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Before you begin, clear out the room, if you can, so you can measure the height and width of your walls, windows and doorways.

Follow basic rules of proportion to ensure that your pieces look good together.

You don’t want to start with furnishings that are too big or too small — they’ll throw off the entire space. That’s why it’s helpful to have accurate measurements of the entire room. When buying pieces, always keep those dimensions in mind. Here’s one rule of thumb: Don’t include a sofa that takes up more than 20 percent of the floor space.

Next, decide on a focal point. In other words, what do you want to be looking at when you’re seated? It can be anything: a fireplace, a set of windows, a television. Use the focal point as a guide to positioning your furniture. You’ll likely start by putting your sofa across from it. Then build your furniture layout around this key piece.
 

• Begin with your sofa — it’s the hardest piece to choose, and you’ll base all of your other furniture choices on it. Select one in a neutral fabric so it’ll work with any color scheme or style.
• Find a coffee table that is about the same height as the sofa seat so it’ll be easy to grab stuff off the tabletop.
• Arrange your side chairs close to the sofa to promote conversation. Put them on either side of the sofa or directly across from it.
• Put an end table next to your sofa. Make sure that the table is the same height as the sofa arms — if it’s too high your table lamps won’t light the right spot.

Consider the windows, walls, lamps and floor
Pick a style or motif for your room, and let it determine your next set of choices — window treatments, wall color, lighting and floor coverings.

To find a decorating theme, pick your flooring next. Go for a rug with plenty of color and pattern, and use it as the inspiration for your color choices (it’s easier to match paint and fabric colors to a rug than the reverse).Create mood with color
Build the right mood for your room with a well-executed color scheme.

First, decide whether you want to make your room feel cozy and intimate or bright and airy. For relaxed comfort, choose warm colors like red, orange and yellow; for a more spacious feeling, choose cool colors like blue, green or purple.
 

• Tonal schemes
  
  • Use several shades of a single color to bring a sense of calm to a room.
• Harmonious schemes 
  
  • Combine two colors that are next to each other on the color wheel and you’ll create a rich, layered look.
• Contrasting schemes 
  
  • Mix colors that are directly opposite each other on the color wheel. They’ll impart drama and impact.

Add height to the room 
Include tall bookcases in your decor. Open shelves like these have ample room to display books, pictures and other accessories.

Define the seating area
Put at least the front two legs of the chairs and sofa on the rug. If your sofa is against a wall, pull the rug away from the wall so only the front legs are on the rug.

Position your lamps
Be sure that lamps direct light over your shoulder and onto reading material. Go for a floor lamp next to a side chair or beside the sofa if you don’t have space for a table.

Choose a wall color
Make sure your color choice falls in the middle of the chip card for a shade that will be bold enough to make a statement but not so dark that it will make the room seem smaller.

Maximize your windows
Hang your treatments as high as possible. Layer silk drapery panels over linen sheers for a formal look.

Finish the look with accessories
Select accent pieces that emphasize your room’s theme, and make the space feel cozy by displaying personal objects, like family photos and books.

Choose an accent color and use it on no more than 20 percent of your accessories to give the room a finished feeling. For a layered look with lots of texture, choose accessories in tones of the same color and mix different materials.
 

• Fresh flowers and potted plants add life to a room. Pair them with other decorative objects and create displays in sets of three or five for a visually pleasing presentation.
• Match decorated pillows with plain, colored ones to set off the design.
• Embellish plain drapes using a stencil and fabric paint to make them fit into your decorating theme. Paint stencils randomly onto the drapery panel for a formal look or, for a more modern treatment, stencil in vertical lines. Make sure your paint doesn’t bleed beyond the stencil by using the right tools. Use paint that is meant for fabric and apply it with round, flat brushes like these.

Pare down the books
Keep only the books you need on your shelves and organize them so the spines align with the edge of the shelf.

Use a comfy throw 
This simple embellishment is great for breaking up the neutral sofa.

Keep a shallow tray on hand 
Use it for serving coffee or tea in the room. Maintain a neat coffee table by stacking photo albums and loose pictures in an open box.

Display art
The perfect spot is right above your sofa. The art should be at least half the sofa length — anything less will seem out of scale. The larger the artwork, the more dramatic a statement it will make.

Contain magazines
Cut clutter by keeping magazines and other reading materials in a low basket or box.

Style your side table
Use objects of different heights, like low candles, a small plant and a picture frame.