Designing a space from floor to ceiling can be overwhelming; here are some designer secrets to help take the mystery out of the process. At the end of the day you can always stop by Turner Home and ask for me and I will be happy to talk you off the ledge!

1. Keep a minimum of 15 inches between the coffee table and the sofa.

2. Start your living room plan with the best seat in the room and work out from there.

3. The perfect amount of space between a mirror and the top of a mantel is 7 inches.

4. The minimum break on drapery panels that hang to the floor is ½ inch.

5. If you have a collection, display everything together.

6. The larger the rug the better to keep an area from appearing puny. Keep 12 inches of floor showing around the perimeter.

7. Never use big patterns or trendy colors on large upholstered pieces. Throw pillows are the place for that since they can be easily substituted when you want a change.

8. If you have 8-foot ceilings you will want a lower sofa, which gives the impression that the ceiling is taller than it is.

9. If you like a skirted sofa then mix it with chairs that have legs, this gives a more eclectic feel to the space.

10. If you have a large dining room table, add recessed lighting at the ceiling in addition to the chandelier. This will provide general lighting for the space and also help your crystal to glisten.

11. Bedside swing arm lamps should be mounted no further than 3 inches away from the outside edge of the headboard.

12. The rule of thumb for bedside lamps is that the shade should be 20 inches above the top of the mattress.

13. Bedside tables should not tower over the bed. Keep the tables within 2 inches above or below the mattress height. For king size beds a nightstand less than 28 inches wide starts to look dwarfed by the bed.

14. Because of its function, the foyer is the room in the house most suitable for dramatic touches, both in decorating and lighting.

15. If your room is small use the same color on all four walls to make the room appear larger.

16. Art: Put detailed works in small frames and accessible locations, bolder compositions can be hung further away.

17. The space you leave empty is just as important as the space you fill.

18. An object by itself is only an object but place it with something else and it becomes a composition.

19. Symmetry helps to anchor a space but is definitely not the rule. Asymmetrical arrangements are much more interesting.

20. When in doubt, hire a licensed Interior Designer!

We have a Design program here at Turner Home. You can now get expert help from our Interior Designer. An initial consultation is $200 and any additional work in house is no charge. We would love an opportunity to visit you and help you create a space that says HOME.