i like feng shui because it provides me with a simple and easy lay-out that i can build upon as time goes by.

aside from that -
white is in right now.
I personally love the antique white look,
with insects and diagrams.
It allows me to easily change and add a pinch of colour
here or there if I choose.
I also love multi-coloured bohemian
prints and patterns and use those when
i need a bit of happiness.

with furniture, multi-purposes pieces are the best.
especially if you can find something that
works as storage. This is where I’ll stash my odds and
ends so I can rotate through my collections and
please my inner gemini.

Large pillows or “pouffe” make great additional seating for
when you have guests. When your guests leave just store them away in a chest!

Lastly,
I LOVE chalk board paint!
I usually get black and then mix it with white
to create different shades.
This is how I made my calendar -
an idea i admittedly stole from miss martha,
but worked wonders!
I can’t deal with date books because i either lose
them or just don’t use them.

this post shows both dry erase and chalk board paint,
but it includes some greats ideas that i found.
http://closetfactory.livejournal.com/6300.html

I’m ADD when it comes to decorating and get teased at constantly about how i’m constantly rearranging and redecorating.
Sometimes that’s just what it takes before you find the right
set up. Or maybe I am just that chaotic *;D

have fun with the decorating and please share your outcome with us!

p.s.
i love http://decor8blog.com/
and
http://www.readymade.com/
for inspiration

The only bit of advice that I recommend following is to invest in sturdy, neutral furniture that can be made to work with any style. Don’t screw yourself by buying the pink and purple leopard print sofa when you can buy the neutral coloured one and throw a slip-cover over it.

You’ll do fine, just have fun. =)

One thing I’ve noticed is that I have a color scheme going for my kitchen already (black and cream), and I think it is extremely important to have a similar theme for each room/area and really stick to it. I find that a little bit of restriction like that really allows creativity to blossom, and as tempting as it is to just haphazardly collect awesome antiques and doo-dads, it is REALLY important to restrain oneself and keep your domicile’s color scheme or general theme in mind.

Also, something that I’ve found to be true—when hanging framed images, make sure that in each room all the pictures are either of the same theme or have very similar frames. It’s a fine line between pleasantly eclectic and crazy-cat-lady-looking.

One handy tip is that you can easily buy prints and post cards of your favourite artwork from museums and then you will have a memory of your trip and a cheap piece of art for your wall. Frames that don’t have an actual frame are an easy bet because then you don’t have to worry about matching the frame to the print if you don’t have an artistic eye.

I recommend figuring out what kind of atmosphere you want in your house before buying anything – shinynewmetal&glass or warmrichwood&velvet. I am sure a local hardware store would be willing to help you out in picking a colour that reflects what mood you’re looking for – but for the love of god avoid red, pink, or anything strong along those lines for a bedroom. Colours do actually elicit responses in the brain and you don’t want your flight/flight response triggered when you’re trying to sleep. I am personally all about functionality, so figure out what you’re going to be doing in each room before deciding what you’ll need for it. Buying a beautiful chair on impulse and then having nowhere to put it and then never using it is kind of a waste.

Good luck!

I second flea markets, estate sales, Ebay, Etsy, etc, especially if you like antique furniture, but not limited to that, you can find almost anything for very decent prices. The only way to have a tidy place is to have a place for every thing and then some extra, so storage space is very important. Bookshelves are good, but covered bookshelves (cabinets? I’m unfamiliar with English terms) are even better (less dusting and visible clutter). And many drawers.
Only get pieces that are not only practical, but that you really like. Invariably these end turning up, even if it takes time.

Once you have a foundation I think your “theme” will be more evident, you can paint and decorate accordingly. Although I am also partial to mossy green walls, this is always a question of personal preference after all.

I am still going through all the comments, but for now I just want to say how humbled and grateful I am that Coilhouse has such a helpful, creative readership! Thank you, guys.

Good luck with the new place Nadya! I will get you a houseplant of some sorts…a fern maybe. :P