8 Decorating Rules Meant to Be Broken—and 1 to Live By

The dining room table is where everyone comes together. You can emphasize that idea by mixing up the furniture here. When united by a common paint color, even a wide variety of chair styles can look interesting and yet decidedly unified.

Love a particular color? Drench yourself in it. Bright paint overhead casts a vibrant glow, welcoming kindred accent pieces, including window furniture, pieces of furniture, and even place settings.

Be bold in your mixing of patterns. Pairs stripes with paisleys, florals with geometric patterns. You might even consider adding pattern to the ceiling. Take pains, however, to keep things balanced by repeating a common color across the different patterns you choose.

Window treatments provide privacy and keep light at bay, but they can serve other purposes as well, adding dimension and interest to would-be blank walls, or by functioning as a room divider in an open-plan space.

With all of the fabulous wallpapers available these days, why limit yourself to the walls? Branch out by using sections of wallpaper inside shelving, on the recessed panels of doors and cabinets, or even on the ceiling.

Discover and admire beautiful and innovative home architecture, from grand Victorians to quaint cabins and all the styles in between. Take a look at the latest images and inspiration!