What's in today would soon be 'out'. So settle for something that looks good now and for long. While doing your kid's room, remember that children grow fast and outgrow tastes. So if you are using an expensive wallpaper that has Disney characters that your two-year-old loves today, in five years time, he would be embarrassed with the same. So do you want to spend a bomb on something that will appeal to your child only for a year or two?

*Be practical. India is a dusty country. Remember cleaning options while selecting furniture, wall textures. Will your house be centrally air conditioned all the time? If not how are you going to clean intricate wooden designs where dust settles easily and quickly? Don't go too heavy on wood and make your home cluttered. Remember less is always more. Abhilasha, a homemaker in Delhi says, "I fell for an intricate inlay stone design on the wall only to realise later how much maintenance it required. Cleaning is a nightmare. I regret it deeply today." Riya Sen from Kolkata says, "I listened to my designer and got a heavy dining table with a lot of designs. Now I have a toddler and she trips over it frequently and gets hurt."

*Consider your family profile today and how is it likely to change in the future. Anusha a fashion designer says, "My partner and I wanted a modern and chic home where there aren't any dividing spaces. Our bedroom flows into the bathroom. Now, my mother stays a lot with us and she hates the open design of the house. I feel we should have planned the house differently."