Mirror, Mirror on the wall who's the fairest of them all? Mirrors can make a space feel brighter because mirrors bounce the light around the room. Put mirrors on walls perpendicular (90 degrees) to windows, not directly across from them. Hanging a mirror directly opposite a window can actually bounce the light right back out the window.

Hang curtains higher than the windows to trick your eye into thinking the room is taller. Most standard curtain panels measure 84 or 96 inches, allowing you to go about 3 inches above the window casing before the length gets too short. Love patterns? Try vertical stripes; the lines visually elongate your walls. Leaning a large mirror against a wall can also make a room seem taller.

Here are a couple of basic rules for an area rug: In a living room, a desinger's go to  plan is that all four legs of the sofa and chairs should be on the rug. A little rule breaker: If you need the space, try leaving the back legs slightly off the rug. Remember if you go too small with the rug size everything looks out of scale.

Pair neutral furniture with a pop of color to create a cohesive, harmonious look. It is an easy way to inject style and fresh energy to any room. You can really have fun with pillows when your furniture is neutral. Two or three stnadout colors and a mix of patterns can add just the right visual punch.

Let's mix things up a bit. Matching tableware is overrated, not to mention expensive. Check out your local thrift stores to find unique pieces of china and silver flatware. Your table will look inviting and personal, and give your guest a little something to talk about. Don't be afraid to mix patterns too.

One easy way to help you pick a color scheme is to rely on color combinations you see in pillows. Set that as your base and you will have something to work around.  Another helpful tool is Adobe Color CC at color.adobe.com. It is a FREE online color guide that can help you understand color rules like analogous, monochromatic, complimentary, etc.

Pick a large-scale lead chair at your dinning table to make a "WOW" statement. We recommend choosing a style that's complimentary to make everyone take notice.

My  for beating the winter blues is to add fresh greenery in your home. Branches and stems last longer than floral arrangements and that pop of green is just what you need to put a smile on your face!

Resist the urge to overcrowd a room. I know it’s tough sometimes, but seriously less is more. You don’t need to fill up the space with a lot of furniture. Give your pieces some breathing room and your design will look more put together. Too much just looks cluttered. Hope you are having a fantastic day. Let us know what’s going on with you.

The rule of threes says that things arranged in odd numbers are more appealing, stand out, and are more effective than even-numbered groupings. Three seems to be “the magic” number, but 5, 7, or 9 are pretty great too. This simple trick can make a huge difference in your decorating. Now check around your room and see what you’ve got that you can group in threes. Take a photo and use. Ready, Set, GO!!

If you are trying to get that farmhouse look in your home, here are 3 simple steps to follow. 
1. Keep your color palette neutral. Stick with whites, creams and grays. So for us military families, white walls are perfect! Accent with just a touch of black.
2. Mix old with New - incorporating vintage elements and distressed pieces is a must do. Also, consider using galvanized metal buckets and iron.
3. Use wood pieces to add rustic character like a washboard, spindles and a repurposed wood signs.

We all have items in our home already like trays, books, plates, and baskets. I'm sure I have things in boxes from our last PCS move that I haven't even opened yet. So before you buy accessories for your home, take a good look at what you already have. Vintage military trunks and ammo cases can be turned into end tables and make for great conversation pieces. Your kids also make great art. Hang them up and use as decor in their room. You can also hang wicker baskets or plates on the walls too. Stacking books and arranging candles on top of them is a great go-to decor idea. 

Wanted to share a tip that really changed the way I look at furniture placement. When laying out your space, live with where you’ve placed your furniture for a few days. If it isn’t work for you, move things around, rearrange and try something else. You don’t have to be stuck with the way your furniture landed in the room. Get inspired you might be surprised with what you come up with.