• Do clear the clutter.  It's free, and one of the fastest ways to revive an environment.  While you're at it, deal with cobwebs, dirt, and disrepair.

• Matchy-matchy is moldy oldie.  Don't think about matching, think about blending color palettes.  For ideas use magazines or sites like the Sherwin Williams Color Visualizer.

• Do have a harmonious color story.  Color should flow from room to room. When you walk through the home, the colors should look like they were meant to live together. 

• The NO matchy-matchy rule applies to furniture too.  Matched sets are dated and not as interesting as mixing it up a little.  Do mix in a piece from a different period or a different culture. 

• Don't cover a great view with heavy drapes.  Shades, or sheer curtains are a more modern option. 
  

• No vertical blinds please-- they should never have been invented.

• Don't hang artwork or mirrors too high.  The decorating industry uses 5'7" as the average height of humans and hangs artwork and mirrors accordingly.

• Do have a variety of lighting in a room so that light can be diffused, and do use dimmers.  Bulbs shouldn't be exposed.  Dining room pendants or chandeliers should be hung above the table so that the bottom of the fixture is about 5 ½' from the floor.

• Don't have too many distractions.  Too many ideas, even good ones, in one room, create confusion.  Pick one and go with it.

• Do use freshly cut flowers.  They add instant energy to a room.  Remove them as soon as they start to wilt or turn brown.

• Don't push all the furniture up against the wall. People do this to make the room seem bigger, but wide open space isn't conducive to intimacy.  Imagine the sofa talking to the chairs, and bring things in or break up the space into smaller areas.  Even in a small living room, pull the furniture out 6 inches from the wall.

A home shouldn't feel like a sterile environment or look like no one uses it.  Life is too short to waste time overprotecting the furniture!