Beauty surrounds us, and it is an innate sense of design that creates a harmony in our homes and work places. The impulse to adorn has existed from time immemorial, and early man even painted the walls of the cave that was his home. Basically, interior decoration or design has two aspects. You can choose to keep up with current styles and trends when decorating your home or office, or choose to let the interiors compliment and reflect you an individual. Since we have to live with our choices, design gurus would recommend using interior design as an expression of personal taste. To be beautiful, functional, and harmonious the colors, furniture, accessories and arrangements must be well coordinated. So, the first step in interior decoration is to study the layout of the room. The second step is to decide whether the room is to be formal, informal, dignified, soft, restrained, masculine, or feminine. And, the third step is to decide on a theme and then plan the rest of the room accordingly. The utility of the room will dictate its interior. Professional interior designers use line, form, color, and texture as basic elements of interior design. Before you begin, take a note pad and jot down a list of likes and dislikes, not just yours but of all those who will be using the room. Make a note of where the windows and doors are and when sunshine seeps in. Find out whether the room tends to be dusty — if the breeze brings in dust, then white sofa covers or curtains would be disastrous. Try and browse through glossy magazines that feature great interiors, and view as many internet sites as you can on interior design. Visit mall and furniture showrooms as well as antique shops and flea markets to get a pulse of what is in and trendy, and more importantly, what you are drawn to. While doing this exercise, keep an eye open for things that will add a touch of panache to your interior—prints, paintings, plants, antiques, clocks, an armoire, or a lounging chair. Create a unique space that makes use of the architectural elements well. Choose a color scheme that inspires and spreads happiness—be bold and use combinations like an orange wall in an otherwise white room, with a painting in pastels. The foundation of good interior design is the use of a “centerpiece” around which the rest of a room is planned. According to experts design is 75% instinct, so listen to your inner voice more than seasonal trends. After all, it's you who will be living with the interior and not a designer or magazine editor.