Five Decorating Mistakes to Avoid

It’s not always easy to design your own home. In fact, sometimes you might wind up with an idea in your head that does not translate well in reality. Here are some decorating mistakes to avoid and how to replace them with better ideas.

Mistake 1: Placing Too Much in a Room.

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Perhaps you own many ornaments or accessories that you have accumulated and think will go together wonderfully. Perhaps they all display your love of a certain hobby or they reflect a style that you enjoy. A room that is too cluttered, however, will give people the difficulty of knowing where their eyes should rest.

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It makes a room look like too much is happening. Avoid this by choosing one or two prized pieces that can make much more of a design impact than if they are cluttered with many other items. A few signature pieces can also draw together a room’s theme wonderfully.

Mistake 2: Matching Everything.

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Just because the walls are a certain color, it doesn’t mean the cushions, bedspread and ornaments should also be! Don’t match everything: it starts to look boring and lack life. Inject a bit of a contrasting color into a room. For instance, if you’ve got a soft grey on the walls, get a striking yellow or orange burst of color with some accessories. Play around with different colors and see what happens!

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Also, try not to focus too much on the style of a room. If you have a modern and minimalist theme with clean lines and open spaces, try to bring in an item or two that convey(s) something different. An antique armoire or a rustic picture frame, for instance, can add warmth to a simple design. Contrasting looks can work, adding depth to a room.

Mistake 3: Placing Furniture Against the Wall.

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This is a common error that many homemakers end up making, perhaps because it seems like the logical thing to do to place cupboards, chairs and couches against the wall. However, although this might give the impression of opening up a room, it can actually ruin the feeling of openness because you’re left with space in the middle of the room that goes to waste.

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Placing chairs in the middle of the room can make the room cosier and make people feel more connected; a couch in a more central area of the room can be a focal point and look homelier than if it is shoved to the side and out of the way.

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This also gives you a chance to make the walls more appealing when they are not covered by pieces of furniture. One wall could become an interesting place to hang artwork or display patterned wallpaper, further making the room interesting. A wine-rack, on the other hand, can double up as a room division – this is a clever way to optimize space and offer striking décor.

Mistake 4: Choosing White Walls.

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It’s a common reflex action: white goes on the walls. But it doesn’t have to! Sometimes adding a bit of color instead of drab white can be an invigorating experience. Pale yellows and greens can brighten up and refresh a room.

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If you want to be especially bold, go for something darker. However, when using darker paints or patterned wall paper, don’t do all the walls of a room especially if the room is not large. This can have the effect of closing in a space and making it look too busy. Rather focus on one wall to paint a darker hue or apply patterned wall paper and then leave the other walls bare. A wall accent color is a great and easy way to make a statement.

Mistake 5: Following the Trends to Décor Death.

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Just because a certain trend is heating up the décor magazines, it doesn’t mean that it should be in your home. If you blindly follow the trends, you risk losing what makes your space unique and individualistic. Having a trendy, fashionable space might be a priority, but if so try to incorporate the trends into your design in small ways.

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Ultimately, you want something that will last longer than just a season. If stripes are the latest décor trend, don’t go overboard by making everything stripy. Rather add a few flashes of stripes – in cushions, carpets or on the stairs, for instance – that make a room more timeless.

Picture sources: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 789 and 10.