First step: plop down on the couch, pick up a magazine and start flipping through. No, we’re not waving your project’s white flag just yet; we’re gathering inspiration. When you’re trying to decide on a style, color or design direction, you can really clarify what you like by simply tearing out a magazine page whenever an image grabs you—whether it’s a room, color, fruit, landscape, artwork or clothing item.

Inspiration comes in all forms. You may not even know why you like it—you just do. That’s good. Once you’ve collected a bunch of pictures, look for recurring themes like colors, design styles and patterns. You’ll be amazed what these pictures will start to tell you about your personal design style and preferences.

Fabrics, artwork, floor coverings, accessories or other items of inspiration are another great way to begin a decorating project. Do you love the style and shape of your mom’s (now vintage) lamp? Are the colors woven into the blanket you picked up in Guatemala just sublime? Does the memory of eating grape popsicles as a kid make you all warm and fuzzy? Then it’s a great place to draw inspiration for your color palette. Use colors from your inspirational elements on the walls or trim, or simply add them as bursts of accent colors.