The benefits of designing with the whole world in mind

As the green building movement grows in popularity and recognition, you may be wondering what it’s all about or, at the very least, whether or not it’s worth the trouble to green up your own home building and remodeling plans. Green building typically requires more thought, research and design time, but that up-front investment can lead to later savings in materials costs and a boost in quality of living.

In an ideal world, you’ve renovated the house -- inside and out -- and your green thumb means the landscaping would win awards. But why stop there? Outdoor lighting is an easy, and cost effective, way to give your home a signature look. No longer just for safety and security, outdoor lighting, when installed properly, is the way to create today’s ‘lightscaping’. With so much to choose from, it is simple to get designer-quality effects with little effort.

As the popularity of home entertaining continues to grow, so does the range of smart, convenient amenities that can add a professional touch to the proceedings. The home bar category is really pouring on the options these days, with everything from units that fit in like furniture to elaborate custom built-ins loaded with clever features. If you're planning to step up to your own libation creation, consider the following ingredients to create the perfect mix of utility, space-smart features and style.

So you’ve shopped 'til you've dropped, poured over every issue of House Beautiful you can find and are finally ready to tackle a home decorating project to update an otherwise out of date space.We’ll before you push "go," it is a good idea to know the most common interior design don'ts. Avoiding these will improve your design, save time and money, and help make your experience more enjoyable.