I love lists. I make a list every night before going to bed so I can sleep better. It really helps.

The List Producer blog has posted my 10 Most Common Decorating Mistakes, in case you need a reminder and want to fix up your home in hours, without spending any money. Check it out:

http://www.listproducer.com/2011/10/20/10-most-common-decorating-mistakes/

Wishes do come true… if you wait five years. For some reason it seems to take that long when it comes to home furnishings.

Fifteen years ago I remember thinking, “Gee, why aren’t there more stylish and durable coffee tables on the market?” At the time, the choice was limited to delicate glass-topped and wooden rectangular tables with pointy corners that required drinks coasters to protect them. Most were impractical and unexciting.

Arhaus cylinder - Lots of space for serving and display, and good Feng Shui, too.

Macy's multi-functional cocktail table.

Then, ten years ago, leather ottomans that tripled as cocktail tables, storage pieces and footrests appeared, as well as distressed wood coffee tables with drawers; oval wooden tables with shelves in lots of finishes, round hammered metal tables, tables on casters, drum style tables – lots of options became available that were durable and really interesting.

Five years ago, I found myself wishing for more interesting table lamps. Most of the lamps were pretty boring. Flash to the present: I’m happy to say that today there are lots of really good-looking lamps on the market. This is exciting news because there’s nothing like a great pair of lamps to add balance and a bit of style to any room.

Finally. Anthropologie's stylish lamp collection with some edge.

Have you seen the fab new collection of lamps from Anthropologie? Check out this group. 

The Cleo Lamp from Crate & Barrel.

I like this one from Crate and Barrel, also. There are lots of stylish options everywhere, both online and in stores. Yay for more and better design alternatives!

Are you hoping for something to improve? If you could have more choices for a particular piece or design element, what would you wish for? Put it out here. Perhaps your dream will come true, too, and you won’t have to wait five years.

Arhaus cylinder cocktail table:http://www.arhaus.com/furniture/living-room-furniture/coffee-tables/35VALCOFGR/

Macy’s multi-functional cocktail table:
http://www1.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=472705&CategoryID=35423#fn=sp%3D1%26spc%3D173

I just returned from a redecorating consultation and it occurred to me that you might be interested in the Rush Ottomans I recommended to my client as one of the storage solutions for her family room. One can never be too thin, too rich or have too much storage. Correct?

Multi-functional, good-looking ottomans = smart design

There are actually lots of other things to like about these casual yet stylish woven cylinders besides the storage they provide: They can be used as pull-up tables, extra seating, footrests; they can be stored inside one another and – drum roll (no pun intended!) – they are green, too, because they are made from renewable plant fiber. Plus, they’re on sale. The set of three, small, medium and large, are $59.99, reduced from $89.

Besides using the nesting pieces in a family room, you could, instead, have a set in a child’s room for toys or teenager’s bedroom for magazines, on a covered terrace or an outdoor room, in a mudroom or in a bathroom. I believe they’ll earn their keep.

What do you think? Do you like them, too?

When I first arrived at my client’s house yesterday, to redecorate her living room, I found lovely furnishings and lots of architectural challenges: a slightly vaulted ceiling that was low, a wall made up mostly of sliding glass doors and an open plan that had faced several archways and door frames of varying heights. No wonder she needed professional design help!

If you have any of these features in your house you know decorating can be a formidable task. And, in my sweet client’s room, these issues were complicated by the fact that she did not have any pairs except for a pair of candlesticks – not one pair of tables, lamps or chairs.

Another client's living room after pairs were added

A dining room looks elegant with pairs

Once we rearranged her furnishings and corrected some of the other 10 Common Decorating Mistakes, and the room felt more tranquil, elegant and spacious, I gave her suggestions including information for purchasing a pair of club chairs and a pair of floor lamps. She told me she was so excited she was going to get everything she needed right away.

Here’s the bottom line: Like our bodies, all rooms need pairs (you may have heard me say this once or twice before…) and rooms that are architecturally off-balance are in desperate need of pairs.

So, if you have two of a kind but in different rooms, reunite them. If you have one of kind, try to get a mate. The more pairs the better.

Every room can benefit from pairs

In just a few minutes, a balanced, more restful bedroom

Add pairs to small spaces and large

I’ve designed rooms that have had a dozen pairs and they looked fabulous, not boring. Just remember this – Imelda’s Rule: “You can never have too many pairs.” Girl Scouts’ Honor.