Every designer has a different set of rules that they swear by. Now these rules are not life our death, but I find them extremely helpful in designing a fun and beautiful home. 

#1 SURROUND YOURSELF WITH PIECES YOU LOVE
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This rule is the most important and may seem like a given, but we all have purchased things we have later regretted. Its called impulsive shopping and I know you have been there too. Impulsive buying might be okay when shopping for clothes or other inexpensive items; you do not want to do this when designing your home. Let's be honest, creating a beautiful home can be super expensive. Just like Rome wasn't built in a day, your home shouldn't be either. You may feel anxious to finish designing your space, but I promise you you will love your space more if you wait until you come across the perfect pieces. You want to find things that make you happy and excited. Most people turn to Pinterest or other people and mimic their designs and ideas. This is fine for inspiration, but you want to make sure you tweak them to fit your own personal style. You are the one that has to live in the space so why not create unique vibes that you genuinely enjoy! I tend to be very picky when it comes to decorating my apartment. This is why I am nowhere near finished designing it. My absolute favorite pieces in my home are my coffee table & copper lamp. I kid you not, I looked at this coffee table for 2 years before finally pulling the trigger. Talk about thinking it over… This piece was SO worth the wait! Isn’t it beautiful?

#2 AVOID CLUTTER

Having too much stuff can be overwhelming and chaotic. I don't know about you, but clutter makes me anxious. I suffer from it! I try on a daily basis to declutter my apartment and slowly but surely it is working. I have a hard time parting with things  I no longer need. Having to much stuff makes your place seem messy even when it isn't. Finding a perfect place for your decor, knick-knacks etc. can help eliminate the feeling of clutter. I like to use bins and baskets to hide some of the things I do not need to stare at or use everyday.

#3 DON'T BE AFRAID TO MIX AND MATCH 

People tend to shy away from mixing different patterns and textures. It may seem daunting, but this is essential in creating a space to have visual interest. Being too matchy-matchy is incredibly boring and a huge mistake! The easiest ways to add texture and patterns to your home are with throws, pillows, and artwork. I love mixing different types of woods to create a vintage/eclectic look. I put this bold green pillow on a floral patterned chair. I think this works well because both patterns have a floral vibe and the green pillow pulls out the green tones from the chair.  Make sure that all of your patterns, colors, and textures flow with each other. You do not want it to feel too chaotic (see rule #2) unless chaos is what you love (see rule #1).

Have fun and put these rules to practice! What are rules that you live by when designing your home? Share some of the furniture pieces that you love below!