Decorating can be scary. It's overwhelming to see the selections in the stores. All sorts of things look appealing, but which is right for you? Most people are in terror of spending their money for what might turn out to be a dreadful mistake.

How can you make the right selection? How can you spend your money wisely? How can you be a smart shopper? Ask the right questions? Know when a salesman is trying to pull the wool over your eyes?

Its first premise is that you are truly the only one who knows what feels right to you .

The second premise is that you need information, knowledge of your options, so that you can pick the product or products that will work best for you.

The technique we will follow is:

First, name the realities that your decorating will have to accommodate. These consist of who will use the room, what activities will go on in the room, how long a time will be spent in this room, and what the room itself is like . No matter what's going on in the stores, these are realities you have to address.

Second, name the adjectives that you would like to describe the room when it's finished. Never mind at this stage how you get there from here. To find any route, you first need to know your destination.

Third, the adjectives you select will suggest certain uses of the decorating tools of color, pattern, and texture. This booklet will describe how to use these tools to achieve the look you like, particularly in reference to carpeting.

Does the room have a view of the outdoors? That's a wonderful asset. You might make the room seem larger by creating an INDOOR/OUTDOOR effect.

What is this room adjacent to? Do you want it to seem connected or separated from the adjacent space? Rooms that are seen together should be compatible in design.