Design shouldn't be matchy-matchy, and my home is anything but – how I create a cohesive home (even while mixing all the styles)

Country-style living room with white sofa and yellow chair and lots of cushions.

Home decorator Lara Winter is one of Ideal Home's new Open House contributors, sharing her thoughts on revamping a 200 year old cottage to make it right for modern family life. See the rest of her articles here.

Let’s get one thing straight: I am not a fan of rules. Especially when it comes to your own home. Life’s too short to live in a space that doesn’t make you smile just because someone said blue and green shouldn’t be seen together (sorry, Grandma).