What IS your style

So, you're sitting in your living room, looking around at your tired, dusty, hodge podge of furniture that seemed like a good purchase back in the days of early marriage but has taken on an interesting texture of milk stains and ground in graham crackers with a touch of crayola, or perhaps you are still living the single life but the 'dorm' look is just not for you anymore and realize, it's time for a change. Where do you start?  You love your neighbors creme suede sofa and it would look sweet in your living room and if you just tell the kids they can't eat in there anymore, it will be fine...right?

Well, probably not.  There are many things you need to factor in before buying the things that look good in your friend's house or on your favorite episodes of HGTV.

First of all, determine what your family's lifestyle is.  Do you love to gather around the TV to watch movies, play games and eat pizza, Coke and popcorn or are you a neat freak and food is only served and eaten in the kitchen?  Is your offspring a pack of monkeys who can't resist a good jump on the sofa when mom isn't looking?  Consider for a moment, how you use your rooms, your habits and how you function on a daily basis.  Are you the reigning queen of clutter or a minimalist?

Second, start a design file...or two or three.  Collect magazines.  Ask around and borrow old ones from your friends or you can even check them out from the library or even online.  When you see a room, an accessory, a paint color or piece of furniture, tear out the picture and place it in a file folder or binder with dividers.  It's a fun activity and you begin to see a style start to emerge.  You can even take this one step farther, tear out pictures that make you say, "I wish" and pictures that are really more practical for your current life.   Often, you can mesh parts of your I wish dream, with the realities of family life now.  This also allows you to set priorities on the areas of your house that need attention sooner than later. 

What are you waiting for?  Get tearing.