Eenie meanie miney moe, pick a sofa by the.... Wait, how do I pick a sofa?

Great question, and this is exactly how many of my clients feel as they walk in the door for our first meeting at Pearl Furniture. "I don't know if these pieces will go together", or "what colors should I work with" , or "will this go out of style in the next 5 minutes".

There are a few suggestions that I recommend to my clients when starting the design process. A great question to ask your self is, "does this piece of furniture make me feel comfortable"?  I like to surround myself with things that make me feel good.  If you pick a bunch if things that you like, and put them all in front you, you will start to see a synergy between them and the ones that don't work will stick out like a sore thumb.

Open your closet, what color is represented most?  If you wear a lot of black, gray and brown, chances are you will feel most comfortable in a neutral environment.  You don't have to be locked into these colors, but these are the colors that you would want to use for the large, more expensive items that will be the foundation of your room.  You can still spice up the room with accents that are less costly, and easier to replace and update as your tastes change.

When considering certain styles, think about what stores you like to shop in, or what catalogs grab your interest most.  This can include shoe stores, clothing stores, and other shopping venues.  Do these stores share a certain design element?  For example, if you like the Apple stores sexy, sleek technology with the white lacquer and silver sheen; chances are you are drawn to a more contemporary interior.  In contrast if you love the feeling when you walk into a ralph lauren store, with the dark wood cladded walls, rustic leathers and woods, and rich colors; you may want to create an interior that lends itself more to these styles.

Remember, creating a new environment is a chance for self expression and although it can be extremely stressful or overwhelming; try to see it as an exciting opportunity to transform your home into your true happy place.