My mix-and-match style

You want a happy home don't you? Of course you do!

Everyone wants to feel comfortable at home. In order to do that you'll need some knowledge about your likes and dislikes when it comes to design. Identifying your personal decorating style is key.

Style comes from within and is a reflection of your preferences. Do you like mid-century modern or are you the more traditional type? Here is a quiz that will tell you what team you play on.

Of course, you might like both cottage style and Art Deco, in which case you'd be considered eclectic when it comes to decorating.

The answers to the quiz will give you a starting point when you shop. You can even glean some answers about your style from where you shop. Do you gravitate toward department stores when it comes to décor? Or maybe your heart beats a little faster when you walk by an antique store. Of course, if you love tables with a rich patina on it and old steamer trunks, you'll be walking into that antique shop pronto.

Me? I try not to bring anything in the door that I don't love. And, with this self-imposed high standard, I've dragged some pretty interesting items home. I don't even know where I am going to put it when I buy it, and I will move it around several times before the object finds a forever home. But that's okay. Experimenting with placement is good for the soul and the object.

The most interesting rooms are those in which you feel comfortable. I find that rooms which mix and match periods do that job best.

My home is a mixture of juxtaposed pieces that include antiques, mid-century modern and traditional, with some Asian influences in the bathroom and an art deco coffee table in the middle of the living room.

You might think that sounds like a hodge-podge, but the end result turns out to be casual with a homey flavor. Just exactly the look and feel I was after.
 
If you want your home to feel more inviting, choose furniture that has rounded shapes. In the living room think round coffee table or end tables. Dump the hard, square, clunky edges.

Here's something else to watch for: Stay away from large and overpowering pieces upholstered in dark, bold colors or busy patterns. This effect will make the room feel heavier and weighted down.

Take a good look around your home. Give a designer's eye to your collection. What pieces are you happy with and what pieces need to go? Take the actions you need, and your home will feel more welcoming and comfy.