Grey acts as a great neutral for upholstery.

Invest in timeless pieces. While there may be the occasional instance when I would approve a pink sofa, typically investing in high-quality upholstery in neutral fabrics is the way to go. Think of your sofa as a little black dress; you don’t want anything too trendy that would make it feel dated in 2 years. Look for clean-lined pieces from reputable manufacturers such as Lee furniture or Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams. Quality is worth paying for, and that additional $500 may prevent you from having to purchase a new sofa in 3 years.

Accessorize with trends. Accessories such as accent pillows, throw blankets, and vases will add just the right dose of color or pattern and can be easily changed when the mood strikes you. If you aren’t sure you will love fuchsia in 5 years, opt for throw pillows rather than wallpaper.

Current trends: Purple and violet, Moroccan poufs (above is from Tazi Designs in SF), metallics, shag, houndstooth, grasscloth, black and white. For the full scoop on emerging trends, check out my Houzz article on Interior Design Trends 2010!

Stick to your concept. This is one of the hardest things to remember when decorating your home. While there will be many sofas, accessories, rugs, tables, and lamps that you love, not all of them will be right for your space. Consider the concept and look you want to achieve for the room and write it down. Keep this little blurb with you while shopping for furniture and ask yourself if the item in question fits with the scheme. If it doesn’t, then put it down and walk away. Impulse purchases rarely pay off.

Mix it up. Mix up your furniture pieces rather than sticking to one time period or theme, which can feel dated. Consider what feelings and emotions you want to invoke in each room of your home. If you want a soothing, relaxing, and airy master bedroom retreat choose muted cool paint colors, natural materials, and glass. You can easily mix high-end and low-end pieces to achieve the desired effect. Stodgy design rules and period decorating is so 1900’s. Happy New Year everyone!