14 Common Decorating Mistakes to Avoid
By Pro.com
Special to Yahoo Homes
New technologies and the sharing potential of social media means it’s never been easier to find design inspiration. In fact, there may be a little too much inspiration overload. While the big picture is fun to dream about, and we always think of things we like to do, sometimes reality gets neglected. Or even over inspired.
In other words, bad decorating happens, and it happens a lot. Are you a perpetrator? Read on to find 14 common decorating mistakes and how to fix them.
1. Neglecting Curb Appeal
We get so caught up on the inside of our homes that sometimes we forget to pay attention to the outside. Remember, the exterior of your home is your first impression, so if your walkway or porch is unswept, landscaping unkempt and paint peeling, it won’t matter how nicely designed your interior is. Keep your home well maintained and add a little visual appeal with flowers, plants and personal touches.
2. Floating Rugs
This is a much too common mistake. Area rugs that aren’t anchored to furniture, or just float on their own in the middle of floors, aren’t doing you any favors. They make the room seem disproportionate and unorganized. Instead, make sure the front legs of at least one piece of furniture are on the rug.
3. Mis-Hung Art
You never want to strain to see the art on your walls, so a good rule of thumb to keep it from sitting too high or too low is to hang art at eye-level. That’s when the top of the frame reaches 60 inches. If it’s a large work of art, try to level the frame with the top of your doors if you can, and if you’re hanging above the sofa, aim for it to hit about 2 inches above the top.
4. Furniture Flushes
Do not keep your furniture flush to the walls. We aren’t talking about cupboards or dressers, but sofas and chairs. Pushing them against the wall makes your room feel boxy and uniform—lacking in personality and warmth. Keep your furniture in the middle of the room for an inviting layout off of the walls. You can always place a bookshelf or console behind it for a display or to hide an unfinished back.
5. Bare Windows
Keeping your windows bare not only makes the room feel unfinished, but also uncomfortable. You can easily fix this decorating mistake with curtains hung at least 2 inches above the top of the window—and you can hang them as high as you want.
6. Not Keeping With Styles
It can be easy to neglect the style of your home. Especially when you’ve lived in the same house for a while—it’s easy to put off. Don’t worry, though, you don’t have to overhaul your interior design. Instead, making small changes like adding trendy accents or updating hardware on cabinets. These small touches can make a huge difference. You can also update your lighting and repaint walls.
7. Going Too Far With a Theme
Themes such as french countryside or tropical island can make a great foundation for decorating a room, but they should remain just that. A foundation. Be careful not to fall too deeply into the theme and get too matchy. Instead, use a piece as focal point, like a chair runner, drape or rug, and don’t be afraid to add in other pieces. They don’t all have to match and it’s important to show off your personality. In fact, sometimes the most eclectic (but tasteful!) collections are the most appealing.
8. Keeping Clutter
Clutter will kill any design. It screams disorganization and even dates a modern room. Take the time each day to put everything in their rightful places or create a storage system if you don’t already have one in place. Just don’t forget to periodically clean out the things you’ve stored away or they’ll become overwhelming.
9. Uncomfortable Furniture
We get it, it looks ah-may-zing. It’s stylish, it’s on trend, but it’s so uncomfortable. It’s easy to get swept up in how a piece looks, but be realistic with it’s function. If it’s uncomfortable, not your style or unfunctional, just remember: you're the one that has to live with it.
10. Not Testing Wall Color
This seems like a no-brainer, but that little color test you did in the back corner isn’t going to give you an idea of what the paint looks on all of your walls. Don’t be afraid to make a large color swatch on your wall—because the tone of the paint in the can doesn’t always look the same on your walls.
11. “Dream-Lifestyle” Purchases
This goes hand-in-hand with buying uncomfortable furniture. There’s a reason pieces look so good in store showrooms and magazines—companies are trying to sell it to you. Don’t romanticize pieces that go so well with a designer’s layout, because they may not look as good in your home. Be realistic about your style and the amount of room you have, and buy what fits your life. Not your whimsy.
12. Cheap Fixes
Your mother always said quality over quantity, and this rings true for decorating as well. Don’t go for the chair you’ll have to replace every year, but instead, choose the timeless one that will last you a lifetime (or until you decide to redesign). The only time it’s ok to go cheap is when you want a couple of trendy pieces that you know will fall out of fashion in a few seasons.
13. Too Many Photos
We love family and personal photos to decorate a home. But having too many on a table or dresser will cheapen their sentimental value by looking cluttered. Instead, create a photo gallery you can display on the wall and keep the tabletops for just a few key pieces.
14. Keeping Things You Hate
Life is too short to grimace at that old plant Great Aunt Judy gave you or the shag carpet that came with the house. Enjoy the space you live in and do away with those pieces you hate. Instead, replace them with ones you’ll love and make your home a “home sweet home.”
Pro.com is a website founded in 2013 by service industry entrepreneurs and former Amazon executives to simplify home services -- especially research on contractor fees and qualifications.
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11 Tips for Decorating a Narrow Room
How to Declutter Your Home One Room at a Time
6 Ways to Boost the Value of Your Home
