You don’t have to be a professional interior designer to decorate a space you’ll love. Avoid these seven common decorating mistakes to improve the look and feel of your home.
1. Using one light source
A room needs multiple light sources to create a well-balanced and comfortable space. Relying on a single overhead light could either make a room too harsh or make it difficult for people to see. Be sure to use a combination of direct and indirect lighting in each room.
Orb Small Pendant by Adesso
2. Creating a space that’s too matchy
Buying all of your furniture from the same place can make your home look more like a catalog, and when guests walk in they might notice. Mix and match furnishings from different stores and designers to give your home a unique style that reflects your personality.
3. Not keeping scale in mind
An oversized sofa will look out of place in a room made up of smaller furnishings. When selecting a new dining table or couch for your home, consider the existing décor and furniture already in the room and the size of each. This will help you create a more balanced home.
photo credit: flickr/martinrp
4. Pushing all of your furniture against the wall
It’s not that you can’t ever place furniture up against the wall, but you shouldn’t place all of your furniture against the wall. In areas like the living room, you want to set up your space to encourage conversation, so group furniture together.
5. Mixing too many different design styles
This often becomes a problem when decorating in the eclectic style. While eclectic design encourages you to use a mixture of different styles in the same room, you shouldn’t go overboard. Too many styles and your home might start to look like a rummage sale.
6. Using dark paint in a small space
If you have a small room, one of the worst things you can do is paint the walls a dark color. Darker colors often make a room appear smaller than it really is, so choose lighter colors to open up your space instead.
photo credit: flickr/wanakarock
7. Adding a piece that doesn’t fit
You see a chair that you absolutely love online. The only problem is that it doesn’t fit in with your existing setup. Don’t try to force a piece of furniture into a space. If it doesn’t go, it doesn’t go! You’ll find something soon that you’ll love just as much.
By avoiding these common decorating mistakes, you can design your home like a pro!