Barbara Heathcote

Home Staging To Sell, Raleigh/Durham; 919-426-5089 or homestagingtosellnow.com

Design philosophy in 25 words: Surround yourself with things you love and that are meaningful to you. Create a functional, beautiful space that reflects your tastes to make coming home a relaxing/comforting experience!

Best décor bargain you’ve ever scored: Black pedestal dining table from Goodwill – $26. Getting it into my vehicle – a bit challenging, but well worth the effort!

Every living room should have: A great piece of art that injects color or texture into the space. Art doesn’t have to be expensive. Create your own or find a fun vintage print to provide a focal point, tie the room together and set the mood.

Recliner? Yes or no? Maybe. This is one of those “love them or hate them” questions! Most people think of a recliner as a massive, overstuffed piece of furniture that takes a lot of floor space. Newer style recliners are smaller in scale and very aesthetic – and keep the comfortability without the bulk.

Favorite color combination: I love coastal-inspired palettes. Grays, blues and crisp white.

Favorite design blog: The Inspired Room: http://theinspiredroom.net/

Favorite shelter magazine: Elle Décor or Veranda.

Biggest design no-no: Don’t arrange your sofa and chairs along the walls unless there is no alternative. Create furniture groupings for more cohesive, personal and intimate conversation spaces.

My best tip for do-it-yourself designers: Deciding on paint colors can be stressful. Before you commit, purchase a large sheet of white poster board at a dollar or craft store, cut it into 12-inch squares and paint each with your sample colors. Tape them to the wall you want to paint and leave them up for several days. This allows you to see each color during different times of the day when lighting changes and while you are in different moods. Over a few days, your favorite color will magically appear!

What would you spend $100 on for your house?Pillows, pillows and more pillows.