Design Rules: The Insider's Guide to Becoming Your Own Decorator

The essential do-it-yourself guide from one of the top designers in the country that uncovers the secret home design rules used by the pros

Many design books are filled with lavish photography of perfect rooms that most of us can only dream of re-creating. Without any practical advice, the look is unattainable. That's where Design Rules comes in. Here, Elaine Griffin, one of the country's 100 top designers (House Beautiful), explains all the practical decorating standards that professionals use behind the scenes to create flowing, balanced, gorgeous design. Packed with helpful illustrations and hundreds of step-by-step tips, Design Rules includes essential advice such as:

•Pick a pleasing color palette (that really works)

•Correctly size their bedsize tables (so they don't tower over their beds)

•Enhance the visual appeal of windowless rooms (so they're not dungeons)

•Design furniture arrangements that function and flow

•Style up even the most forlorn kitchens, baths and yes, basements and laundry rooms (honey, no space is too dreadful to be made ultra fab)

•Brighten up their kitchens with a can of paint and a burst of strategically-placed color (location, location, location!)

•Figure out which styles of furniture go together (there is a rule and it's easy!)

•Make their own personalities shine throughout their homes (because they should)

•And oodles more!

Design Rules is for the growing number of savvy, novice home designers who are well-versed in what good design looks like, but need advice on how to translate it into their own home. It is the home design bible people have been waiting for.