Are you looking to refresh your home’s décor or maybe finally get around to just decorating in the first place? Decorating a home can be difficult (there’s a reason professional designers exist and are paid well), but with a little forethought and effort, you can make your home look amazing. Because a home should reflect its owner’s personality and style, it’s hard to give comprehensive tips on what to do, but one great way to figure out what to do is knowing what not to do. Here are some common mistakes people make when decorating their homes and tips on avoiding them.
Furniture Doesn’t Fit
Furniture is likely going to be the biggest item/items in a room, so you want to get it right. If a piece is too small, the room will feel empty. The natural inclination is to then try and fill the space, which can lead to unnecessary clutter. On the other side of the spectrum, furniture that is too big for a room will make it feel crowded and limit your ability to add other pieces. To avoid having furniture that doesn’t fit a room, be sure to measure before buying new furniture or placing it in a room. When measuring, account for doorways, stairs, hallways, HVAC vents and returns, and other room elements that will affect furniture arrangements. Take your time and be very thoughtful when it comes to purchasing furniture and where you place different furniture pieces.
Rooms Aren’t Cohesive
It is OK to mix and match styles within your home, but there is a fine line between a nice mixed-style home and a mishmash of styles that don’t work well together. The lack of cohesion often comes from the fact that most people work on one room at a time. You don’t have to do every room in your home at once, but before you start decorating the first room, visualize what you want in your home’s décor. Consider overall color schemes, the style or styles you want to incorporate, and the overall feel you want in your home. You may want to create a vision board or keep notes that you can come back to whenever you start on another room.
Too Impersonal
We all want our homes to have that wow factor and be magazine-worthy, but you also don’t want it to feel sterile and impersonal. Make sure your rooms have been personalized to fit your family. Accessorize with things that showcase your family and its personality.
Lacking Finishing Touches
Artwork, accessories, and window treatments may not seem as important as the big elements of a room, but when they are lacking, it is very noticeable. Once you tackle the big things, like furniture, paint colors, flooring, and so forth, take time to add the finishing touches that will pull a room together. Just be careful to not over accessorize because you don’t want a room to feel cluttered and overwhelming.
Ignoring Lighting
Lighting is a very important part of any room. From windows bringing into natural light to overhead fixtures and lamps, light can impact the way a room looks and feels. Pay attention to how much light you have in the room during all parts of the day, then adjust as needed. Make sure you are not relying on just one light source, which can lead to a room feeling dark and unflattering. Mix ambient, overhead, and task lighting throughout the room for the best overall results.
Area Rugs That Don’t Fit
Rugs are great for pulling a room together, but they have to be the right size or they become a distraction. The most common mistake is using rugs that are too small. A too-small rug can look like it is awkwardly floating in the middle of the floor and be a weird distraction rather than part of the overall décor. In general, if a rug cannot fit the room’s key furniture pieces, it is too small. A dining room rug should fit the table and all its chairs. In the living room, all furniture pieces should be on the rug or touching it (for example, the front legs of the sofa on it), and in the bedroom, the rug should create a comfortable walkway all around the bed. Measure ahead of time to ensure you have the right sized rug for your space and furniture.
Artwork Hung Too High
One common mistake by those decorating their homes is hanging artwork too high on the wall. The general rule is to hang artwork at eye level, but everyone’s eye level is a bit different, so you may need to experiment a bit. A great way to do that is to use removable hooks initially and wait a few weeks before permanently hanging the artwork. This will allow you to see the artwork in different lights and over a period of time to determine if it is the right spot for it.
Sacrificing Comfort for Style
Yes, we all want our rooms to look great, but don’t forget that you actually need to live in the room, too. Always think about how you are going to use pieces before buying them, and with furniture, be sure to try it out first. Sit in sofas and chairs to make sure you will be comfortable in them. A great-looking room you can’t use is worse than an outdated or undecorated room.
Looking for your dream home? Liberty Homes has been building new homes in Utah for nearly 30 years. We take pride in our trade, crafting each home as if it were our own. Our quality, affordable homes are energy smart and thoughtfully personalized for your active Utah lifestyle. We currently have townhomes available in Salt Lake County. Contact us today to get started building your new home.
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