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We understand how planning and decorating a house can be overwhelming. For some, interior design is a hobby, while for others, it can be a source of extreme anxiety.

To help you in making your new house a home be an enjoyable and easy a task as possible, FurnitureClick�s top national model home designer, Alisha Echerd, has compiled some of her most trusted design rules and answers to your design questions.

Remember the 3 Rules of Interior Design: Function, Fit and Focus

Function
Think about the main functions of the room � will this area be private, used for entertaining, a workspace, a kid�s room, etc.? This will determine what overall feel you will want to create in the space.

Fit
Everything should fit nicely and be �to scale.� Measure the overall space of the room, taking into consideration windows and doors or other architectural elements that would affect furniture placement. This is important in figuring out main traffic patterns, which will limit where you can place large pieces such as sofas, beds, etc.

Focus
Where is your focus? Keep in mind the main focal points as you enter the space that you are working with (i.e. fireplaces, nice outdoor views, interesting architectural elements, etc.). The goal is to arrange the furniture in a way that highlights the features of the space. For example: you would want to place your sofa or main seating area where you can take advantage of a stone fireplace which serves as a focal point.

Where do I begin in selecting what all I should put in a room?

Make a list of all the pieces needed for the room with overall dimensions. This will help you later when you want to see what will and will not fit in the space. You may want to sketch out several options for possible furniture layouts of the room.

Another trick is to actually tape off the furniture on the floor (use the dimensions from the list you created earlier) so that you can see exactly where each piece would be. This can simply be done with a tape measure and masking or painters tape.

What type of space should I leave between pieces?

Standard clearances for space planning to keep in mind are: a) 36� between pieces for general traffic circulation, and b) 12�-24 between a seating area (sofa, chair, loveseat etc) and a cocktail table.

How can I do a small change that can make a big difference?

Spruce up your rooms from season to season by changing the colors of accessories to suit a seasonal theme. This can be done using decorative pillows, throws, vases and flowers, pictures and decorative pieces of artwork or ceramics.

I like the new contemporary look that seems to be the current trend. How can I get that look without replacing everything? Add a few key statement pieces to a room. You would be amazed what adding a new fun lamp and a key piece of contemporary art can do to change the entire look of a room.

What is the best way to hang or place my art?

Think �what is the first thing I see when walking into the room.� If your eyes tend to gravitate to one wall when entering a room it is likely others will also notice this space. Choose a great piece of art that will serve as a conversation piece for that space. When choosing the size of the piece, note the dimensions and use painters tape to make sure the piece will work on the wall.

What is the best way to use rugs?

Use rugs to define or breakup spaces. They work well to absorb noise and sound when working with a hard surface such as wood or tile. Make sure you choose a rug that ties together the colors in the room, opposed to competing with what you have already chosen. And, be careful when selecting a size you don�t want to go too small. It is best to have the rug under some of the furniture. (You can also use the tape to see exactly what size rug you would need.)