Common Decorating Mistakes You Should Avoid
Everyone makes decorating mistakes once in a while, even expert designers themselves. While what looks 'good' is always subjective, our goal is to provide you with a few rules of thumb that can take your home decor to the next level. Take a look at which decorating mistakes you should avoid.
Monochromatic
Decorating with a single color may seem like a safe idea at first, but can result in a rather boring interior. Combing complimentary colors with different patterns and neutral tones will result in a more robust interior color palette.
Too Many Big Plants
Incorporating plants into your home can be a great way to add a natural and warm element into your decor. But when your home has more foliage than your backyard, you might be going a bit overboard. Instead, go for smaller plants and flowers that can be placed on counters and shelves. Terrariums are a great alternative too.
Buying Cheap Furniture
It's never worth skimping on important pieces of furniture that you use daily. The rule of thumb is to always buy the best you can afford and to never overspend on trendy pieces that may go out of fashion within a few years.
Too Many Patterns
Mixing different patterns is a great decorating trick, but always be careful you're not overdoing it. The trick to pattern mixing is only using a few at a time and using it as a highlight rather than a main focal point. Too many patterns can be distracting and look confusing to the eye.
Too Many Throw Pillows
Look, we get that pillows are soft, comfy, and a great decor item to add some pattern and color to your rooms. But If you find that you have to move throw pillows off the couch before sitting on it, you probably have too many pillows.
Treating Every Room as a Separate Unit
It might be easy to give each room in your home its own decor theme, but all your rooms should relate to each other. Try coordinating styles and colors to a certain extent to avoid making your home look disjointed and choppy.
Buying Everything At Once
It's important to take your time when decorating your home. You won't be able to furnish your entire room in a single day, so think carefully about which pieces you want in your room and spend time researching (we have plenty of useful guides which you can access here).
Not Enough Lighting
One often overlooked element in homes is lighting. It plays a crucial part in setting the ambiance in your home. That means you should always have a mixture of different lighting in each room, from overhead to task lighting. To learn how to properly light your home, read this guide.
Everything Matches
An extremely common mistake is that by trying to create a cohesive home decor, everything ends up matching. This results in a bland home with rooms that lack a distinct focal point. Reset your mindset - try to find things that complement each other rather than match.
Rugs That Are Too Small
Area rugs should be big enough so that your furniture sits within it, with about 10-20" between the edge of the rug and the wall. This will help ground a room and make your rooms feel much cozier.
You Have Too Much Stuff
One common problem that many people face in their home is that it is too packed with stuff. Every room should have enough space that you can easily move through it. Your home should also feel uncluttered. Take a hard look at the things around your home and donate or throw out items you no longer use and need.
Choosing Paint Color First
It's very tempting to choose a wall color for your rooms before you have a chance to fully furnish it. It's often much easier to completely furnish your home, then choose a wall color that complements your decor. This will allow you to find pieces of furniture you love, without the constraint of needing it to match your walls.
Forgetting To Test Paint Color
Paint colors labeled on cans may look vastly different when it is on your walls. The lighting and decor of your home will greatly impact how the color looks. That's why it's important to test different colors so that you can pick the best one for each room.
You can test in one of two ways:
- Paint a large spot on your wall with different hues and colors. That way you can determine what shade works best.
- Paint a large piece of cardboard. This allows you to move it from room to room to determine what colors work better for each room. You never know if a color you picked for your bedroom might end up working better in a different room.
Hanging Artwork Too High
Did you know that there's a proper way to hang your art and photos? It's called the gallery method and is used by museums and galleries around the world. Your artwork should always be hung in a way so that the center of the painting is at eye level.
Pushing Furniture Against the Wall
Furniture should never be placed right against your walls. Instead, there should always be a few inches between the wall and the back of your furniture which helps create a cozier feeling home.
Grouping Candles Together
Take a balanced approach with your candles. Instead of grouping them together, spread them around the room. The flame is a natural light source and will look best when it is evenly dispersed in your room.
Lack of a Mix of Materials
It's always important to incorporate a mix of textures in your home. This means mixing up fabrics, finishes, and textures to create a layered, dimensional space. You can often add texture to your home by adding throw pillows, blankets, and decor items that use materials such as brass, wood, or even concrete. By mixing up textures, you'll be able to create visual interest in your home and keep your home from feeling boring.
Hanging Cheap Curtains
The proper curtains can make your room feel bigger, more comfortable, and properly block out light and some unwanted noise. Learn how to choose the best curtains for your needs.
Cover image from Carter Kay Interiors
