While you may not be an interior designer yourself, there’s no reason why your home shouldn’t look like you are. Even if you live in a rental, there are a few simple things you can do that will completely transform the look of your home. Here are three interior design rules that everyone should know.

1. Move slowly. It’s very tempting to buy furniture all at once when you move into a new space, but that’s actually one of the most common interior design mistakes. Be thoughtful about the things that you incorporate into your home to ensure that you like them a few months (or years) down the line. Even if this means living with a bare living room for a while, it’s almost always worth it.
2. Avoid buying sets or furniture all in one place. If you purchase furniture in a set or buy an entire room’s decor from one store, it’s always very easy to tell. To avoid creating a monochromatic room that looks like a child’s bedroom, mix and match materials, colors, and textures from a few different sources.
3. Don’t fight against the quirks. Many spaces, especially rentals, have built-in architectural details that you simply can’t change. Rather than trying to hide them or “fix” them, purchase furniture that works with your home’s little quirks. For example, add a window seat against a bay window to maximize the views rather than covering it with a large sofa.

6 Basic Interior Design Rules [Suite]
The 3 Principles of Interior Design [HGTV]
The 7 Rules of Interior Design [Zillow Blog]
5 Rookie Mistakes You’ll Never Make Again [Apartment Therapy]

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/Kalle Schärlund

Upon stepping through the door of Ray's Pizzaria in Universal City, you're immediately transported to a small New York neighborhood pizza joint resplendent with movie posters, photos, and jerseys adorning the walls.

The menu is extensive and offers extra-large slices of pizza, hot and cold subs, pastas, calzones, stromboli, salads and more. Kid-friendly, Ray's offers a terrific children's menu. Pair your meal with a frosty beer, glass of wine, iced tea, or soda. After your meal, be sure to order a cannoli or a slice of tiramisu or chocolate cake.

Ray's Universal City location is open 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mondays through Thursdays, 11 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, and 11 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Sundays.

Ray's Pizzaria
12000 East Loop 1604 North
Universal City, Texas 78148
(210) 658-5000
www.rayspizzaria.com
www.yelp.com/biz/rays-pizzaria-universal-city-2

CC-BY-SA-2.0/Flickr/andrewrennie

Looking for a little fun in the sun? You'll find 32 acres of sunshine at Universal City Park, a city park offering something for the whole family. Pack a lunch and the kids for a fun-filled day of activity. The park boasts two playgrounds, a jogging path, volleyball courts, a regulation sized football field, an 18-hole disco golf course, and restrooms.

Also located within the park, the 7,000-square-foot Universal City Pavilion is a popular spot for birthday parties and other special events. The open-air pavilion is covered, offering protection from the elements. Universal City Park is open to the public 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.

Universal City Park
1100 North Boulevard
Universal City, TX 78418
(210) 658-5364
http://www.universalcitytexas.com/index.aspx?nid=563

CC-BY-2.0/Flickr/gr33n3gg