Common Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
One Needn’t Be a Professional to Have a Designer Home
May 28, 2009
When decorating a home keep these tips in mind.
Don’t Hang Artwork Too High
Perhaps the most common decorating mistake is hanging artwork too high. Not only do people have to strain their eyes to look up and appreciate it, artwork hung too high makes the room look top-heavy and feel less grounded. To avoid this, hang artwork at eye level.
When it comes to framing, choose a mat that will allow the art to breathe. Don’t try to be clever by choosing a bright or bold color. The point is to look at the piece, not the mat. White, or very light neutrals work best.
Rugs Should Be The Right Size
A rug that is too small looks lost in a room. It can even make the space look disjointed. The rule of thumb is that area rugs should be large enough so that all of the furniture can fit on it, or at the very least, the front legs of larger pieces should fit on it. All 4 legs of smaller pieces should fit on the rug. Before buying, measure carefully to make sure these rules can be followed without overcrowding the space.
Decorate With Comfortable Furniture
It doesn’t matter how stylish a piece is. If it’s not comfortable no one will want to sit on it. So what’s the point?
Appropriate Curtains Lengths
Curtains that are too short drive decorators batty. They should just skim the floor, or for a more indulgent look, have them puddle on the floor. It’s always better to buy curtains too long rather than too short because they can always be hemmed,
Pillows as Accessories
A major pet peeve of decorators is tiny little pillows on large chairs, and vice versa. As with everything else in decorating, please consider balance and scale. Pillows should be in proportion with the item they’re accessorizing. On that same note, avoid using too many pillows. People shouldn’t have to remove pillows before sitting on a chair or lying on the bed. They should enhance, not crowd. A large collection of pillows can make a room look cluttered and overdone.
Decorative Lighting
Don’t ignore decorative lighting. Lamps and sconces can add a beautiful decorative touch to a room. Not only do they provide flattering lighting, they act as decorative accessories. They can also draw attention to specific parts of the room. A room without extra lighting is like an outfit without jewelry and accessories; it’s still nice, but a bit boring. Rooms that only have overhead lighting can be a bit cold and harsh. Basically, it’s better to have several lamps and/or sconces with low-wattage bulbs than a single overhead fixture with a high-wattage bulb.
Too Many Accessories
Accessories are a very important part of decorating. They’re what give a home personality. But use too many and the room will look overcrowded and cluttered. Limit accessories to items that are truly enjoyed by those who will see them.
Decorating With Matching Items
Using pairs on occasion (lamps, chairs, etc.) is fine, but beware of rooms that are too matchy-matchy. The days of going into a store and buying a living room or dining room set, are over. Rooms should reflect the personality of the people who inhabit them, not the store where the furniture was purchased. Mix things up, split up pairs, and use items that compliment rather than match.
Most importantly, fill spaces with items that are loved. One of the biggest mistakes people make is to decorate with items they don’t enjoy. Just because something is trendy, stylish, or inherited, it doesn’t mean that it belongs in your home. If you don't love it, don't use it.
