While a home should certainly reflect the tastes and style of the people who live in it, there are some decorating tricks that will work regardless of design style.

1. Add a touch of black to your room.  This may be something as simple as a black picture frame or lampshade or it can be something dramatic such as a black leather couch.  Black will anchor the room and give the eye a place to rest as it searches the room.
2. Contrast welting on upholstered furniture is a custom feature that turns an ordinary pillow, sofa or ottoman into something unique.  The welting is the cording that is placed between seams in the fabric.  A chair, for example, may have welting around the seat cushion or even the whole frame.  If you have a neutral colored sofa, you can add a colored welting for a pulled together look or you can choose to use black welting to “outline” the piece.
3. Ordinary throw pillows can be purchased very inexpensively at discount stores.  Most of these pillows are square in shape and feature a straight seam all around.  Adding trim such as cording, fringe, beads or tassels will turn an inexpensive pillow into a custom feature.
4. Grouping collections gives your collectibles a sense of importance and allows both you and your guests to enjoy them.  In fact, the very definition of a collection is a “group of like items” so why spread them all around the house.
5. While we are at number 5, this last item consists of three things: books, family photos and fresh flowers.  This is something every home, regardless of design style, should have.  Family photos will personalize your home, books will warm up any space and fresh flowers add a touch of life to a room.

There you have it—”secrets” that can be used in every room of every home you live in.