The decision to redecorate was easy. Identifying a style, choosing the pieces, and putting it all together required help.

Jenny Hansen

Lost as to where I should begin, I enlisted the help of Jami Meyer and Jennifer Stoner of Right At Home, a local shop that carries new and consigned furniture and décor. Little did the ladies know, they had their work cut out for them.

Having earned my college degree just a few years ago, I never truly graduated from that quintessential campus style of decorating — black futons, crazy patterns, and stacks of clear plastic drawers. Recently, a close friend urged me to trade in my university style for a more universal look.

She was right. My Fan District space, boasting dark hardwood floors, 10-foot ceilings, and early 19th century structural accents, was screaming for sophisticated interior design to match.

Until now, I'd been more concerned with function than form. Although I had to admit that a solid cherry bookcase was preferable to cheap plastic bins, even if both were equally capable of storing my books. In reality, this was the first time I'd been able to justify investing in new furniture and a decoration overhaul.

Stoner assured me I was already on the right track by considering my purchases an investment.

One of the biggest mistakes inexperienced decorators make, she warned, is buying several inexpensive, cheaply made pieces that don't last — just to fill the room.

She advised me to spend the bulk of my funds on a few quality, central pieces I could enjoy for years. Consignment shopping is a great way to score valuable furniture and accent pieces on any budget.

"Keep your high-ticket items neutral," she added. "That way you change your style periodically using accessories and smaller pieces."

Whilst I began dreaming of a cream-colored couch, brown and turquoise throw pillows, and framed black and white photos with oversized matting, Meyer piped in with more sound guidance.

"Another common mistake is buying page 13 out of the catalog," she chuckled. "New decorators are more inclined to go too cookie cutter."

Jennifer Stoner (left) and Jami Meyer

Yes, you can do it yourself! Just keep these simple rules in mind: 1 Don't be afraid to spend money on a few quality pieces 2 Search for bargains on consignment 3 Keep your high-ticket items neutral 4 Don't get everything from one store 5 Mix and match textures, colors, and styles 6 Strike a balance between the bold and the neutral

Meyer suggested buying pieces from different stores to ensure various textures, colors, and styles unite to create dimension. However, she cautioned against allowing too many elements to vie for attention. Rule of thumb: Don't place two bold items in close proximity. Balance bold with understated.

A purple chair adds pop to the neutral living room and is a bargain at $171.

Armed with great advice, I was almost ready to start shopping. But first, I was interested to see what Stoner and Meyer would put together for me. I asked them to design a living room that would fit my style and my $2,000 budget.

What they created was right on.

The beige loveseat, handsome glass cocktail table, and tall bookcase were the main foci of the room—and all in my price range. Warm neutral tones presided but popped with a fabulous combination of turquoise, sage, sky blue, maroon, and an unexpected smattering of purple.

The room was so versatile some of my own prized possessions fit right into the room, as if they were part of the original design. My bookends, vases, candles, pillows, and knickknacks seemed, well, right at home.

Altogether, it was fun, original and practical.

I enjoyed the room Stoner and Meyer created for me so much that I may forgo identifying my own style for the time being in favor of adopting theirs. Nevertheless, I am now equipped with simple, dependable rules to govern all of my future design projects.