Home Decorating

Settle on your style to create a room that's pleasing to the eye.

There is no way that you could or even should stick to every single rigid design rule when putting together your home. However, if you're happy to work with some guidelines in place, you'll reap the rewards in terms of creating an appealing and desirable space.

It's all about putting together the furniture, soft furnishings and accessories that match a certain mood.

I'm a minimalist, modernist, neutral colours kind of person and that means I have certain requirements in setting my style. There has to be plenty of storage in a room to keep it free from clutter. (I have serious storage issues but I do try to keep them behind closed doors.) The window treatments have to be simple. I have never contemplated curtains at any of my windows - it's always Roman blinds because of their clean lines. Fabrics are, in the main, natural: linen, wool, cotton and canvas. My vases are plain, clear glass and my flowers arrangements are always uncomplicated. And that's how to set a style.

Think about spaces that you are drawn to. These could be a good indication of your personal style. (I loved the old Saatchi gallery in London 's Westbourne Grove because it was just a vast, open, clutter-free space.) If you find yourself drawn to grand stately homes or always book a cosy country cottage for your holidays, these could be a starting point for tailoring a room to suit. Use a mood board to help you put together the look, incorporating a picture of your ideal room to inspire you as you work.

SO WHAT ELSE INFLUENCES YOUR STYLE?

Taste in music? You might worship at the feet of Elvis and so employ a retro approach to your interior.

Love of gardening? Cultivate a collection of floral prints that will give a theme for your scheme.

An historical period? Look for reproduction - or if you have the bank balance original - antique furniture.

Another country? Source sumptuous silks from the Orient, porcelain painted in China or handcarved accessories from Indonesia.

This should be polarising your thoughts. So now consider the practicalities of putting your plan into action.

Give yourself a budget: some looks are less expensive to achieve than others. What about structural alterations? Will knocking two rooms into one give you the space you need to make a dramatic statement? You might also give some thought to the future. If you are planning to stay in the house for only a couple of years, should you tone down the colour scheme so that you won't have to redecorate when you want to sell? Last but not least, will your style work in the space that you have? Light-drenched loft style is difficult to achieve in a basement flat.

If you set a style and get all the elements right, then you'll be happy to live with the look for years.

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