If you have read my blogs in the past, you would know that I love to pick up magazines and browse online about articles dealing with homes and real estate.  Just goes to show you that I truly love real estate.  One of my favorite shows, online places and magazines is HGTV.  While I don't always agree with their opinion, they do have a lot of helpful hints that I use personally for my own home.  The latest fun piece that I researched was on decorating which is beneficial right now but also when staging a home to sell.

Here are the 10 Steps on How to Decorate Like a Pro

1. What's Your Style? - Does your home take on the "country" feel or is it modern?  For a long time, I wondered what my style was because I've liked some attributes of every style.  I also, believe that our styles change.  For instance, I tended to decorate "country" but now I'm considered to be a "contemporary" style.  How did I figure that out?  Go check out this link to figure out your style - http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_33320,00.html
2. Form and Function - What you need the space for should be a big part on how you design the room.
3. Drafting Anyone? - A little bit of planning will make the decorating job easier.  HGTV magazine suggests drafting a floor plan.  Here's what your draft should consist of: furniture needed, plan to scale drawing to make sure everything fits, and being mindful of walkways around the furniture.
4. Sit Pretty - You've considered the furniture sizes you need, feel free to mix it up with a different shade of color, accent chairs and being creative in seating arrangements for larger groups.
5. Texture Layering - According to the article, "The more texture, the more depth and visual interest." (HGTV Ideas, Summer 2007).
6. Light It Up - With several different textures, you can also create more visually appearing rooms with differnt lighting sources throughout the space.
7. Don't Forget the Windows - Bare window treatments can leave the room looking unfinished but be mindful not to have the windows be the central focal point as well.
8. Area Rugs - Again, consider what you need.  Is this area a high-traffic area or could you get away with something more decorative?
9. Knick-knacks -  Tell your story through your art or souvenirs.  Stagers usually like to group items together in odd numbers (3 for example) with varying heights and colors to add interest.
10. Edit - Stand back and re-evaluate.  Is there something missing?  Play with the room until it feels just right to you!

For more detailed ideas on each of these things and for a really great way to visualize some of these improvements is through the HGTV website.  Take the decorating quiz and experiment with the rooms, it really is fun to see what could be.

References: HGTV Ideas. The Grand Rapids Press, Summer 2007.  "From conception to perfection: 10 Steps to decorate like a pro." Levin, Liz.