Usually we write about the mechanical aspects of do-it-yourself home improvements: what tools to use, the best material for the task at hand, shortcuts that the pros use and the easiest way to clean up.

But aesthetics are important too. You might purchase the best tile that money can buy and use the best application techniques, but if you tile the master bath in black and red, you may end up with a white elephant.

An interior decorator would tell you that shape, color, and texture are three important considerations when making even the simplest change to your home. We agree. As to shape and texture, it's important to keep the rest of the house in mind matching existing trim and finishes whenever possible. With color, be subtle. Room to room differences shouldn't be in stark contrast, and the same applies to different areas within a room.

Our society is heavily influenced by trends: the avocado and gold of the '60s, the earth tones of the '70s and the mauve and sterling of the '80s, for example.

It's fine to be trendy when you're buying clothes, but not so if you want to get the best long-term investment when making home improvements.

Keep it simple. An ultra-soft tile color like off-white may not be striking, but a such a subtle color opens a host of decorating possibilities that you can't employ with colors like bright green, blue or orange. We suggest that once you have picked a tile, fixture or appliance color, go shopping for accent pieces, even if you don't intend to purchase them. Then, judge by the accent pieces. If your tile, fixtures or appliances are bright, you will always be forced to accent with neutral tones. If the accent pieces you select are colorful, chances are the basic color you are decorating against is the right one. Paintings, towels, statues and other accent pieces can be shifted, mixed and matched to completely change the character of a plain vanilla-colored room.

We don't suggest that you make your home look like a hospital or a military barracks, but being subtle is the key. Simple colors may not be chic today, but bright colors have a short popularity span. And changing tile, carpet, linoleum, cabinets, plumbing fixtures and appliances is not cost-effective.

This doesn't mean that you shouldn't be creative. When painting your home, for example, one color only isn't our preference. Using two colors on the interior can be interesting and cost-effective. Mix a light off-white, tinted to taste, and a lighter off-white tinted to match or complement. In one room use the lighter color on the ceiling and the darker color on the walls. In the next room reverse the procedure. This reduces costs when it comes time to do touch-up work.