When starting out- whether it be your first apartment, your first house, or your first "grown-up" space of your own after parting with the roommate phase of life...you have to start somewhere. And you have to ditch all that Ikea furniture you thought was so great in college. (As a side note, I am not bashing Ikea- but I firmly believe there is a place and time in which an individual should grow-out of their Ikea furnishings...all of them!).

Deciding where to start and where to spend that first chunk of money can sometimes be paralyzing. And sometimes, despite best intentions, you may be tempted to spring for the Louis Ghost Chair when what you really need is a good sofa that will take you well into your next phase of life (don't worry- fun things like the ghost of Louis can and will come later!).

I decided to make an entire editorial feature out of a comment I left on another design blog (I won't tell you which one, since I will be doing this post in 11 installments, and I intend on keeping you in suspense!). The post was in response to how much love one should give a rental. (All you design blog junkies, I'm sure you know which blog I'm referring to!).  After posting, I realized that the starting points are the same, regardless of the space you are filling. This list of ten will start you out on the right track for developing your style and will lay the foundation for great design in your home. From this foundation, you can layer and develop your style. When you hire an interior designer for the first time, they will have great pieces to work with and commend you for sound and savvy choices.

Stay tuned for #1!

*This photo comes from my personal collection of mag tears since I was a teenager. If you are the designer or photographer- let me know so I can give you proper credit!