After you're done your initial research, think about the types of rooms that make you the most and least comfortable. Consider formal and informal atmospheres, fabrics, textures and colors. Evaluate what each room in your home will be used for. Planning the placement of furniture is most effective when it is arranged to take advantage of a focal point Your focal point can be a window with a view, a fireplace, a piece of furniture such as an Chinese cabinet that has been retrofitted to accommodate a television, or a piece of art such as an elegant Coromandel screen mounted behind a sofa. Color is another powerful decorating tool.
Color can soothe or invigorate, make a large room feel cozy or make a small room look larger.
Consider your objective before choosing colors. If you are lucky enough to already own a few good pieces of furniture, consider where you are using them. Perhaps a piece would be used to better advantage in a hallway rather than hidden away in a family room. If you are just beginning to invest in home furnishings, buy the best you can afford. A few quality pieces even such relatively minor items as wall mirrors are much more satisfying than many inexpensive pieces of inferior quality.