighting, color, rugs, furniture arrangements\u2014with all the decisions that go into decorating, even the best of us can use some help! We asked four experts to describe the most common decorating blunders\u2014and explain how to avoid them.   1. Have a Game Plan Decorating is a challenge if you don&amp;#039;t have a clear vision of what you want to achieve. &amp;quot;Being inspired is important,&amp;quot; says Erinn Valencich of Omniarte Design in Los Angeles. Gather images from magazines and online sources as your first step toward making a change. &amp;quot;Your room will take shape before you spend a dime!&amp;quot;   2. Furniture First  &amp;quot;It&amp;#039;s easier to find paint that will work with your furniture than the other way around,&amp;quot; says Donna DuFresne, an interior designer in Portland, Oregon\u2014so buy those pieces first. And try not to make a decision based on a swatch. Look for sample-size pots of color, then paint a patch on your wall and live with it before you commit.   3. Details Matter  People can spend months choosing the color of the walls without even thinking about the trim or ceiling. Valencich has some rules for each. &amp;quot;If you have dark walls, your trim must be white,&amp;quot; she says. As for the ceiling, it should be either a contrasting color or a very light shade of the wall hue, &amp;quot;which creates a soft glow.&amp;quot;  4. Create an Intimate Setting  Avoid what Jackie Higgins, of New York&amp;#039;s Beach Glass Designs, calls the &amp;quot;bus-stop look&amp;quot;\u2014all the furniture flush against the wall. &amp;quot;Pull pieces in to create an intimate seating area,&amp;quot; she says. And make sure there&amp;#039;s something to anchor each piece: &amp;quot;Don&amp;#039;t place a chair alone in a corner; pair it with an ottoman and reading light so it becomes a place to read a book.&amp;quot;  5. Introduce Color  If you&amp;#039;re choosing a neutral palette simply because it&amp;#039;s &amp;quot;safe,&amp;quot; says interior designer Eileen Boyd Cahill of Eileen Kathryn Boyd Interiors in New York, try easing into the world of color little by little. &amp;quot;If you have an all-beige room, throw in some bright pillows or vivid artwork,&amp;quot; she says. &amp;quot;It doesn&amp;#039;t have to be drastic.&amp;quot;   6. Don&amp;#039;t Neglect the Kitchen  Often, the most functional room in the house gets the least attention. Use accessories to make your kitchen feel welcoming, says Higgins. &amp;quot;A silver tray on your table is a stylish way to collect salt and pepper shakers,&amp;quot; she says. And a little texture goes a long way. &amp;quot;A beautiful basket adds warmth on shiny surfaces.&amp;quot;   7. Don&amp;#039;t Overdo It  When faced with an empty room, most people are tempted to fill every square inch of it, says Higgins. Even in the most interesting room, the eye needs a place to rest. &amp;quot;Instead of packing the room with furniture, place well-edited pieces in groups for conversation, with space to move about,&amp;quot; she explains.   8. Window Watch  Don&amp;#039;t choose window treatments just because they look good: They also need to work for the room, says DuFresne. Gauzy curtains might look beautiful in a bedroom, for example, but heavier drapes or blackout blinds are better for controlling light.   9. Comfort Is Key  Too many people buy furniture that looks beautiful but is impractical for everyday use. If you want to foster conversation at a dining table or sitting room, make sure your seating isn&amp;#039;t too hard or stiff. &amp;quot;No one will linger or chat very long in an uncomfortable chair,&amp;quot; says Higgins.   10. Respect Your Room  Think about the size, shape and character of the room first, says DuFresne. Is there a pre-existing focal point, like a fireplace or window with a view? Also anticipate the traffic flow in the room. Create a floor plan on paper and use cut-out furniture templates, factoring in these aspects to determine the best layout.   11. Art Advice  Most people know the main rule about hanging artwork\u2014eye level is best\u2014but there are other things to consider before hammering a nail into your wall. Size is key, says Cahill. &amp;quot;If a painting is large, it can hold its own on an open wall, but a smaller one can get lost up there,&amp;quot; she says. Opt for a small section of a wall for petite pieces, or group them with other works of the same size. Cahill also recommends using similar frames for all the artwork in a room. &amp;quot;The art should be your focal point, not the frame.&amp;quot; "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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