Avoiding Decorating Mistakes

Interior designers share the top decorating mistakes that everyday homeowners can avoid. By simply applying basic principles, interior designs add functional comfort to everyday homes.

• Placing Furniture Near Walls – This is a common decorating mistake, as angling furniture and placing it slightly away from walls helps to create a warm, inviting space. Allow for direct traffic flows and break up furniture in smaller rooms, for example, placing two loveseats in a room instead of the standard sofa and loveseat combo. Don’t block access to rooms and consider having a furniture flow that enhances access to closets, storage areas and bookshelves. Always look at adding focal points that are unique and one-of-a-kind.
• Hanging Pictures and Mirrors – It’s important to hang pictures appropriately. Hanging them too low or too high can dramatically influence rooms, making them off scale. Place wall mirrors at eye level and balance them on walls. Generally, artwork hangs five to nine inches above a couch and seven to 10 inches above tables or buffets. If working with groupings, keep larger pieces towards the bottom to help avoid a top-heavy appearance. The Oval and Round Mirror Store features a wide selection of oval mirrors, round mirrors and rectangle mirrors, which are perfect for today’s modern-day looks.
• Groups – Accessories look best when paired in groups of three. For large collections, consider rotating select objects to help keep rooms looking clean, sharp and clutter-free.
• Off Center – Odd numbers generate more visual interest than even pairs. Embracing unique shapes, colors, heights and textures also helps items feel cohesive, without appearing too coordinating.
• Smaller Rooms – Sometimes smaller rooms look best with eye-catching focal points. If using large furniture in small rooms, limit the quantity and create a designer centerpiece that livens areas.
• Bright White – Appearing sterile and harsh, this cold color is uninviting and has a commercial look. If using white, consider limiting it to fabric, trim or accessories.
• Lighting – An important element to home decor, lighting helps generate inviting ambiences. Dark rooms transform into welcoming retreats with warm-tone lighting. Consider adding dimmer switches to help adjust lighting in dining and living room areas. Install chandeliers centered above dining room tables and place no higher than three-feet above the table’s surface. Chandeliers should also measure no less than nine to 12 inches than the diameter or width of the dining room table.
• Avoid Monotony – Instead of all matching furniture sets, consider breaking up sets between rooms, painting pieces, changing hardware, adding Mosaic-style tops. While furniture should coordinate, which helps achieve a well-balanced look, homeowners need to explore alternative options to turn everyday houses into personalized homes.
• Rugs – Rugs should harmoniously incorporate into rooms, not breaking up rooms in distracting manners, but complimenting furniture and room dimensions.