By Mi-Ling Stone Poole –

Do you wish you had your very own designer at your beck and call to walk you through all those decorating dilemmas?

“What color should I paint my bedroom? What type of flooring would work best in my living room? How can I save money on window treatments?”

Do you know what style you prefer? Do you like modern or contemporary lines? Are you drawn to more traditional pieces, or are you inclined to mix styles? If so, you might like an eclectic space.

What are your color preferences? Do you want warm and cozy, cool and crisp or vibrant and bold?

Recently I interviewed Taniya Nayak from HGTV’s “Designed to Sell” and she shared her design philosophy, which is to create a space that makes you feel good when you wake up every morning.

Nayak also talked about keeping things simple and clean in a space and using colors that are peaceful and relaxing.

Decorating tips

Here are five decorating tips that she shared with me that will get you started in the right direction on your next design project.
• Keep things simple, clean and clear.
• Beige is not boring if you accessorize it right.
• When looking for your style, look in your closet and flip through magazines.
• Don’t forget to spruce up the outside of your home.

• Paint your door and change out the knobs.

Share your design tip!