There are many home decorating styles

Find your way through this maze of styles by using this online decorating workbook to discover your style preference

Start here by printing the Home Decorating Style Worksheet. By filling out this worksheet, you will start to discover your home decorating needs and preferences.

Walk around your home and take time to look at what you have now. Note your favorite pieces of furniture and accessories.

Write down the color combinations you have that work well for you. Check out the fabrics you are currently using.

Notice the size of your rooms, the architecture of the home, any moldings, built ins, hardwood floors, or any other details that add character to your home. As you work out what home decorating styles you prefer keep a notebook of your research.

Start a Sample File

Go to paint and wallpaper stores or internet sites. Start looking at wallpaper sample books. Are there certain style books you reach for all the time? Do you favor florals and stripes that remind one of traditional home decorating styles, or tiny patterns associated with country home decorating styles?

Take the time to look at books you would just ignore. Do you find patterns in these books you might like? What attracts you to them? Is it the color, the size of the design, or perhaps the texture? Sometimes the books are labeled Traditional, Country, Tuscan decorating etc,. Take note of these titles as they are a help in determining what styles you are drawn to.

Go to the paint department and use the same techniques. Pay attention to the colors that interest you the most and draw your attention. Take notes on all that interests you.

Next Stop - Fabric Shops

Now visit some fabric stores. You don't have to be a seamstress to walk into a fabric or home decorating store. You don't even have to buy anything. All you are interested in at this point is paying attention to what attracts your eye and makes you feel good.

What colors do you go to? Are these the same colors you noticed in the paint store? How about patterns? Are they similar to the wallpaper patterns you liked?

Check out the textures. Do you like the silks, damasks, and laces, or are you drawn to the tweeds, homespuns and denims?

Analyze Your Choices

You will probably find as you do these exercises that there are many similarities among your choices. You may find that many of your choices are florals and that they contain similar colors. Perhaps you like mostly solids in luxurious fabrics or you may prefer the homespun flavor of tweeds and plaids.

Whatever your choices, be sure to take plenty of notes for future reference.

Check out the Furniture Departments

Now on to the furniture departments. Study the type of furniture you like to look at. Is it made of cherry, walnut or mahogany? Perhaps you prefer the look of pine, oak, and maple. Do you like formal finishes and stains or are you drawn to the more rustic look of country?

Is the style you like elegant and formal? Is it cozy with a put your feet up look? Does it have the clean, simple lines of modern contemporary?

This exercise will give you some idea of the home decorating styles you prefer.

Don't Overlook Flooring

Oftentimes when trying to determine what style you like, flooring can be a clue to your preference.

• Do you like the modern look of wall to wall carpeting?
• Perhaps the clean look of hardwood flooring is what you like?
• What about the Early American look of brick flooring?
• The Tuscan look of travertine tile?
• Aubusson area rugs for the formal Federal period?
• Stenciled or braided rugs for the country look?
• Consider Orientals for Asian or Victorian styles

I could go on but you get the idea. Your likes and dislikes of flooring materials could help you decide in which direction you'd like to go.

If you are considering Oriental rugs, tread carefully. There is a very wide variety to choose from, and many rugs that are not truthfully represented for what they actually are. For in depth information online on buying and collecting oriental rugs refer to A Connoisseur's Guide to Oriental Rugs. This is a collector's recommendations for identifying,evaluating and selecting new and antique oriental rugs and carpets with traditional motifs, patterns, symbols and histories.

There are no Right or Wrong Choices

Remember, there are no right or wrong choices here. Your only consideration should be whether the style you finally end up with makes you happy.

Once you choose a home decorating style, don't feel you have to be a slave to that particular style. Mixing and matching styles is not a crime. If you want to put a Queen Anne table in your country home, go for it. If you really want a traditional sofa in your contemporary home, why not use it? You can modernize it by using updated fabrics that match the rest of your room.

Your objective is to create a peaceful harmonious home. You are creating your refuge from the world and you want it to be a place that reflects your personal taste and creativity.

It is not necessary to please your mother, neighbors, or your boss. This is your space (along with others who share the home with you) and it is only necessary to please the occupants. You should only be concerned with what style makes you smile, laugh, be comfortable, and feel the joy of coming home.