Often times when decorating, we get so wrapped up in the fact that we have a big space to style that we actually end up over-designing it, or combining too many design concepts. What should you try to avoid when shopping and designing and what common decorating practices need to be banished forever? HGTV has assembled a list of 25 decorating faux-pas to avoid.
1. Fake Flowers
This is a controversial topic, but fake flowers (and plants) are a mistake. They gather dust and don't bring life into your home like real flowers, which look and smell better. Fresh flowers are expensive, but there are other things you can do instead of buying them all the time. Put lemons or other fruit in a bowl for a punch of color. Or, use some dried natural material like curly willow or bamboo stalks for a fresh look.
2. Pillow Overload
If the pillows actually hinder being able to sit on a couch or lie comfortably on a bed, then it's obviously too much. Instead of buying so many pillows, spend your time, energy and money decorating an area of the room you're actually looking at when sitting in bed.
3. Too Many Knickknacks
Knickknacks, decorations, tchotchkes, accessories, call them what you want, but we all have too many of them. Rotate what you have, and if you really like something but it's been out for a while, store it for a bit. You don't have to have it all out at once and every surface should not be covered. Edit your collections so they're pointed and look good as a small grouping.
4. Fear of Color
Many people love color but are too scared to use it. Try a paint color in the room to make sure you like it and that it works with the space. Live with it at various times of the day as a painted wall will appear different in the morning, afternoon and at night. If you don't like it, paint over it. Color is a great punctuation and doesn't have to be overbearing.
5. Ignoring Windows
Besides paint, window treatments are the easiest and least expensive way to change the look of a room. A good rule of thumb is to hang curtains two inches above the frame of the window. If you have high ceilings, hang them all the way up to the ceiling to make the room seem bigger. For a quick and simple look, add a small, linen Roman shade to block light and add an extra element to the space.
6. Pushed Back Furniture
Get the furniture off the walls and bring it to the center of the room. Sometimes the backs of furniture are beautiful, and a sofa with a console table behind it is a great place for a gorgeous display. Make it communal and create a focal point, which will enlarge the space.
7. Tacky Couch Covers
If you love your furniture, there are more interesting ways to protect it such as using a protecting spray or throw blankets and pillows. Use a nice throw blanket that doesn't overpower the couch and accents rather than hides the piece. Keep it simple and sleek.
8. Frames Hung Too High
If you have to bend your neck to see your art, then it's hung too high. You generally don't want to be looking up at your artwork, whether sitting or standing. Eye level is always a good height. Look at the top of your door frames and if your pieces are big enough, they should just reach the top of the door frame and go down from there. A good rule of thumb when you're hanging artwork over a sofa is to make sure the bottom edge is about six inches up from the top of the sofa.
9. Improper Lighting
In any room in the house, you want different types of lighting for various times of the day. Dimmer switches are a great secret weapon — they're cheap, easy to install and give an entire range of control of the mood and feeling of a space. Understand what kind of lighting you want in each space, paying attention to a room's function when determining proper lighting.
10. Floating Rugs
Floating area rugs are a big mistake people make. Use a measuring tape to create an outline to get a feeling of where you want the rug placed before purchasing the piece. A rug should always be connected to furniture — an anchor for the seating group. For a successful furniture arrangement, place all the front feet of the furniture on the rug.
11. Too Many Color Patterns
If you have too many colors or patterns in a house, it tends to look very busy, crowded and distracting to the eye.
12. Furniture That Doesn't Fit
Showrooms are much larger than your living room, so when you bring furniture into your home, the scale can be completely wrong. Follow these tips to avoid buying furniture that doesn't fit:
1. Draw a floor plan or purchase a kit so you can move the scaled pieces around for the best layout.
2. Don't try to put too much into any space.
3. Measure the room, and you'll decrease the chances of making a mistake.
13. Following Fads
From beanbag chairs to lava lamps, be careful of trends as it's difficult to get rid of those items once the fad is gone, especially furniture. Decorate in a style you'll really like for a long time. Have fun with it, but be ready to recycle it when it goes out of style.
14. Everything Matches
A room that looks like it's a page from a catalog is a mistake because people don't really live that way. It's designed to sell furniture and give you an idea of what you might have in your house, but you shouldn't be matching the look that closely. Make it eclectic — not like a showroom you can't live in. You want to look from one wall to the other and be able to see something different.
15. Visible Clutter
Unsightly clutter and disorganization not only contributes to a stressful life but also ruins the entire look of a space. Invest in stylish storage baskets on a bookcase or shelf to keep small objects in their proper spot, or add an armoire for extra hidden storage.
16. Uncomfortable Dining Chairs
Never have an uncomfortable piece of furniture, especially a dining chair. When purchasing a dining chair, sit in it and decide if you want to be there for a long time. Also, measure the height of your dining room table before you buy chairs to make sure they're not too low or too high.
17. Too Formal
While there's nothing wrong with a very formal approach to a room, you should still make people feel comfortable in it. If you have the space, use it. Give it a function, make it livable and ensure it's welcoming.
18. Keeping Something You Hate
One of the biggest decorating mistakes is keeping things you really don't want, like an existing carpet or a gift. When it comes to your home, if you really hate something, just get rid of it — throw it out, give it away or donate it to charity. Drop hints to friends and family about your style to avoid receiving something that doesn't fit.
19. Lopsided Furniture
Some people just don't have an eye for furniture arrangements, so it helps to look at magazines to see what somebody else has done. If you have a sofa with a heavy bottom, don't add a big coffee table. Instead, use something light made of glass or with legs, and add a tall, thin floor lamp to help bring your eye up and make it more dynamic. Be sure to keep your furniture arrangements balanced to the eye.
20. Outdated Accessories
Don't let your rooms feel dated by hanging on to older cabinets and especially hardware. Make small changes like switching the hardware on your kitchen or bath cabinets for a big impact.
21. Out-of-Place Themes
A home's decor needs to be authentic and provide a sense of where you are. Instead of dressing an entire room with an out-of-place theme, use themed accent pieces. Use accents to incorporate the look you enjoy without being overwhelming. If you have a house in the mountains and love the beach, display a collection of seashells or coral in or on a bookcase instead of designing an entire beach-style room.
22. Undressed Cables
Keep wires hidden at all times with these easy solutions:
1. Find a cord cover that matches your wall color.
2. If the furniture isn't a valuable antique, drill a hole in the back for the cords to go through.
23. Ignoring the Foyer
The foyer is a terrific opportunity to make a statement about who you are and what your house is like. A foyer doesn't have to be something grand — any statement is better than none at all. Use paint to add color and hang a beautiful mirror or painting. A mirror is great because it's reflective, creating the illusion of more space. Use the horizontal surfaces to hold mail and keys when you first walk in.
24. Too Many Photos
You're either a photo person or you're not. Photo people feel very sentimental and have a hard time giving up the pictures on their walls and tables. The solution? Photo albums. When you have a lot of photographs of family, friends and trips, organize them properly in photo albums. You can organize albums by decade or event, and then keep them nicely arranged on a bookshelf. Then try to display just a few framed pictures at a time.
25. Toilet Rugs
Toilet rugs are cut to fit around the toilet and sometimes have the carpet-like matching seat cover. Opt for a regular rectangular rug placed away from the base of the toilet instead.
