Start with Art
Often the art you choose to live with reflects what you like. If you choose beautiful landscape oil paintings, you'll probably like a traditional or formal interior. But if you choose black and white or sepia tone photographs or abstract art, you might want to plan your interior around a more contemporary design.Do You Have a Favorite Color?
I have a friend who loves anything blue. Of course, then it is only natural that her home would be predominantly blue, too. If you have a favorite color, use it to guide your color scheme[/link for your home. Use hues of it on the walls, in patterns, on upholstery, and in the accessories.Choose a Fabric With Colors You Like
Possibly the most common way of beginning a decorating project is to select a fabric with colors, a pattern, and interesting texture you like. Use the colors in the fabric to identify colors you'll use on the walls, on other pieces of furniture, and in accessories you choose.Choose an Interesting Pattern
You can choose a pattern for wallpaper, carpeting, tile. It can be scrolling, geometric, bold or subtle. Use it as the foundation for the other elements in your home and carry the pattern into lamps, fabrics, and accessories.Start With an Area Rug
With a patterned area rug you can keep other elements simple, focusing on the rug instead of fabrics or walls. But if you want to use the rug as a starting point for everything else, pick colors from the pattern and use them throughout the room on walls, fabrics, furniture, and accessories.
For more decorating help and advice read some of these articles:
[link url=http://interiordec.about.com/cs/articl2/a/des_decordos.htm]Decorating Dos and Don'ts