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"   1. master the mix designer: jessica helgerson When many different looks compete for attention, eclecticism degenerates into mishmash. To create a harmonious decor using disparate furnishings, limit styles to two or three per room and unify them by means of a single theme, such as color. In this living area, for instance, Portland, Oregon, interior designer Jessica Helgerson balanced the visual heaviness of contemporary roll-arm sofas with delicate Louis XIV-inspired armchairs and a demilune table. The pale cotton fabric on the sofa complements the whitewashed furniture, while the blue and yellow upholstery on the chairs is repeated in decorative pillows. TIP: Anchoring a room with pieces neutral in style and hue, such as these sofas, frees you to make more dramatic choices with artwork, wall coverings, and accessories.    2. style the surfaces designer: betty wasserman Frequently, coffee tables and other flat surfaces become repositories for unrelated knickknacks and the detritus of everyday life. Instead, see such areas as opportunities for small-scale, low-commitment decorating. For interest, vary the heights of the objects and materials, as stylist Brice Gaillard did in this living room by New York City designer Betty Wasserman. Rounded objects\u2014ceramic vessels and purple allium blooms\u2014soften the square lines of a chic leather ottoman and wooden trays; the accents&amp;#039; light tones also coordinate with the upholstery. Note how a stack of books placed at an angle strikes a casual note in the sophisticated setting. TIP: Change tabletop arrangements several times a year, introducing decorative objects and flowers that reflect the season.    3. get the hang of it designer: kathy andrews Planning and coordination are the keys to successful artwork displays. Here, Houston designer Kathy Andrews selected black-and-white and sepia-tone photos that have water as a common theme. &amp;quot;I had them all matted identically, and hung them in similar black frames,&amp;quot; she says. To create a balanced composition, first position the largest works, then add smaller ones, maintaining a similar amount of space between the frames. Use existing architectural details\u2014doors, windows, and trim\u2014as guides. The oil painting above the settee, for instance, is situated so that it tucks into a right angle formed by the molding. TIP: To work out a hanging scheme, cut pieces of kraft paper the same size as your framed art and use painter&amp;#039;s tape to adhere them to the wall. Move them around until you are satisfied with the arrangement, then lightly mark around the edges with a pencil. Remove the paper and use the pencil marks as a guide for hanging your art.    4. pick the right rug stylist: matthew mattiello Color, pattern, and size are all factors in area-rug selection; get any of them wrong and it will throw off a room&amp;#039;s look. Here, the shades of brown pick up on the various wood tones in the room, providing a counterbalance to the vivid yellow walls. The circle-within-a-square motif relates both to the round shapes of the table and chandelier and to the straight lines of the sideboard and mirror. In terms of size, make sure the floor covering is large enough for your furniture. &amp;quot;When you&amp;#039;re sitting at a dining table, you don&amp;#039;t want the legs of your chair to be half on, half off the rug,&amp;quot; says New York stylist Matthew Mattiello. If the covering is to go beneath a sofa, it should extend at least six inches under the couch&amp;#039;s front edge. TIP: To figure out what size rug you need, lay a bedsheet on the floor and fold and unfold it until the dimensions look right.    5. coordinate accessories stylist: kim freeman Decorating shouldn&amp;#039;t stop once the main pieces of furniture are in place. It&amp;#039;s the extra details, such as pillows and throws, that lend a room personality. After all, through color, texture, and material, soft accessories can enliven and visually unify a room. Here, the pillows&amp;#039; geometric patterns provide a contrast to the solid, neutral sofas. The shades of blue pick up the wall color, while the striped pillow and ottoman are linked by their shared fabric. TIP: Use accessories to introduce new hues into the decor, selecting tones that complement\u2014but don&amp;#039;t too closely match\u2014others in the scheme. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
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