Home design is one part functionality and one part art. You need comfortable seats, space to work, and a way to organize all the essential items you use in daily life. You also need a home that artfully reflects your passion and inspiration so that you have a space to call your own.

Before you begin selecting furniture and accessories, think about what you enjoy doing the most in each room. Are movie nights your specialty? Or do you need a quiet room to be productive and creative? Maybe you need a lot of seats for guests because you throw parties every chance you get and invite everyone in the neighborhood. Think about the things you love to do and make this your starting point. That way you can make your passions a priority.

After deciding how you are going to focus your room, you can begin thinking about the styles that you like best and how it will compliment or contrast your personality. Are you drawn to contemporary or traditional rooms? Rustic chic or urban? Minimalist or eclectic? Remember that your style may not fit neatly into one category or another, but narrowing down your options will be helpful when you start trying to decide on furniture and accessories.

Once you have developed a rough idea of what you want for your home, start window shopping. Don’t be afraid to walk into a store and ask questions about which pieces best suit your style and fit the purpose of each room. Find out what your upholstery or textile options are and keep that in mind for the final decision.

Finally, remember that you should love every piece of furniture or knick-knack that you buy for your house. Don’t make it your life’s mission to have everything match perfectly or fit into your original design plan. Buy the things that you like and trust that it will come together because it is all an expression of your personality. First and foremost, your home should make you happy.