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[Azcowgirl]

The importance of pleasing lighting.... different 

Levels, balanced, and  pleasing varieties of ambient and  task .

[Foxxee]

The many "best advices" I learned were from a highly respected professional Interior Designer I took several courses from years ago.  

One was..."collect" interesting furniture and accessories over time that have special meaning.  Buy what you love, not what you like.  You're less likely to tire of it. 

[Nonametoday]

Lots of good ones here! Many of which I have followed at the advice of others through the years.  I do have a lot of collections and do get rid of things from time to time.  

I'm learning what good friends baskets are and I have quit buying groceries in bulk and en masse.  I have to clean the pantry at least once a year and throw away food stuff that expired.

Another thing:  If you have a small powder room, don't paint it a light color to try to make it look bigger.  Everybody knows it is small and paint is not going to knock the walls down and make it bigger.  Paint it a dramatic color and make it into a little jewel box and put all the shiny stuff you can find in that room and make it glamorous.

If you have an eye for design, you can integrate new furniture to work with the old and it will look as though it belongs.  

[Nonametoday]

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@pupwhipped wrote:

Alas, after forty years of collecting, I fear I have far too many cantaloupes...and I love then one and all and cannot part.  Needless to say I need to start shopping for watermelons. Ha! Better yet, stop shopping all together!

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@pupwhipped 

And when you delete so many of your beloved canteloupes for watermelons, canteloupes will return and watermelons will be out of favor.  It happens every time I follow the design trends.  I group my blue & white together and all of it together makes it like one large statement, large and in charge.

[Harpa]

Lighting from the floor on up - with spot lights.

Hanging pictures at eye level.

No lamps in front of the windows.

[jubilant]

@Oznell   I tried to buy that first Broyhill vase you showed.  It is exactly what I am looking for. I just loved it but it is sold out. I need a rather tall arrangement on my dining room table to add some color to that end of my greatroom.   Haven't been able to find another like it.  I prefer the cream over the white in my room.

I don't have a lot of advice that's different but, like you, and others....I am concentrating on pieces I love that are bigger.  I also am not into   collections, although I do have a collection of roosters in my kitchen which were all given to me for free. 

[Oznell]

Agreed, @Nonametoday , good point,  that can not be said enough.  You shouldn't 'purge' based on a decorating principle that you don't agree with--  that's why I said, what is the tip that renonates most with you, individually, fits with your aesthetic, and makes you feel better, not worse, about your choices.

I expect that most of us have sort of randomly or out of frustration, shed things over the years, that we then regret not having any more.  Not the best approach.

And as I said, this one guided me more with my (relatively few) new choices going forward.  I've plenty of "smalls" that I'll never surrender!

@jubilant,  I'm sorry that vase is gone!   It's hard to find classic looking, cream or ivory vases, that are both large, and not too expensive!   I noticed Target had a very cool 13 inch one, but it may be too rustic for your purposes.  I just love that classic, Italian villa look :

This Deco 79 metal vase on Amazon is good looking and  13 1/2 inches, but it is metal, so would probably not work for fresh flowers:

I'm sure if you keep making the rounds of Wayfair, Crate and Barrel, etc. etc.,  you'll find something.  If you are lucky enough to have a Home Goods near by, they always seem to have tons of neutral, oversize vessels.  Good luck!

[ALRATIBA]

No necessarily "decorating" advice - but various rules (?) and pointers that I picked up in various classes/courses I've taken over my lifetime .... on document design/layout and landscape design, garment design, knitting/crochet master classes, use of color.

The rules / suggestions are universal and work in numerous categories. 

After all these years, some things just seem to be second nature now.  

[DREAMON]

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@SoX wrote:

"Add a touch of black to anchor a room ... "  I've always subscribed to this piece of advice from an interior designer friend.   

It can be as simple as the matting or frame of a painting, a small vase or bowl.  It gives the eyes a place to rest ...  

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@SoX ,

ITA....this was the best advise given to me also. I love accents of black (or navy, espresso, charcoal) with very pale colors in a home.

It gives the room interest and dimension.

[jubilant]

Thanks so much @Oznell.  I'll take a peek at those vases you posted and try those websites.

  I was on the computer forever trying to find a cream colored vase.  You're right....they are few and far between!  Especially the ones with a glaze or at least a slight sheen to them.   That end of my room is on the dull side. I found a couple on Esty but they just looked a bit too "old world".  Many of the farmhouse styles were too dull.