I can’t tell the difference between Whipped Apricot and Lemon Twist no matter how hard I try – it’s all just a lighter shade of yellow to me – and if I had to describe my style sense I would have to say, “to be discovered.” But what I learned from Maureen Villmer, an accomplished and talented local interior decorator, is that everyone has a little inner designer within them, they just have to learn how to bring it out. Don’t get me wrong, the pros are the pros for a reason, and although you may never be able to design the way they do, you can channel your inner designer, have a little fun and maybe – just maybe – create a fabulous space. Maureen shared with us her tips, tricks and expertise on how to bring out the designer in you.

Color palette… how do I figure that out? According to Maureen, discovering your ideal color pallet isn’t as complicated as it may seem. Maureen says, “Most of the time what people put on their back is what they put in their home.” Studying your favorite outfit may give you some insight as to what colors you really prefer. Maureen also says that people are divided into color seasons: winter, spring, summer and fall just by how they look. Your hair color, eye color and skin tone all contribute to what season you are, and your season in-turn determines your color preferences. Maureen describes herself as spring since she has light green eyes, a light hair color and a pale skin tone. She says, as a spring, she tends to gravitate towards spring-like colors not only with her wardrobe but with her personal interior design choices. The concept of each person inherently being linked with a season originates from the book Color Me Beautiful, published more than 20 years ago. Since its arrival, the concept has influenced everything from interior design to the fashion and the make-up industries. Find what colors you like and don’t be afraid to use them.

What if I don’t know what style I like? Deciding between contemporary, traditional, eclectic or any of the other bazillion hybrid styles out there is no easy task. Maureen suggests going through design and home magazines and pulling out what you like. Once you have a collection of things that have caught your eye, go through the pile and narrow down not only what is visually appealing to you but also what is practical and functional for the space. You don’t have to limit yourself to any particular style; you can create your own style hybrid to accommodate what you like and need. “People shouldn’t be afraid of mixing styles,” says Maureen. And she stresses, “There really are no rules, it all just comes down to what you like.”

How do I pull it all together? Once people identify their style, ideal colors and what they need and want the space to be, the next step is pulling it all together and actually creating the space. According to Maureen, you should pick furniture and fabrics first and pick your paint color last. “If you start with the paint first, it’s much more difficult to try and find something to go with the paint than it is to find something and make the paint go with it,” she says. As for Maureen, she says she always needs an excuse for a paint color and according to her that excuse can be found from items in the room that is being decorated. You may find your inspiration from a bedspread, pillowcase, window treatment or even a Kleenex box, which was the case for a room Maureen designed for one of her clients. Her client simply adored the colors of a particular Kleenex box; it became the inspiration piece for the entire room and needless to say, the client loved the finished product. Inspiration can come from so many things – keep your eyes and mind open to the possibilities.

What if I still don’t feel comfortable with my designing skills? In this day and age there are a ton of resources at your fingertips. There are television networks like HGTV that run home improvement and design shows all day, every day, and if that isn’t enough, you can access a large amount of design information on the Internet anytime you’d like. The more you know, the more confident you’ll feel, but the greatest way you can conquer your confidence is by knowing there are no mistakes – a room that suits you is design at its best. Don’t be afraid to make it happen…let your inner designer shine.