The idea of decorating a new space can be somewhat alarming for some people. Some of us are up to the challenge but many are not. Where do you start? How do you get inspiration?

The secret may lie on your walls! Your favorite painting or art prints! If you were to hire a designer to come to your space, he or she may ask you what you have in your home (or office) that you really like and why. This is to get a feel for your style and color. For those of us that want to do it by ourselves, doing this is a good place to start.

When choosing colors for a wall, remember this; lighter colors can make a room look bigger while the opposite is true for dark colors. Dark colors can make a room look smaller. It is often best to make one wall darker with the rest having lighter colors.

Over the years, one's sense of style can change. This can come about for many different reasons. It can come about from a favorite trip where the culture and style is different from our own. Buying new pieces from afar can inspire us to change our style simply because we love the colors and textures of something different.

Don't be afraid to be eclectic in your designs. Everything matching perfectly can be very boring. Everything doesn't need to be different. Only a few key pieces can be just right.

Color and Style are so vital to design, that you can't have one without the other. I've recommended using art prints as inspiration but really you can use just about anything to inspire you to create the environment you want to be in.

Good luck!