35 Biggest Decorating Mistakes and Solutions
We've enlisted today's hottest interior designers to count down the 35 top decorating mistakes and included their style-saving solutions.
Solution: Minimize the Mess
Stay on top of dirty dishes by teaching your family to always clean up immediately after meals. Also, limit the number of appliances and tchotchkes you allow to pile up on the countertop. A potted plant or a vase of flowers are all you need to add a little color and life.
Solution: Light It Up
A lot of life happens in your living room. Add multiple types of lighting, like table lamps, overhead lighting and floor lamps to ensure ample illumination for tasks like reading.
Solution: Opt for Comfy Chairs
Whether hosting guests or just enjoying a meal with your family, dining should be a time to unplug, relax and enjoy your meal. Encourage your dinner companions to linger a little longer with cushy, upholstered chairs.
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Mistake: Designing Around the TV
You want everyone to be able to see the next episode of House Hunters, but that doesn't mean the TV has to be the focal point of your living room.
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Solution: Rectangular Rug
Opt for a rectangular rug placed away from the base of the toilet as designer Brian Patrick Flynn did in this bright and beachy main bathroom.
Solution: Add Your Favorite Plants
You don't have to turn your home into a conservatory, but adding a little green can clear toxins in the air and bring a space to life.
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Solution: Choose Your Shade Carefully
Give your lampshade choice a bit more consideration and pick a style — and size — that's right for your room.
Solution: Try Multiple Hues
Buy a few smaller containers of your favorite paint choices to test out several colors along one wall. Live with the swatches for a few days, noting how they look both day and night. Label the painted swatches with painter's tape so you'll remember which color you liked best.
Solution: Gallery Wall
Display your favorite photos in a gallery wall and switch them out whenever you'd like. You can organize the rest of your photos in albums by decade or event, and keep them nicely arranged on a bookshelf.
Solution: Make a Statement
Use paint or patterned wallpaper to add color, and hang a beautiful mirror or painting. A mirror is especially great because it reflects light and creates the illusion of more space. Use the horizontal surfaces to hold mail and keys when you first walk in.
Solution: Organized Cords
Keep wires hidden at all times with these easy solutions:
1. Find a cord cover that matches your wall color.
2. If the furniture isn't a valuable antique, drill a hole in the back for the cords to go through.
3. Keep unused wires in a labeled storage container in an easily accessible area.
Solution: Stylish Accent Pieces
Use accents to incorporate the look you enjoy without being overwhelming. If you have a house in the mountains and love the beach, display a collection of seashells or coral in or on a bookcase or end table instead of designing an entire beach-style room.
Solution: Balance Furniture Pieces
Use something light made of glass or with legs, and add a tall, thin floor lamp to help bring your eye up and make it more dynamic. Be sure to keep your furniture arrangements balanced to the eye.
Solution: Inviting Yet Elegant
If you have the space, use it. Give your room a function, make it livable and ensure it's welcoming.
Solution: A Comfortable Place to Dine
When purchasing a dining chair, sit in it and decide if you want to be there for a long time. Also, measure the height of your dining room table before you buy chairs to make sure they're not too low or too high.
Solution: Hidden Storage
Invest in stylish storage baskets on a bookcase or shelf to keep small objects in their proper spot, or add an armoire for extra hidden storage.
Solution: Create a Lived-In Look
Make your room's design eclectic — not like a showroom you can't live in. As you look around the room, you should see different pieces and accents that capture the eye and add interest.
Solution: Choose Your Own Style
Decorate in a style you'll love for a long time. Have fun with it, but be ready to recycle it when it goes out of style.
Solution: Buy Right-Sized Furniture
Follow these tips to avoid buying furniture that doesn't fit:
1. Draw a to scale floor plan or purchase a room design kit so you can find the best layout without moving heavy furniture.
2. Embrace "less is more", and don't try to put too much into any space.
3. Measure the room before buying furniture pieces, and you'll decrease the chances of making a mistake.
Solution: Choose Patterns Wisely
Choose a fun pattern for a wall or bold piece of furniture, but keep other pieces solid to avoid a busy design.
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Solution: A Rug That Touches All Furniture
Use measuring tape to create an outline to get a feeling of where you want the rug placed before purchasing the piece. A rug should always be connected to furniture to anchor the seating. For a successful furniture arrangement, place all the front feet of the furniture on the rug.
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Solution: Functional Lighting
Understand what kind of lighting you want in each space, paying attention to a room's function when determining proper lighting. For example, under-cabinet lighting is a great addition to a kitchen.
Solution: Hang Art at Eye Level
Eye level or about 60 inches is the optimal height for hanging art and mirrors. Look at the top of your door frames and if your pieces are big enough, they should just reach the top of the door frame. To hang artwork over a sofa, make sure the bottom edge is six inches above the top of the sofa.
Solution: Stylish Throws
Use a nice throw blanket that doesn't overpower the couch and accents rather than hides the piece. Keep it simple and sleek.
Solution: Hang Curtains High Up
A good rule of thumb is to hang curtains two inches above the frame of the window. Make the most of high ceilings by hanging them all the way up to the ceiling to make the room seem bigger. For a quick and simple look, add a Roman shade to block light and add an extra element to the space.
Solution: Paint a Wall
Try a paint color in the room to make sure you like it and that it works with the space. Live with it at various times of the day as a painted wall will appear different in the morning, afternoon and at night. If you don't like it, paint over it. Color is a great punctuation and doesn't have to be overbearing.
Mistake: Fake Flowers
This is a controversial topic, but fake flowers (and plants) are a mistake. They gather dust and don't bring life into your home like real flowers, which look and smell better. Fresh flowers are expensive, but there are other things you can do instead of buying them all the time.
Solution: Display a Refreshing Fruit Centerpiece
In addition to the occasional fresh flower centerpiece, place lemons or other fruit in a bowl for a punch of color. Or, use some dried natural material like curly willow or bamboo stalks for a fresh look.
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