Top Tips for the Design-Stymied

Posted on: August 1, 2005

Stuck in a rut? Check out these hot ideas from leading design experts.

By Bev Bennett
CTW Features

1. Read décor magazines and books. Don’t be afraid to take magazine pages with you when you’re shopping, says Matt Falcone, the special sales manager and personal shopper for ABC Carpet & Home in Manhattan, N.Y.

2. Use every opportunity to develop your taste, says Mary Ann Young, a freelance designer and stylist who lives in Rockport, Maine. “Keep your eyes open. Watch a movie and see what the room colors are; see how the lamp is placed. Travel, go to museums,” Young says.

3. Take a photo before you decide on a piece of large and/or expensive furniture. “I take a camera when I shop for clients,” says Catherine Wei, a New York City architect and interior designer who will be part of the DIY Network series “Material Girl” that airs in the fall.. “I take pictures in several stores and combine the elements. Then I cut and paste to create a catalogue of what inspires me. I can assemble the pieces and see they work.” And always ask the dimensions of big furniture pieces before making a purchase Wei advises.

4. If you’re attracted to a fad, whether it’s a Japanese paper lampshade or an ultra-comfy beanbag seats, buy the cheap version, Wei says. “So what if you grow out of it. Have it for one season, and save your money for the classic things,” says Wei.

5. Redo. Have furniture re-upholstered; add new lampshades; find new ways to use the objects you already own. “Expand your imagination,” says Young. “Look at things twice. You may find the beauty in something you’ve dismissed.” One of Young’s examples is a lobster-shaped food mold she attached to the front door as both a decoration and doorknocker.

Bev Bennett, a veteran food writer and editor, is the author of "Dinner for Two: A Cookbook for Couples" and "30-Minute Meals for Dummies"