Rooms Renewed

Learn From the Experts

For many professional designers, the creative process is intuitive. They know when to follow, bend, or break the rules of decorating. Take note of their habits and heed their advice. Virginia designer James Beebe Hawes encourages careful editing.

"Take everything out of a room and put each piece back, one by one, making sure it's a piece you love," he says. "Think about how you want to use your rooms. In my living room, I wanted one side to feel sleeker for evening entertainment, so I kept the floor bare. On the other side, a rug warms up the space for after-dinner coffee."