Does designing your home have you confused? Elements of Design’s Owner & Lead Interior Designer Lina Quintero answers your questions each month.

Question: I am thinking about installing a backsplash in my kitchen. Should I spend more money on the materials or labor?

Due to the wide range of potential configurations and material options, kitchen backsplashes are an excellent means of personalizing your kitchen. Kitchen backsplashes offer depth, texture, and an elevated touch of sophistication.

Above all, my suggestion is to always invest in quality reputable labor sources. An accomplished laborer maintains the proper skill-set to install conventional materials in unconventional ways. They can execute creative non-traditional layouts and applications that will give common materials an extraordinary appearance.

In almost every case, labor ends up representing the most expensive portion of a project. It is always better to select a less expensive material and move forward with a better quality labor source. Don’t short change the value of quality labor. Cut your costs in other areas.

Question: I just purchased my first home and I am overwhelmed by the idea of having to furnish the entire house. Do you have any suggestions?

Congratulations on the purchase of your first home! This is a very exciting time but, it can also be a very nerve wracking and overwhelming period. In order to make your new space livable, there are many subsequent decisions that have to be made.

With that being said, there is no need to feel like the moment you move into your new home, it must be completely furnished and accessorized. This is your first home, take your time and have fun with the design and furnishing of your new space. Instead of running out and purchasing the first set of chairs you see, be methodical and wait until you find furnishings that you love and can’t live without.

Rather than purchasing an entire home full of run-of-the-mill furniture and accessories, take your time. As your budget allows for it, acquire individual high quality durable items that are expressive of your personality. In the long run, you are more likely to end up with a truly personalized space filled with furniture and accessories that reflect your end vision. Take a room-by-room approach and enjoy the process.

Question: My Mother just gave me a set of lamps that remind me of my childhood. However, the style of the lamps does not fit into the overall décor scheme in my home. Should I keep the lamps or try to incorporate them into my design?

More often than not, family heirlooms tend to standout as forced design items because they are more traditional than the rest of the décor in a home. There are several approaches to cleverly incorporating heirlooms into an existing design plan.

A can of spray paint is a great way to revitalize and update the lamps so that they appear to blend with the rest of the décor. When selecting a color for the base of the lamp, consider a subtle metallic sheen which will add depth and help to reflect light.

Consider changing the shade on the lamps to a shape and style that better suits your home. You can customize lamp shades by recovering them in a custom or designer fabric. Adding trim to the shade will help to enhance the level of sophistication of the lamps.