What do a pack of dogs, a swimmer and shirts with too much starch have in common? Somehow all of these became unique, artistic and decorative elements in people’s homes. Check out how the unexpected can add fun and show stopping excitement to your home décor.

So you’re telling me that you can’t spend half a year’s salary on original art work for the hallway? That’s okay. There are many alternatives for great wall decor without breaking the bank. Get creative with fabrics, found objects, natural elements, texture and even fish — oh yes, I did say fish! — to add your own personality and charm and fill your home with your unique style.

Men are starting to claim more and more territory in their homes these days, but their classic spot in the living room is their throne, or as I like to call it, their “Man Chair“. Since they typically like to keep it until it is worn to the springs, here are the top nine elements that will make a new chair so appealing to the man in your life that he’ll actually let you get rid of the overstuffed, raggedy monstrosity sitting in the middle of your living room — I’m talking about the chair — not the guy!

When finding that perfect bedside table there are SO many things to consider, and who says it even needs to be a table? Well I certainly don’t. If you have been spending hours shopping around to find the perfect side tables to hold your bonbons & that nightly glass of wine, check out all the things to consider when finding your dream nightstands.

Crocodile and Alligator texture isn’t just for your fancy shoes and purses anymore! This reptile texture has always been one to catch my eye. Get a little wild and put it on your kitchen backsplash tiles, your chair upholstery, and even … get ready for it … your bathtub!

If you are a TV addict and you want to make sure you don’t miss a minute of your favorite shows, there’s always a way to sneak a TV into any room, whether you want to watch your soaps in the Kitchen or bath tub, sitcoms in the living room, or sports in your man-cave.

After shopping the 10 million-plus square feet of High Point Market last week, the soles of my tennis shoes are still smoking! I’m sharing with you my favorite chairs,  everything from updated wingbacks, to traditional dining chairs to uber contemporary swivel chairs! Check out these hot designs from Vanguard, Hickory Chair, American Leather and more!

I love to see walls with unique textures! Not a faux finish which just looks textured — but the real deal that you can feel! Check out this collection of inspirational ideas for deeply textured wall treatments using glass, metal, wood, wall coverings, fabric and more.

It’s fun to check out all the beautifully designed rooms we see done by the interior designers on Houzz.com. They make it look so easy, don’t they? But there are lots of ways to make mistakes — oh yes, I’ve made some too and learned the hard way! I’ve compiled a list of the Top Ten Decorating mistakes — see Part 1 here — and hope they help you with your design dilemmas.

If you have been struggling with decorating your home and just don’t seem to be getting the room right, chances are you’ve made one — or two, or seven — of the top ten decorating mistakes. Check out these great examples of rooms that have successfully dealt with these common design issues. This is just half of the list, so if you don’t see your particular issue, read Part ll for the second half of the list. The link is below the photo.

Navigate through the photos by clicking on the little dots under the photo, or click on the text under the photo to open the full Ideabook, complete with other readers’ comments. See what others have to say on the topic.

Click here for Part ll of Getting the Room Right: Avoid the Top 10 Decorating Mistakes