in honor of my mother....who would have loved that i am doing this blog and big life change...

as much as we may hate to admit it (especially as adults), mothers are pretty much right about everything, including (and especially in my case) home decor. i'm sure many of you have experienced the subtle eyebrow raise of disapproval when your mother saw your new rug. or as my mother would ask "is this a deliberate design decision?", which basically means she hates it. no matter what the gesture, consider this--she's probably right - your personal tastes have probably evolved from growing up around her decor and designs - so in essence, she will be the best expert by default and years of experience.

interior designer, donna hoffman shares with real simple famous phrases from mom and how you can apply them to your interior design strategy:

What design tips have I learned from my mother?

Slow And Steady Wins The Race. Don't feel like your home needs to come together in 1 fell swoop. It's better to finish one room completely than spritz budget dollars and energy in 10 different directions. All you'll end up with in a depleted budget and rooms all missing critical finishing touches. Remember: good things come to those who wait (did your mother say that one too?!)

You Get What You Pay For. Cheapest is not always the smartest way to go in home furnishings. Cheapest will always be the most cheaply made, cheaply designed, cheaply executed and cheaply built. You get the point. Buying the cheapest in design is often a case of "throwing good money after bad money".

But You Look Good In Florals. Yeah, well you might, but your sofa doesn't. What large scale florals do to your hips...imagine that on a 84" wide piece of stuffed furniture. It'll suck up more visual space in a room than you can imagine and you'll tire of it faster than you can say, "Does this sofa make me look fat?"

Don't Buy Suits. End tables and coffee tables need not be matchy-matchy. Beyond a dining room or bedroom, that "room in a bag" look most usually is a down market look. If you want a look that rivals something in a design magazine- let there be conversation between your case goods, not duplication.
*If you currently have the matchy-matchy thing happening, you can easily fix the problem. Start breaking up the marriage...of furniture that is. Separate matched pieces by relocating 1 'twin' into an alternate space.

Sit Like A Lady. Particularly, if you're wearing a skirt. Chairs are marvelous. Think of the chairs in a space as being little works of art- yes, think comfort, but also think shape, think pattern, show a little leg on some, demurely skirt some of the others, go bold and deep in some places, and ever so darling elsewhere. Sit like a lady. It'll feel great.

A Way To A Man's Heart Is Through His Stomach. Yes, so we all know. However, that doesn't mean that the Mr. of the house shouldn't have his appetite indulged when it comes to design. He may not want to help select every single piece of furnishing, however let his voice be heard regarding the overall theme, colors and style. In your personal offices, hobby rooms, etc- well, all bets are off. However the common areas of your home should be enjoyed by both. A way to a man's heart may be through his stomach- but there's a sensitive, artistic core in that fella too and as a normal human, he does indeed respond to environment and design.