Decor Mistakes to Avoid
Decorating a home to your own personal taste is great fun. You don’t need an interior designer to set up the perfect home. With a little inspiration, motivation and some handy tips, you can create a space that is stylish and unique to you. When it comes to styling your own house, there are no rules set in stone, but there are a few things you should avoid that we’re all guilty of. If you want your home to look as good as an interior designer’s then read on. We’ll discuss the worst decorating mistakes you can make in your home and quick fixes and solutions.
NOT COHESIVE
First and foremost, your home’s decor should be cohesive and balanced. Mismatched furniture, clashing colours and patterns, and a mix of entirely different interior styles can be hard on the eyes and make your space look sloppy and cluttered. This doesn’t mean you can’t have fun decorating your home in your personal style. Not every piece of furniture and decor in the room has to be perfectly matched, but it’s best to stick to the basics. Ask yourself which interior style you like most and which colours you want to see every day and go from there. Create a balanced space by sticking with one cohesive style and playing around with only a few colours.
The use of green, cream and brown all tie together for a cohesive look (without overdoing it!)
DIFFERENT INTERIOR STYLES
Common interior decorating mistakes often begin with not yet knowing your own personal style. Look for patterns in the furniture and home decor you like and purchase, research a little on the different types of interior design styles and contemplate which you’re most drawn to.
It’s true that many interior styles have similar crossovers–minimal and Scandinavian are quite similar, as well as rustic and cottage-core. However, some styles are just too different to work in the same room together. For instance, if you like light, wooden Scandinavian-style furniture then a dark brown, art deco or antique side buffet will stick out like a sore thumb.
HANGING ARTWORK TOO HIGH
This is one of the most common home decor mistakes. Many people tend to hang their artwork as close to the ceiling as they can reach which can throw the whole room off. There’s no need to crane your neck to look at the art on your walls. Hanging artwork at eye level is best. This varies from person to person, but if it feels right and looks balanced, you’re on the right track.
Hang artwork at eye level
UNBALANCED PLACEMENT OF FURNITURE
There are two decor mistakes to avoid here. Firstly, pushing all your furniture against the wall can make a room look smaller than it is. Allow for some space between the wall and your furniture for a more open living space. Secondly, avoid unbalanced furniture arrangements. For example, if you have a large couch with a heavy, bulky bottom, avoid getting a large, bulky coffee table; instead, choose a table with thin legs or a glass tabletop. On the other hand, if you have a clunky coffee table, go for a couch with some space underneath the achieve a nice balance.
MATCHING COLOURS
This is one of the most common decorating mistakes that date your home. Coordinating colours can be nice, but if you go overboard, it can become a bit of an eyesore. Mix it up by adding splashes of different colours that look good together.
Avoid matching the whole room in one colour
TOO MANY COLOURS & PATTERNS
On the flip side, too many colours and patterns can make your home look busy, crowded and cluttered. It can be tricky to find the right balance but stick to three or four colours that go well together and splash them throughout the room. Stick to one or two colour palettes if you can–for instance, if you like soft pastels, stick to two pastel shades. Having one bright, vibrant cushion next to one pastel cushion can be overbearing. On a similar note, don’t go overboard with patterns as they can easily clash with each other.
HEAVY & SHORT CURTAINS
Keep your curtains subtle. Heavy and loud curtains can pull down the entire room and become the main feature. Neutral fabrics and soft colours are the best when choosing your curtains or blinds. Additionally, make sure your curtains or blinds are the right lengths. Curtains should reach the floor, otherwise, they risk making the wall look shorter than it is.
OVERDOING THE THROW PILLOWS
Having throw pillows on your couch or bed should be for comfort, cosiness and decoration. If you can’t sit on your couch without moving them all aside, then you’ve probably overdone it! Stick to a few throw cushions that complement each other, your couch and the room itself.
CHOOSING STYLE OVER COMFORT
We’re all guilty of wanting something for how nice it looks even if it’s not practical, from clothes to technology to furniture. Fortunately, there are plenty of comfortable, practical and stylish pieces available, so you don’t need to choose.
Go for comfort and style
TOO MUCH OPEN STORAGE
Shelves and bookcases are great pieces to keep at home, but if you are using them purely for storage, they’ll make your home look messy and cluttered. Stick to keeping decorative pieces like house plants, candles or a few books or records on your shelves to keep them looking neat and tidy. Storage items are best kept out of plain sight.
EXCESSIVE CLUTTER
It can be tempting to display all of your cute knick-knacks and collectables, but too much can become clutter, which can create a messy, stressful space. This is one of the most common decorating mistakes. We all like to show off our beautiful decor, but less is almost always more.
Simple and uncluttered rooms are more relaxing and easier on the eye
IGNORING POWER OUTLETS
Ever had extension cords and wires trailing all around your room? Scattered cords take away from other features of the room and make it look unorganised and cluttered. Granted, not all homes have multiple power outlets in every room, but if possible, set up what needs electricity close to your power outlets to avoid this.
TOO DARK
Rooms that are too dark can be a bit of a mood killer. This doesn’t mean you can’t have any dark furniture or decor, however, be sure to mix it up, especially if it’s a small space. Lighter colours brighten up a room and can give the illusion that the room is larger than it really is.
This living room has a balance of light and dark for a more cohesive look
WRONG RUG SIZE
When decorating their home, many people go for smaller rugs, but this can throw the entire living room out of balance. Choose a rug that all your living room furniture can sit on comfortably. This will make the room feel bigger and more comfortable.
OVERDOING TRENDS
It can be easy to throw yourself into a new trend, but trends can be overdone. For instance, rattan furniture can give your room a nice, cosy beach house feel, but too much of it and your house will look like a furniture store. Timeless furniture that is built to last is best, with a few on-trend pieces around your home. Mix it up by adding your own personal touches to a room to create a space that is personal, unique and on-trend.
