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Our homes make a statement of who we are. And no room in your house has greater potential for this than the living room. Whether you are decorating over time, or your ready to tackle the project all at once, there are basic tips to remember, which help insure a living space that makes a positive statement.

1) Eclectic does not mean free for all: The biggest mistake made by most first time, do-it-yourself decorators, is not understanding the principles of flow. Just because it tickles your fancy, doesn't mean it works in the room. Everything in the room, from furniture to frames, needs to be scrutinized. Flow could be through color, texture, material, and design. You have to exercise self restraint if an addition to the room does not maintain continuity through any one of these avenues of flow.

2) Make it worth talking about: Conversational pieces, or that item that you just had to have though it didn't flow, needs to be highlighted, not just placed. Think of it as a room within the room. The area of highlight has boundaries of space, and is not simply a single piece, but is in fact decorated by complimentary pieces that flow with everything in that space.

3) Walls don't talk: Just as much, if not more care, should be taken when it comes to decorating the walls. Though the same guides of flow apply, you are not stuck with just pictures, and paint. Fabrics, sconces, hanging art, and more, are all options. Let your imagination take full advantage of this aspect of decorating that is free of the limitations of functionality.

Most of all, have fun. Just as expressing yourself in conversation is a process, so is the visual expression of your living room. Be creative, be patient, and be consistent.

Learn more about this author, Stephen Surgener.
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