There are some common decorating mistakes that probably you’ve been making. Check out the following 15 mistakes to know what you should avoid in the future.
1. Decorating Each Room Separately
It’s ok to want each room to be different and unique. However, don’t exaggerate and decorate each space in a bubble, without anything in common with the rest of the rooms. You need to maintain a certain level of cohesion throughout and to link the spaces through color or using other methods. After all, you want the whole place to feel like home.
2. Painting the Walls Before Choosing the Furniture
This is a very common mistake. We often get carried away and we decide on a particular color palette without taking into consideration all the details. You should avoid painting the walls first and then choosing the furniture for a very simple reason: there are tons of color tones to choose from when it comes to paint but not so many when it comes to furniture and accessories.
3. Using Out Of Proportion Pieces
Size matters and it’s important to choose the right proportions when picking furniture and accessories for your home. You don’t want the rooms to look tiny or empty. So keep this in mind when visiting furniture stores. A sofa might look great in the store but it can turn out to be too big for your living room.
4. Not Measuring Things
The previous issue related to proportions raises another problem. You can’t just go out and search for furniture without measuring the space first. Whether you’re looking to buy a sofa or a potted plant, always measure the space to make sure it fits. If you’re just guessing you might regret it later.
5. Matching Everything
It’s easy to get carried away and want to match everything in the house. However, this is never a good idea. An interior décor that’s too matchy doesn’t really say anything except maybe that you don’t have a lot of imagination. So try instead to look for diversity.
6. Following Trends/ Fads
It’s understandable to be tempted to decorating according to the latest trends and including all sorts of fads in your design. However, trends come and go so you’ll most likely realize a few months later that you no longer like your home. A much better idea is to opt for something timeless.
7. Using the Wrong Theme
Let’s be honest. As much as you’d want your living room to look like a beach house you won’t get the desired results unless you have the right setting for such a theme. You can’t expect great views from an apartment building in a crowded city. It’s important to pick a suitable theme for your home and to make sure you can make the most of it.
8. Not Testing Colors before Painting
One of the biggest mistakes you can make is not testing the color before you paint an entire wall with it. Paint a small portion first and then decide whether or not the color is suitable. In addition, take light into consideration. You must see how the color looks like in both natural and artificial lighting.
9. Letting Others Make the Decisions for You
Sure, you need to take other people’s advice into consideration. However, don’t let someone else make the decisions for you. After all, you’re the one who’s going to be living in that home and you need to make it feel like home for you. To find your style and do what makes you happy and what’s best for you even if it defies all traditions.
10. Using your Favorite Color as The Main Color
You might be tempted to disagree with this. After all, if you love a color why not want to see it in your home? Actually, we’re not saying to not use it in the décor. Just don’t make it the main color. That’s because this is not the best way in which to highlight your favorite color. Try instead to use it in small amounts here and there. Another reason for this is that you’ll probably become tired of it a lot quicker if you see it everywhere.
11. Avoiding Bright or Dark Colors
Sure, very bright or dark colors can be intimidating and not everyone is comfortable using them in their home’s interior design. However, if you only use neutrals your home won’t really stand out and will lack a certain amount of character. So don’t be afraid of strong colors. They can be very friendly once you get familiar with them.
12. Choosing Looks without Considering Function
Before you buy something such as a sofa, a table or a lamp, don’t just look at its aspect. You must also take into consideration things like function or comfort. Take a minute to see if that sofa feels right when you sit on it or you that lamp is really what you need for your desk or reading corner.
13. Pushing Furniture Against the Walls
This is a very common mistake and we all do it without even realizing there are other options to take into consideration. By pushing all the furniture against the walls you make the space look like a hallway and you don’t really entice conversation or interaction between people. You should avoid that, especially in the living room.
14. Using Inadequate Lighting
Finding the right balance when it comes to lighting is difficult but also very important. You can easily use too much artificial light in a room or too little. Either way, space won’t be comfortable. You can partially solve the problem with dimmers. However, there’s also accent lighting and task lighting to think of.
15. Cluttering Rooms with Too much Stuff
People often make the mistake of overcrowding a room with furniture and lots of accessories in an effort to make it more comfortable. The result, however, is the complete opposite. A space that looks and feels cluttered is less appealing and less inviting and a much simpler one where only the basics are included.
16. Buying Cheap Things
There’s actually a difference between cheap and inexpensive. Something can be inexpensive without being cheap and vice versa. It’s ok to look for sales and to want to save money but don’t skimp on quality and buy cheap things. It’s actually better to invest more in a quality item that lasts longer than to get something cheap that you have to replace in a short while.
17. Extravagance on Useless Pieces
There’s no point in spending a lot of money on a piece you won’t be using or on something that doesn’t need to be really high quality. This type of extravagance won’t help you in any way. So figure out your priorities and don’t be a snob just because you can.
18. Ignoring the Entryway
The entryway or foyer as some call it is a very important space. This area creates the first impression of your home and it’s the first thing your guests see upon entering your home. So don’t neglect this space. Make it as welcoming and as lovely as possible and don’t be afraid to personalize it.
19. Uncomfortable Dining Chairs
Everyone should be comfortable at the dinner table. Obviously, this means you need to pick your dining chairs carefully. Make sure the backrest and armrests feel right and that the size and shape are good. If you don’t want to replace your whole chair set you can just add some new seat cushions or covers.
20. Rugs with The Wrong Proportions
If a rug is either too small or too big for a room, it won’t look right. The proportions can be decided in various ways depending on the function of the room and its layout. In any case, avoid an awkward look by measuring the space before you purchase or order the rug. Use painter’s tape to outline the area where you want the rug to go so you can picture it better.
21. Forcing a Color Scheme
Making things match is not exactly a great idea. If you force a color scheme the décor won’t look right. You need to make each piece and each color look like it belongs in that particular spot. This can sometimes mean you have to use various tones of the same color or to use texture to emphasize a certain element.
22. Hanging Window Treatments too Low
You may think that you let your curtains hang really low and touch the floor, maybe even form a fold-down there, which will give the room a sophisticated and elegant look. The reality is that this has the opposite effect. If you hang window treatments too low this makes the room look short and the décor look clumsy.
23. Not Giving the Eye Places to Rest
If you fill all the walls in your home with framed pictures, artwork, or furniture, you’ll overstimulate the eye and space will feel cluttered and not at all as inviting and comfortable as you’d want it to be. Try to give the eye placed to rest. Leave some empty spots.
24. Displaying Everything You Have
Just because you have a lot of decorations, a lot of collections, and a lot of pictures doesn’t mean you have to display them all. You need to pick a few ones, the ones you like best, and only use those. Keep everything else behind closed doors. You’ll still have them but they won’t be in your face everywhere you look.
25. Too Many Photos in One Place
Instead of having dozens of photos displayed on the mantel, on the console table, or on all the shelves in your home, consider instead creating a gallery wall or a collage. This way you’ll save space and you’ll be able to display the pictures in a more organized and stylish fashion, using matching frames or creating interesting patterns.
