To be influenced by a magazine and, say, a Swedish theme, unless it resonates with you, it seems kind of odd and influenced.

People buy very badly made furniture and fabric. Instead, buy a beautiful dining table, well-made upholstery. It's almost like dressing for success.

Be judicious with your budget and buy things that are going to last.

Make sure furniture decor has similar scale. It's all about scale, proportion, measuring, being conscious of the overall plan.

To have a 9-foot sofa in a small room can be kind of treacherous.

People buy things in isolation and don't think of how they work together.

Look at your world and your life, and look at what is personal to you. If you're living in an apartment, you need to stick with a narrative that's personal to you.