How to Fix 5 MORE Decorating Mistakes

Decorating can be tricky but with the right knowledge, beautiful rooms can be created. We narrowed down 5 of the most common decorating mistakes in a previous blog post and it was so popular that we wanted to share more. Check out 5 more common decorating mistakes and how to solve them!

Not Making Your Home Cohesive

Does your home have an overall color scheme? Does the style flow seamlessly from room to room? A very common mistake we see is when each room in a home introduces a completely different vibe, color scheme and style. We aren’t saying every room needs to be exactly the same but every room needs to complement each other. Example: don’t use traditional furniture with warm colors in the majority of your home and then use modern furniture in bright, cool colors randomly in the next room. We highly recommend establishing an overall style and color scheme for your home, but remember that you can still keep it fun by adding in unexpected colors and contrasting styles in small doses to keep it interesting and fresh. The key is to have a cohesive base throughout the home to build upon!

Source: Lindsey Brooke Design

Matching Everything Perfectly

Have you ever walked into a big box furniture store and saw a staged room that had all matching furniture in the same wood stain and pillows and curtains in the same exact color and pattern? These aren’t necessarily terrible rooms but they aren’t great either. This is a very common decorating mistake we see and we know exactly why. It is because matching everything is easier than learning how to coordinate colors and patterns. Learning how to coordinate instead of match is 100% worth all the extra time and effort. Coordinating can be using different tones within the same color family instead of exact color matches. Coordinating can also be using a variety of textures, patterns and finishes in the same color family and knowing which colors pair well together. The goal is to create interest in a room by using a variety of coordinating items that look good together. Interior designers are very skilled in this department so you can get help if it gets too complicated!

Source: Tracy Lynn Studio

Avoiding The Small Things

You know when you spill something on a clean shirt and then everyone’s eyes are immediately drawn to the stain? This can happen in a home too but with home decor things when they are in the wrong place, broken, crooked or not taken care of properly and these are very common mistakes we see. Exposed cords are a great example of a small detail that people’s eyes are immediately drawn to if not placed properly. Fix it by hiding them behind baskets or taping them to the back of furniture. Crooked art is another small detail that is super noticeable but an easy fix. Use velcro or sticky tabs designed for frames to prevent it from moving on the wall. Allowing tags or labels to show is another easy fix. If you don’t need the information on the tag, cut it off or cover it up so it isn’t noticeable. These are just some of the small details that you might not think about in a room but they can make a bad statement if they never are addressed.

Source: Summer Thornton Design

Not Enough Light

Interior designer Benjamin Noriega-Ortiz said “Light is the magical ingredient that makes or breaks a space.” A big mistake we see is that rooms do not have enough lighting. There are 4 types of lighting that can be in a room: ambient, task, accent and natural. Most rooms need at least 3-4 of these kinds of light sources. Ambient lighting is all of your major lights including recessed, chandeliers, and large pendant lights. Task lighting includes table lamps, smaller pendants, under-cabinet lighting and floor lamps. Accent lighting highlights specific elements in a space like artwork, plants, bookshelves, etc. Natural lighting is the light that comes from windows and doors. Think about the lighting in each room in your home and determine whether or not you have sufficient lighting because (most of the time) 1 overhead light is not enough.

Source: Brown Design Group

Not Testing Paint Colors Or Fabrics

Did you know that a paint color can look different in different homes depending on lighting, flooring, finishes, etc? It is true. Don’t fall in love with a specific paint color you found on Pinterest and automatically decide to use it. TEST IT OUT FIRST. That same paint color can look totally different in your home. We suggest testing out at least 3 paint colors that are similar to the paint color you love to see which one looks best in your space. The same goes with fabric. If possible, grab a fabric sample of big furniture items (sofas, beds, chairs, etc.) and take them home to see how they flow in your home. Testing samples are an inexpensive approach to decorating that will greatly enhance the overall look of your home and 100% worth the wait and time it takes to order and test them.

Source: Chango & Co.