An interior decorator’s wishes for 2026

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News/USA Today Network

As we head into 2026 in Southwest Florida, I’m skipping New Year’s resolutions altogether. Instead, I’m making wishes: joyful hopes for the way our homes look, feel, and support us in the year ahead.

These wishes are less about tearing walls down and more about living better with what we already have (and maybe tweaking it just a little). So consider this a decorator’s wish list for your home.

Wish #1: A home that feels calm the moment you walk in

As an interior decorator working with clients throughout Southwest Florida, my wish is always to help them design spectacular spaces that reflect the way they live. And having said that, my first wish is for a home that gives you peace.

A home that allows you relax the minute you walk in the door. That lets you take a breath. This starts with editing visual clutter. Not adding more. Too many small accessories, overly busy patterns, or furniture that’s too much for the space can raise stress levels.

Try this instead:

•           Remove one or two items from each room and see how the space feels.

•           Leave a little space on walls. Especially in entryways and main living areas.

•           Choose larger, simpler pieces over collections of small ones.

Calm doesn’t mean boring. It means intentional and a well-thought-out-plan

Wish #2: Better use of what you already own

One of my biggest wishes for 2026 is that homeowners rediscover what they already own. You may not need a full renovation to refresh your home. What you may need is a fresh perspective.

Before buying anything new:

•           Shop your own home.

•           Rotate art and accessories seasonally, just like you rotate clothing.

•           Reframe artwork or photography you already love for an instant update.

This isn’t about making do. It’s about curating, not accumulating.

Wish #3:  Decide if you really need a renovation or redecorating

This is a big one for me. I often walk into homes with great layouts and solid finishes that just need fresh eyes. New furnishings, updated lighting, reworked layouts, and better scale can completely change a space without construction dust or months of disruption. It may also allow you to postpone a renovation depending on budget and time constraints. Redecorating can be tansformative when done thoughtfully.

Wish #4: Furniture that invites you to stay awhile

In 2026, make comfort the priority.

•           Comfortable seating that doesn’t look overstuffed.

•           Chairs that actually get used, not just admired.

•           Sofas deep enough for movie nights, naps and visitors.

If replacing furniture isn’t in the plan, small upgrades help:

•           New upholstery or slipcovers.

•           Updated throw pillows in pretty, fresh fabrics.

•           Replacing dated legs or hardware on existing pieces.

Comfort is always in style.

Wish #5: Thoughtful Lighting (Without Rewiring the House)

Lighting can completely transform a home and is often the missing piece. Include more lamps, especially in living rooms and bedrooms. Warmer bulbs that flatter both people and spaces. Table lamps, floor lamps, and rechargeable accent lights add instant warmth and depth. Photo: Pottery Barn

Lighting can completely transform a home and you don’t need an electrician to make a big impact. I find that lighting is often the missing piece in many homes.

Try this:

•           Fewer overhead lights on full blast.

•           More lamps, especially in living rooms and bedrooms.

•           Warmer bulbs that flatter both people and spaces.

•           Table lamps, floor lamps, and rechargeable accent lights add instant warmth and depth.

Wish #6: Outdoor spaces that feel like real rooms

Living in Florida, our outdoor spaces are an extension of our homes nearly year-round. In 2026, I wish for lanais, patios and porches that feel just as curated as interiors.

Try this:

•           Add an outdoor rug to anchor seating.

•           Layer pillows in weather-friendly fabrics.

•           Introduce lanterns or soft lighting for evening ambiance.

Wish #7: More confidence with color used intentionally

Color makes the most impact/change in a room. Sometimes it’s as simple as warmer neutrals, richer wood tones, or a soft color in a powder room or den.

 •          Add a rug with depth or pillows in layered tones

•           Update artwork.

•           Paint the ceiling.

A little color, used intentionally, can change the entire mood of a space.

Wish #8: Homes that feel personal, not perfect

Finally, my biggest wish for 2026 is that homeowners stop waiting for perfection before enjoying their homes.

Take the time to curate your collections to reflect you and your lifestyle. Shown: Malcolm Round Nesting Coffee Tables in a glazed pine finish with a powder-coated black metal base. Photo: Pottery Barn

Your home doesn’t need:

•           Matching everything.

•           The latest trend.

•           A total overhaul.

It needs warmth, comfort, a sense of ease.

Welcome a new year

As we move into 2026, my wish is that we treat our homes the way we treat good friends, with appreciation, care and a little grace. A beautiful home isn’t built in one renovation. It’s shaped over time, through thoughtful choices, small improvements and a clear understanding of how you want to live. And that, is the best wish of all.

 

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate. As a writer, blogger, stylist and color expert, she has helped homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless ways to create beautiful spaces and to solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit spectacularspaces.com. Call 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Color of the year 2026

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News/USA Today Network

It’s always fun and interesting when paint companies announce their Color of the Year. My favorite is Benjamin Moore because it’s a company I’ve worked with for years in doing color consultations. I know how much time and effort goes into the selection of the color for their yearly announcement. And they always have a marketing component to back up their decision.

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator specializing in selecting color palettes, I like to write about it to give my readers and clients my take on the color, how they might think about using it (or not) in their homes, along with a few tips and words of caution! Over the years we have gone from jewel tones to white to beautiful neutrals and more.

Drumroll…..the Color of the Year 2026 is Benjamin Moore’s Silhouette (AF-655).

“An alluring mix of rich espresso hues with subtle notes of charcoal, Silhouette AF-655 weaves a narrative of enduring style and grace, inspired by the modern take on classical suiting.” Trim and ceiling: Swiss Coffee OC-46. Photo: Benjamin Moore

The color is brown. Yes, brown.

Not just any brown. Benjamin Moore describes it as “an alluring mix of rich espresso hues with subtle notes of charcoal. Balancing refinement and distinction, Silhouette AF-655 weaves a narrative of enduring style and grace, inspired by the modern take on classical suiting.”

But it is still brown. And it’s a broody, moody color.

Color brings us happiness and joy. It changes our homes and how we feel living in them. Homeowners will decide if this color does that for their lifestyle.

It’s a pretty, chic, edgy, rich, sophisticated hue. And we’ve been seeing this color in fashion for months. We know that home interior palettes do follow fashion trends. And we have to ask if brown is taking over as the new black. Maybe.

But it’s brown. Not the first color that is selected from the crayon box. Honestly, my guess for this year’s color was green because we have been seeing so many beautiful shades in home interiors.

“The connection between fashion and interiors has always been a source of inspiration but this year in particular, we’ve noticed a renewed interest in suiting and classic silhouettes; the resurgence of timeless pieces; and the growing interest in the brown color family,” said Andrea Magno, director, color marketing & design at Benjamin Moore. “Silhouette embodies these qualities with its depth and luxurious blend of burnt umber and delicate charcoal undertones. Like a perfectly tailored suit, this hue has the versatility and softness to bring a space from expected to exceptional.”

From the Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2026 palette, bathroom walls and ceiling in Narragansett Green (HC-157). Photo: Benjamin Moore

Color Trends 2026 palette

The exciting news is how Silhouette AF-655 is complemented by beautiful hues of the Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2026 palette. These colors are artfully curated based on their ability to layer effortlessly for a sophisticated feel. With a focus on attention to detail, craftsmanship and refinement, the Color Trends 2026 palette reflects a graceful balance of pales that work beautifully alone or with Silhouette: AF-655, Raindance 1572, Swiss Coffee OC-45, First Crush CSP-310, Batik AF-610, Narragansett Green HC-157, Southwest Pottery 048, Sherwood Tan 1054.

Silhouette AF-655 is complemented by beautiful hues of the Benjamin Moore Color Trends 2026 palette. These colors are artfully curated based on their ability to layer effortlessly for a sophisticated feel. With a focus on attention to detail, craftsmanship and refinement, the palette reflects a balance of pales that work beautifully alone or with Silhouette. Photo: Benjamin Moore

A few thoughts and tips

I actually love this color. And while I hope to find it in a pantsuit or jacket, I am not sure it works on walls in most homes.

• Proceed cautiously. Lighting is very important to make this color work.

• It needs to relate to what is in the room.

• Consider it for a gallery wall with beautiful and colorful artwork.

• It also brings a rich look to a paneled wall, ceiling treatment or bedroom.

• If your furnishings include antiques, this may be your color with colorful fabrics.

Color is meant to be fun and to bring us joy. Let’s not take it too seriously. Next year will bring another color idea for us to talk about!

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate. As a writer, blogger, stylist and color expert, she has helped homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless ways to create beautiful spaces and to solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit spectacularspaces.com. Call 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Fall into a new season at home

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network

In Southwest Florida, fall is mostly unnoticed except the days slowly begin to get shorter. I think of fall as a season of hope and good things to come. It’s the hope that cooler weather is on the way in another month or so as we anxiously await that first cool evening that makes us look through our closet for a jacket and that first day when we can open all the windows.

Pick your fall color palette of yellows, oranges, greens with Pottery Barn’s faux yellow beech leaf branch. Photo: Pottery Barn

But until then, we dream of fall. And look for ways to make a few subtle changes in our homes to acknowledge the season. If you have shopped lately, you have noticed that yellow is having a moment. In fashion. Home décor. Nature.

Why?

Pretty entry brings the sunshine inside with Chestertown Buff paired with Atrium White wainscoting. Photo: Benjamin Moore

• It boosts our mood. Think about sunflowers. They are happy, warm, and optimistic.

• Muted shades of yellow are an alternative to traditional whites.

• Major fashion brands are showing a lot of yellow on runways.

• It pairs well with other colors. More on that below.

Tips for using yellow this fall

Say hello to fall with a beautiful bouquet of happy sunflowers and greens. Photo: Pottery Barn.

I always tell my Southwest Florida home interiors clients that a little yellow goes a long way. My own experience was a yellow bathroom that I loved and a beautiful muted yellow in a primary bedroom that I paired with greens and whites.

• Start small. Try yellow in accessories (lamps, mirror frame, artwork, rug, pillows, bath towels, ceramics) before repainting a room.

• Painting a room yellow. Go with a bathroom or powder room and use with a beautiful wallcovering.

• Paint the front door Benjamin Moore’s Sunny Days.

The sun is always shining with this front door in Benjamin Moore’s Sunny Days.

• Layer yellow with stronger contrasts such as dark woods to create interest.

• Go with softer, muted shades of yellows.

• My favorite Benjamin Moore yellows:

Barely Yellow, a soft, subtle. Barely-there shade with green undertones. Works well in minimalist interiors.

Man on the Moon, a pale and luminous yellow that adds a touch of sunshine to dimly lit rooms.

• And if you want to ease your way into using yellow, think about the 60-30-10 rule:

60% for the neutral color; 30% for a secondary shade and the final 10% as a pop of color such as yellow.

How to pair yellow with other colors

• Deep earth tones. Pair yellow tones with rich, grounding hues and contrasting accents to create a balanced fall palette. Warm and earthy combinations make yellow look sophisticated and seasonal.

Feel the sunshine with this HAND-PAINTED, sunflower wallcovering from Serena & Lily. Photo: Serena & Lily

• Jewel tones. Combine yellow with eggplant, burgundy or emerald to add richness to an interior.

• Neutrals. Balance yellow with soft whites, beiges, taupes and grays to let the yellow “pop.”

• Contrasts. Pair yellows with slate blue, navy or black for a modern, dramatic feel.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate. As a writer, blogger, stylist and color expert, she has helped homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless ways to create beautiful spaces and to solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit spectacularspaces.com. Call 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Shell chic home decor

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network

If you live in Southwest Florida, you know the pure joy of walking on a beach and collecting the treasures that wash ashore each day. And if you have lived in Florida for a while, you likely have boxes of shells tucked away in your garage. From many trips to the beach. Each one a sweet memory. Not sure what to do with them but just not having the heart to part with them.

photo-of-article-in-fort-myers-news-press-by-wrenda-goodwyn-about shell-decor-for-your-home

On Friday, June 20, we welcome the first day of summer and we also celebrate National Seashell Day. It’s a day worth celebrating so pick a beach and grab your shell bag. With more than 50 miles of beaches and over 400 species of seashells that cover the white sands, there’s no other place quite like this area for shell seekers. And all have one goal, to bring the beach home with treasures collected from the sea.

The exotic allure of shells goes back to ancient times when intricate designs were used in décor.

Frank Lloyd Wright was an avid shell collector and used shells as models for his designs including the spiral ramp of the Guggenheim Museum. It’s thought to be inspired by the nautilus shell.

This outdoor fireplace doesn’t see many days that call for a fire so it has been given a beach look with ginger jars filled with shells, larger specimen shells and candles.

My own love of seashells came about many, many years ago when I first visited Captiva Island. After several great days of shelling, I wandered into the shop at ‘Tween Waters and picked up a copy of Anne Morrow Lindbergh’s “Gift from the Sea.” Published in 1955 after she visited Captiva Island, she wrote: “The beach was covered with beautiful shells and I could not let one go by unnoticed. I couldn’t even walk head up looking out to sea, for fear of missing something precious at my feet.”

Wrenda-goodwyn-article-in-fort-myers-news-press-photo-of-vintage-architectural-piece-repurposed-in-bathroom-of-coastal-homewith-specimen-shells-from-southwest-florida-gulf-beaches

A vintage architectural piece purchased from an antique vendor in Mt. Dora was repurposed in a primary bath in this coastal home. Filled with treasured specimen shells from local beaches, along with collectable shells.

Lindbergh uses seashells to represent various aspects of life, including the challenges of modern womanhood, the importance of self-care, and the search for inner peace.

Like many who visit today, she found peace and solitude as she walked the beach on Captiva Island. There, using the shells on the beach for inspiration, she reflected on the life of the American woman, mid-20th century, exploring the themes of love, solitude and self-discovery.

Like shelling, Gift from the Sea inspires readers to slow down, reflect, and appreciate the beauty of everyday life. A groundbreaking, best-selling work when it was originally this gem continues to be relevant and is a must-read for those of us who love to walk those same beaches today.

The treasured clam shell, purchased on Sanibel Island, holds years of shells collected from local area beaches. The table and cabinet were found through a vintage shop and found a new home on the lanai.

If you love shells, have a garage full and need a few ideas of how use them in your décor, I can help! As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, I find it to be a lot of fun to bring a little shell chic into a home. And there is a noticeable resurgence in shells as part of interior design. Balance is the key. A few well-placed items are much better aesthetic rather than a room filled with shells. Done tastefully, shell décor has a timeless appeal that brings beauty and tranquility to a coastal, modern or minimalist.

When a very old dock washed ashore after a storm on one OF our barrier islands, it seemed like a good place to display favorite shells collected over the years.

• Decorate picture frames, boxes, candle holders, folding screens.

• Display shells in a drawer. Find a fun table at a flea market with a drawer, fill it with sand and display your favorites.

• Search flea and antique markets for an architectural piece that can be used for a display shelf. Shells and vintage pieces seem to complement each other.

• Design a beautiful mirror.

• Fill a dough bowl with your favorite shells and glass balls.

• Clam shells (real or fabricated) are perfect for holding lots of shells.

The blue antique shelf that displays favorite shells from Southwest Florida beaches and northern California, was originally used to measure tobacco. Driftwood is from Upper Captiva Island.

• Decorate a fireplace mantle with a display of shells and candles.

• Cover an old birdbath in shells and fill it with water in your garden where it will become a favorite gathering place for birds.

• Use shells for a dining tablescape display. They also make great place cards with a painted message on each one.

• Buy plain napkin rings and decorate each with one large shell and smaller shells.

• Rescue an old chandelier or purchase an inexpensive one and use your imagination to create a masterpiece.

• Design a Sailor’s Valentine. Lovesick sailors made them for their sweethearts in days gone by. Details and patters may be found online OR create your own version and make a greeting card for some lucky friend who will appreciate your thoughtfulness.

• Make a shell mirror frame in a bathroom.

• Create a stunning twig wreath with seashells.

• Never underestimate the value of a glue gun!

it-was-once-a-shelf-for-measuring-tobacco-today-finds-a-place-in-coastal-home-displaying-favorite-collections-from-the-sea

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate. As a writer, blogger, stylist and color expert, she has helped homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless ways to create beautiful spaces and to solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit spectacularspaces.com. Call 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog

Bring the ambiance of "The White Lotus" into your home

Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network

What happens when rich, privileged Americans who behave badly, take a vacation to a resort (where they create havoc) a world away in a magical and exotic setting in Thailand?

The result is HBO’s “The White Lotus” Season 3.

If you’ve seen it, you know that the despite a winning cast, the real star of the show is the interior décor.

Bring some of the exotic décor from season 3 of “the White Lotus” into your home with a moody, muted wall mural, Thrilling Tropics, with all of the elements of tranquility and lushness of the jungle setting in Thailand. Coconut palms, monkeys and bohemian vibes. Photo: BaubauWall. Source: baubauwall.com/product/wall-mural-thrilling-tropics

And I am obsessed.

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator, from the first episode I could see how the décor would work perfectly in our homes and if you look around, you will likely notice that you already have some of the elements that steal the show.

Despite the minute-by-minute drama, episode 3 takes place in a serene, laid back, dreamlike, gorgeous setting at the Four Seasons Koh Samui, Thailand, aka “The White Lotus.” With the lush jungle landscape as a backdrop, we soon come to realize that a lot is hiding beneath the surface here and with our American tourists. There is much to unpack.

Despite the winning cast of “The White Lotus” season 3, the real star is the décor. If you came away from the last episode wanting more of the series and more of Thailand, you aren’t alone. A beautiful rattan accent chair is one way to bring a bit of the ambiance into your home. This curved pebble rattan accent chair is by Coastal Living by Universal Furniture. Photo: Coastal Living by Universal Furniture

And those monkeys. Always watching. From the trees and from the décor in wallcoverings, murals and silk prints. Mischievous, unpredictable and intelligent, they are both feared and revered in Thailand. They are always lurking around in the background waiting for something to happen. And it always does. Shown below: “Monkey Business” with foliage against a dark blue background by Clarke & Clarke. Photo: Clarke & Clarke/Kravet

So, if like me, you made it to the shocking ending of “The White Lotus” wanting more of the décor and more of Thailand, here are a few tips to help you easily bring the ambiance of “The White Lotus” into our already beautiful tropical paradise.

Summary

The interiors are dark and moody, like the show.

Rooms are filled with tropical luxury.

The focal point is the outdoors, not the TV.

Coconut palms and bohemian vibes.

Tranquility is the theme.

Saturate or color drench a room with deep greens or jewel tones. Shown: William and Sonoma Home’s large tufted leather ottoman and a sisal rug. Photo: Williams and Sonoma Home.

Bring a little White Lotus into your home

Select a couple of the décor elements below that work best for your home and make it your white lotus look. For more photos, please visit my website at www.spectacularspaces.com/blog

• Color palette of deep blue-greens (color drenching would enhance this look). Also burnt orange, yellows, sand, teal.

• Nothing says the tropics more than an elegant rattan chair or two. Or rattan lounge or daybed. The architect/designer of “The White Lotus” says that the best rooms are the ones that have found the “sweet spot between the indoors and the gardens.”

• Include a vintage piece or an antique in the furnishings mix.

Escape and find a hint of “The White Lotus” for your home: Dark woods, muted tones, antique table, palms and a chaise. Photo: Benjamin Moore

• Bring in lots of foliage, “bird of paradise,” orchids, fiddle leaf figs.

• Palm trees and poolside cocktails with elegant glasses, lacquer trays, cloth cocktail napkins.

• Hand carved wooden screen or door. Teak dining table.

• Think big with large pendant lighting and oversized lamps with print lampshades.

• Invest in a set of crisp white sheets and pillow coverings. Pull comforter back or use a deep blue-green throw.

• Lots of bars. Can be a cart or the end of a kitchen island or on a small table. They set the scene for laid back luxury. And fun.

• Tropical prints in fabrics, wallpaper, framed wall hangings.

• Monkeys. You must have at least one monkey someplace. A lamp, table or in a wallcovering.

• Outdoor lighting: lanterns, candles, in the trees outside.

This stunning antique carved door from Mogul Interiors or as a carved screen adds just a right amount of drama if you want to bring a piece of “The White Lotus” home to hold you over until season 4! Photo: Mogul Interiors.

• Add a scent. There are lots of white lotus candles on the market and try something that reminds you of a spa. Juniper berry in a diffuser??

• Handcrafts. Stoneware. A hammock.

• Tropical print cushions and pillows.

• Woven rugs and tapestries. Linen window treatments.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate. As a writer, blogger, stylist and color expert, she has helped homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless ways to create beautiful spaces and to solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information visit spectacularspaces.com. Call 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog








Finding the soul of the home: Blending old with new

 Wrenda Goodwyn • special to the Fort Myers News-Press/USA Today Network

As a Southwest Florida interior decorator for 20 years, I always encourage my clients to find their personal, authentic style in their homes. It’s not about anyone else or the latest trends. It’s about you and what you love. It’s about finding the soul of your home and curating rooms that make you happy. It takes a little time and a lot of patience. And the result can be spectacular.

Having lived in old houses, beach houses, historic homes and new houses, modern condos, apartments and everything in between, my own style evolved over the years into a blend of contemporary coastal and a sprinkling of carefully curated primitive antiques. It came about as a result of my family’s love of surrounding ourselves with the feeling of living on the coast and our interest in history.

Primitive pieces are tangible reminders of our past and of those who created them so many years ago and raised their families around them. A faded pine cabinet where glass jars of fruits and jellies were stored. A kitchen farm table that hosted family dinners 150 years ago. A warped wooden ice box from Ohio that once held blocks of ice to keep a cow’s milk cold. Or in the particular case of my most recent find, a hotel reception mail and key cubby. If only these worn treasures from our past could talk, what fascinating stories they could tell us.

After

While many of these relics from our past have deteriorated and vanished in old barns, crumbling houses or road side junk piles, every once in a while, one of these treasures survives, calls out and almost begs to be returned to what it started out to be.

And that’s what we did. We brought it back.

After

We stumbled upon this old hotel reception desk/key and mail cubby and purchased it from a primitive dealer based in America’s treasure trove of primitives--Pennsylvania.

Before

Even before it arrived, we could tell from the initial photos what it would take to properly honor this treasure and do it justice. A proper clean up and straightening of several of the 94 oak cubbies was the beginning. Some of the key hooks were missing, those that remained were bent or loose, and with one solitary exception all the painted room numbers had worn off long ago. After some straightening and tightening, numbers in a 19th century type style were applied, brass keys and room fobs were obtained and aged to achieve a centuries-old patina as well.

Before

And to bring a sense of realism to our historical mission, we found actual envelopes and post cards from (the past) around the world and randomly placed them in dozens of the open cubbies. Not really knowing if this finished treasure originally graced an American or European hotel, we decided to give it a French persona and officially dubbed it from the 1903 “Hotel de Papillion.”

After

Notes and tips: adding something old to your home as an accent

• These pieces create character and visual interest in a room.

• Mixing new pieces with vintage antiques gives a space a curated, personal look.

• Incorporating a vintage piece or two is a way to repurpose treasures from the past.

• Use the 80/20 (new/old) rule to maintain a contemporary feeling while creating a focal point with vintage pieces.

• Pair a modern sofa with a vintage table or side tables or antique mirror.

• Trust your instincts as you create your own unique style.

Wrenda Goodwyn is a Southwest Florida interior decorator, A.S.I.D. associate and certified gold member of the Interior Redecorators Network. As a writer, blogger, stylist and color expert, she has helped homeowners throughout Southwest Florida with timeless ways to create beautiful spaces and to solve decorating problems. Her articles appear the first Saturday of each month. For more information, visit her website at spectacularspaces.com. Call her at 239-850-5800 or e-mail wrenda@spectacularspaces.com. For more decorating tips, articles and photos, visit spectacularspaces.com/blog