Basic interior decorating doesn't have a lot of set rules to follow. There are some simple guidelines to steer you in the right direction. After that you can let your imagination take over and be creative and decorate to suit your own personal style. There aren't many ways that you can design a room that can't be made to work with some forethought and planning.

Proportion is a decorating guideline that is very easy to follow. You can feel when the proportion isn't close to being right. Large, oversized furniture in a small room just doesn't feel right. By the same token, small furniture in a large room doesn't feel comfortable either. This can't always be followed because of financial reasons but it's something to keep in mind.

Balance is another guideline that has a basic feel to it. Balancing the light areas and dark areas helps a room feel more comfortable than having all the light in one area. Another part of balance is spreading the furniture out. A room that has all of the furniture along one wall doesn't have a balanced feel to it.

Contrasting colors, fabrics, and materials can really bring a room to life. Having the walls and furniture the same color can work but it will take some effort in other areas of the design. Of course, there can be too much contrast but it's your space so feel free to do what appeals to you.

After including some contrast in the room we need to look at harmony. Harmony is achieved by having a good color scheme and similar or complimenting styles. Using a different color or style for every piece in the room won't deliver harmony.

The rhythm element of interior design happens, almost, by default when you have proper contrast and harmony in a room. Rhythm refers to how one with see a room. Good rhythm will have your eyes dancing around the room without stopping too long on one thing or area. At the same time, your eyes won't skip over anything and nothing gets drowned out by the overall design. Rhythm is the final dance of interior design.