A Beautiful Home

You’ve probably made this vow a hundred times before: “My next home will be different. It will be beautiful. And everything, the colors, fabrics and furniture will work in harmony.” Never, you say, will you repeat the same decorating mistakes you’ve made before. Living in a beautiful home doesn’t have to be sheer fantasy. And it doesn’t have to be a risky, expensive venture. With some basic tools and a little planning, decorating can be , manageable and fun. What’s more, it doesn’t have to be time-consuming or expensive. With over 10 years of home furnishing and design experience, Karen McGrail understands the challenges and rewards of home decorating. In this guide, we’d like to share some practical, affordable decorating strategies to help you make your home stylish, inviting and comfortable.

Getting organized

Begin by assessing the way you live:

Use: Do you actually use every room of your house?
• What are the busy areas of the house?
• Where do you go for peace and quiet?

Inventory: Take inventory of your furniture, rugs and artwork.
• List the items you definitely want to use.
• Identify the special pieces (furniture or art) that you want to highlight.
• Create a shopping list of new furniture and
accessories that you need.

Budget: Approach home furnishings purchases the same way you would finance a new car. Create a long-term plan.

Dreams: Think about the way you want to live; look at design magazines and books. You deserve to live in style!

• What type of look excites you?
• What are the colors that entrance you?
• What are the textures that soothe your senses?
• Don’t let your budget limit your dreams.