Everyone can make mistakes when designing a home, especially if it is your first project. From not seeing fabric in-person to buying something too big or too small, we have all had that “oh no” moment that makes us wonder if we can create the perfect interior.
Don’t be too hard on yourself—even top designers can sometimes miss important details or overlook patterns. With the right tips and guidance, getting your home interior back on track is easier than you might think.
How NOT to Decorate
There can be a fine line between fabulous and failure, which is what makes interior design an art form. Here are some of the most common decorating mistakes to avoid when designing your home’s indoor space.
1. Too Small of a Rug
A small rug makes a room look divided and uneven, and you surely don’t want to portray that feeling. To avoid this, measure slightly beyond the corners of the largest furniture in the room.
For example, if you have a seven-foot sofa, find a rug that is nine feet or longer, keeping in mind you want to divide the additional rug area among each side of the furniture. By doing so, you will visually extend the space and make the room look bigger than it is.
For the master bedroom, choose a carpet that is at least 18 inches wider than your bed. For other rooms, such as your dining room, find a rug that extends at least three inches in each direction beyond the table’s corners.
2. Too Much Lighting
The rule “the brighter, the better” doesn’t apply to every room in your house. Some places may end up feeling blunted instead of cozy. In personal spaces such as bathrooms and bedrooms, it is best to go with a 60-watt bulb as it provides a warmer and softer light that is ideal for reading yet bright enough for applying makeup.
Another common mistake regarding lighting is considering functionality but not aesthetics. While functionality is essential, aesthetic appeal is also a factor in enjoying a well-designed home.
For example, an overhead light can be functional, but it also may be too overwhelming if not placed in the right spot. To balance the room and make it cozy and inviting, you need a combination of wall, floor, and table lighting.
3. Too Many Pillows
This is a common mistake a lot of homeowners make. Most people think that adding many pillows to the sofa or bed feels warm and cozy, but in the end, it can look chaotic.
It is best to stick to a more simple setup – add two pillows on each side of the sofa, or place a small mix of sizes on the bed. You’ll still have your pillows but without the sloppy appearance. Also, consider the pillows’ colors and patterns to make sure they do not contrast too much with their surroundings.
4. Blocking Entrances
While it is tempting to arrange your seating based on what you see in magazines such as Architectural Digest, Elle Decor, or Better Homes & Garden, you should consider the size of your room and whether you are blocking its flow.
Set up your arrangement based on the size of the room and the location of the walls and windows. Also, seeing the back of the sofa when you walk in a living room is not ideal as it looks unwelcoming. Instead, ground the sofa towards the wall and soften the look with a small console table, styled with a few decorative objects, flowers, or books.
5. Poorly Placed Artwork
The right piece of artwork can turn your home into a welcoming and modern space. However, having the right piece of art is irrelevant if you have no idea where to place it. Hanging artwork in the wrong spot or at the wrong height is a mistake done by many. Luckily it is an easy fix—find a better place for your art piece.
Famous designers use a rule when it comes to hanging art in your home –visually divide the wall space into four sections horizontally. Then, place the art in the second section from the ceiling, according to the renowned New York City designer Syesel dePedro Cunningham. If you have more than one painting, trace the painting frames onto paper, cut them out, and tape them to your walls to see whether you like the result.
6. Not Using Natural Light
Having natural light at home is a blessing, so take as much advantage of it as possible. Natural light can make a room brighter and cozier. While drapery and curtains are beautiful, they may also prevent the light from brightening your space.
When curtains are needed, some designers suggest hanging linen sheers in a neutral color. They bring warmth and texture yet are translucent enough to let natural light filter through.
If you live in a smaller apartment with small windows, find a way to maximize the natural light by changing the room’s setup. Avoid placing chairs or sofas in front of any windows and hang neutral-toned curtains to let as much natural light in as possible.
7. Pattern & Color Overdose
Mixing different colors and patterns is okay, as long as you know what you’re doing. Overdoing it with colors and patterns may end up looking messy and strange. While this is a common decorating mistake, the good news is that it is another easy fix.
Start by learning about color and pattern selection. Knowing the basics and improving your decorative skills can help you design the home of your dreams without the pattern mess and color chaos. While there are many rules, tips, and tricks, our favorite is never to mix bold colors with pastels. When talking about decorating mistakes to avoid, consider this one a bonus tip.
8. Fear of Color Variety
You can’t go wrong with choosing minimal, neutral colors such as white and beige. However, going monochromatic for the entire house can translate as being dull and monotonous. One of the most common decorating mistakes people make is sticking to only one color.
Renovating or decorating for the first time is a great chance to be creative. Incorporating pops of color can do wonders for your interior. Intense colors attract energy and create different moods around the space. Consulting with a professional interior designer can help you determine the right colors for your house or apartment and enrich your home.
9. Over-accessorizing
Today, there are lots of choices in terms of home accessories. Choosing multiple items for decorating your house seems like a hard decision. Not knowing what to get may lead to over-accessorizing your place. By adding too many mirrors, pillows, rugs, lamps, or pieces of art in your home, you may create the wrong energy and take away from the end design.
Before getting everything you want or see in magazines, analyze your space, and determine the essentials. To avoid over-accessorizing, find products that look impressive yet are easy to maintain and dust. The golden rule of home décor is the same as in fashion: less is more. Stick to this rule if you want your home to look beautiful and welcoming.
10. Painting without Sampling
So you’ve spent hours picking the perfect color, and now you want to paint your walls as quickly as possible. While the other decorating mistakes we’ve talked about are easy to fix, this one isn’t. Painting your walls in the wrong color may take days to paint over.
Before painting, you need to see the color in different lighting situations such as morning and evening as well as combined with your furniture and accessories. It is not easy to choose the right color, but when you do, you’ll see the difference it makes.
Consulting with a professional interior designer is another solution you might want to consider. Someone involved with home decor, interior planning, and custom detailing will help you choose the right color for your space and suggest furniture options, lighting, and accessories that will complement that color perfectly.
Contact Us Today
At Ron Nathan Interiors, we offer personalized service for our clients to help them design the home of their dreams. Our broad knowledge, professional experience, and attention to detail allow us to plan and execute the perfect project for each client, no matter the size of the house or the budget.
We work side-by-side with contractors, builders, and electricians to achieve the best results for your decor. From complete interior planning to lighting design and installation, furniture selection, and color and pattern picking, you can count on Ron Nathan Interiors to meet your lifestyle needs and transform your interior ideas into reality.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation.
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