1. Don’t go overboard. It’s tempting to just throw a bunch of accessories, patterns, and colors into a room, but it’s easy to get carried away. Instead, opt for simplicity and a design that “feels good.”

If a fabric looks great but feels bad, you aren’t going to want to sit on it—enjoyment of the space is the most important part.

2. Don’t buy fabric online. Fabric is one of those things that is just better experienced in person. To get a really good idea of what you’re getting, you should be able to touch it and feel its texture, see the true shades of colors that are sometimes altered by pictures, and see the scale of the pattern up close.

If you buy it in person, you’ll know you’re getting exactly what you were looking for.

3. Don’t go for a cheap paint job. There are elements of design that require a splurge, and painting is one of them. Paint has a huge impact on your space, and a truly good paint job has long-term value as it will likely last 10 to 20 years…or until you’re ready for a new color!