No one is safe from committing interior design mistakes. Even the most seasoned of decorators can fall victim to this every now and then. But, knowledge is power! And when you know the most common mistakes, you are least likely to make them.
About Home lists a dozen of the most common decorating mistakes and how you can avoid them:
Rugs that are too small
An area rug should fit under all key furniture pieces in a room and there should at least be 10"-20" space between the edge of the rug and the wall.
Matching everything
Who still digs matched sets? The trick now is finding different pieces that complement each other rather than match.
Too much stuff
Ever heard of one-in-one-out rule? Editing is one of the most important elements of decorating. The beauty of your furniture and accessories can be showcased if they have space to breathe, so don't try to cram too many things together.
Not enough stuff
An empty room is a boring room. Ideally, there should be sufficient seating, places to set down drinks, and a few things on the wall for people to look at. It's also good to have accessories here and there; they are what give rooms spirit.
One stop shopping
Don't get too overwhelmed and buy all your stuff in one store. Your home should tell the story of your life, so items that were collected over timel give your place character.
Ignoring scale and proportion
Balance is everything. While it's important to have variations in terms of shapes, sizes and heights, the pieces need to work together. For instance, placing dainty side chairs alongside a giant sofa is unbalanced. So when looking for furniture and accessories, keep in mind that the pieces should speak to each other.
Too formal
A lovely home is one that feels inviting and not intimidating. So avoid making your home feel like a museum when guests walk in.
Uncomfortable furniture
Chairs and sofas are meant to be used, so if they are uncomfortable, why bother? Art is for gazing upon; sofas and chairs are for sitting.
Hanging artwork too high
Art pieces should be hung around eye level. If you end up getting a stiff neck after looking at paintings, then they are too high.
Keeping things you don't like
If you don't like it, toss it. It's easier said than done; but if a piece doesn't bring you joy, it's just taking up space for a piece that you would actually love.
Pushing furniture against the walls
You can create cozy conversation areas by pulling furniture away from the walls.
Being a slave to trends
You don't always have to change-up your space every time a new trend comes up. And if you would, make sure it's not a big commitment. Decorating trends are only good when they're easy and inexpensive to change.
