Many homeowners think pulling a room together to get that “designer look” is a daunting task--a project they would rather not tackle themselves. But with a few good tips, I suggest you give it a try and see if you love the end result.

• The first step is finding the room’s focal point. What if your room has two major focal points? Choose the one you would most like to look at the majority of the time. Is it a fireplace, a baby grand piano or a lovely view to your garden from a picture window? If you room doesn’t have a focal point, then create one—start with an inspiration piece and work around it.
  
  
• Begin to think “outside the box.” Pull furniture away from the walls and make intimate gatherings for conversation. In a bedroom, try the bed on an angle. In an entryway, use a beautiful chest of drawers, placing a lovely mirror above it. Group your collections of like items together, preferably in odd numbers—it’s more interesting to the eye. Break up the look of bookcases by using small pieces of art, framed family pictures, favorite objects and even toys.
  
  
• Most of all, before you begin redesigning your rooms, study decorating magazines and books for ideas. Clip the pictures from magazines of the rooms you love. Start a home folder with those clippings and carry it with you as you shop for furniture and accessories. Before you know it, you’ll have the look you want and you will have done it yourself!