10 Common Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

10 Common Decorating Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Trio Images Family Room

Outfitting your home seems simple enough. Just find items that match the space, and soon enough, you’ll have a designer-approved home… right? Not exactly. Interior styling is about so much more than pretty objects. There is a method to the madness that matters more than we realize. In fact, many homeowners make simple mistakes that keep their space from fully coming together.

Whether you have furniture that doesn’t match the scale of the room or you are placing artwork at the wrong height, mistakes are easy to come by. Don’t worry, our team of designers are here to lay out the ten most common interior styling mistakes and their remedies. If you need more help, try our e interior design services.

 

1. Throwing Away the Scale

Farm House Living Room Decor

Size matters in design; don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. It would be best if you found furniture that fits the scale of the room. Having a rug too big for the room or a couch too small can throw off the entire space. Keep things flowing by matching the furniture to the room’s size. Then, you can build from there by adding in some different shaped and sized accessories.

 

2. Not Enough Light

Full Natural Light Living Room Interior Design

Leaving rooms dark can make them feel cramped and unwelcoming. Let the light into your home by emphasizing natural light and adding artificial when needed. If your room lacks sunlight, you can find unique lighting fixtures or add mirrors that reflect the light coming in through doors and windows.

 

3. Clutter, Clutter, Clutter

Nothing is worse than a room that feels overdone. Get rid of the excess by minimizing what’s currently in the space. First, decide which items are must-haves and what is extra. You can also re-arrange the room to give it a better overall flow. If you find it painful parting with certain items, maybe give them a new home in a different place. You can also optimize the style by working on your organization.

 

4. Artwork Hung Too High

Farm House Sitting Area

Another common mistake many homeowners make is hanging their artwork too high. Try fixing the pieces at eye-level rather than above it. You should also hang artwork in the spaces where you sit more often at a lower level than most. This tactic will make the artwork more attractive and eye-catching than before.

 

5. Too Matchy, Matchy

Sometimes we get caught up in a specific color that we go overboard. Just because you are going for a certain look doesn’t mean everything in your home needs to fit it exactly. If you love metallic, that doesn’t mean everything needs to be metallic. It would help if you mixed in other finishes for some juxtaposition. Plus, this helps your metallic items stand out from the rest.

 

6. Not Mixing Up Shapes

interior design mixing shapes & colors

Another problem our team often sees in our client’s homes is sticking to one shape rather than mixing in others. By combining shapes, you give the eye more to look at. Soften the angles of straight edges and rectangular objects with vases and other circular-shaped items. You can also add stacked books and trays to help anchor all of your accessories together.

 

7. Choosing the Wrong Centerpiece

The primary area homeowners choose the wrong centerpiece is in the living room. Rather than making the entire fireplace the focal point or the sitting area, many homeowners design around the television. By putting your TV at the forefront of your space, you may leave the space feeling bland and uninteresting, mix things up by adding it into your space instead of working around it.

 

8. Price Trumping Quality

high quality wooden desk & chair interior design

Yes, your budget is important, but that doesn’t mean you should sacrifice quality. Paying a little extra for pieces that will last five times longer is well worth the high price tag. A few of the items we try and save is in trendier pieces like pillows, smaller accessories, and other things you can switch out.

 

9. Style Over Comfort

Style should never come before comfort, especially when it comes to seating and sleeping. Of course, you want these big furniture items to look good, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t be comfortable. Find a happy medium than when it comes down to making a decision, pick the choice that makes you more at ease than the other.

 

10. Worrying About Other Opinions

Lake House Living Room and Decor

Your opinion matters more than other people’s when it comes to your home’s interior styling. Stop looking over your shoulder at what your neighbor or mother-in-law is saying. Focus on yourself and decorate as you wish. Of course, you can listen to their suggestions, but at the end of the day, what you think is the most essential piece of the puzzle.

 

The best way to avoid the woes of DIY interior design is by hiring a professional. At Miya Interiors, our designers are masters of their craft and will work with you to create the space of your dreams. Contact us today to get started!

Miya Interiors

Miya Interiors is the leading Utah-based firm specializing in full-scale commercial and residential interior design. Over the years, we have successfully collaborated with some of the most talented architects and builders to produce the highest quality custom design. Our specialty is designing a space where you’ll feel happiest and at peace, that’s both practical and uniquely beautiful, and that tells the story of who you are.