How to find inspiration for your next decorating project
By: Lori Brasseur, Allied Member A.S.I.D., I.R.I.S., O.D.D.A.A.

I always receive calls from desperate clients who just don’t know where to start with their decorating project and they always ask me what I would do with their room. Well, as a decorator it isn’t up to me to decide how to decorate your room; it has to come from you!
What I mean by that is; you call a decorator for decorating advice, but a good decorator isn’t going to take an empty room and put all of her ideas and tastes into that space. It isn’t about what “we” like; it’s about what “you” like. So how do you get started when you have no idea what style you are or what colors you like? Start the same way decorators do; with a plan.

The easiest way to find your style is to start collecting ideas. Flip through decorating magazines or home improvement websites and collect pictures of things that catch your eye like a particular sofa style, a really cool lamp, a wall color, window treatments, a fabric, or maybe just the feeling that the whole room gives you. Make notes right on the pages so you remember why you saved it.

Also, start collecting samples of existing fabrics or colors that are going to stay in the room. For instance, say you’re not changing the carpeting and you want to keep your grandmother’s side chair. See if you can clip a little bit of extra fabric off the chair where you won’t see it. Clip a small square of the carpeting out of a closet. If it’s a painted piece, you can use paint chips from your local paint store to match it as closely as possible and have those with you.

You will also want to take measurements of the room and any furniture that is staying. If you can, make a simple floor plan to scale for reference. And finally, take photos of the room and any of the pieces you will be keeping.

Now as you collect all these samples and notes you will need to organize them in a way that makes sense for you; either by room, or by idea such as furniture ideas, lighting, colors, fabrics, or window treatments. Then keep them in your car so when you are out shopping you won’t have to make another trip back home to see if it's the right color, size, or if it will "go". Decorators always have samples with them when they shop.

As you start to collect a fair amount of items you will start to see a pattern or similarity in what you like. And a style, that you didn’t think you had, will soon emerge.

Lori Brasseur, owner of LB Designs is a one day decorator (as seen on HGTV), a professional organizer, and real estate stager. If you have questions or comments, or are looking for decorating help you can reach her at (978) 463-8835, email lori@lbdesigns.com  or visit her website at http://www.lbdesigns.com/.