25 New Decorating Secrets the Pros Swear By

For a head-to-toe makeover, the first step is creating a palette. “I come up with a basic color scheme for the whole house, and then I take that from room to room,” reveals Gary McBournie, a designer based in Boston. “The color scheme here is actually really simple — a royal blue, a paler blue, a soft orange, a grass green, and that’s pretty much it. But it plays itself out in different ways in different rooms.”

If you truly love something, you’ll want to put it on display. “Use and enjoy your antiques and unique finds, especially in a utilitarian room like the bathroom,” advises designer Bunny Williams.

“Create strong verticals and avoid the horizontal,” recommends designer Todd Romano. “I adore large mirrors because they add scale to a room. I also kept the furniture low-slung, so the rooms seem taller.”

“Window trim is an often-overlooked opportunity to make a statement,” says designer Meg Braff. Jeffrey Bilhuber agrees. “I often end up painting them green, to blend in with the landscape,” the eclectic decorator says. “Or sometimes I paint them pitch black, so the muntins practically disappear in the evening.”