5 Common Interior Mistakes (I’ve made)
People make interior decorating and design mistakes all the time, which is why of course you should hire a decorator to save you the hassle! But if you decide to go it alone, read this to learn about some common mistakes you could make and how to avoid them.
Choosing a paint color based on a catalog, magazine, website, or paint chip sample without trying it in your home first.
You MUST at the very least get the paint sample you think you want and other similar shades, take them home and stick them on every wall in the room at different times of the day. There are so many details to consider when choosing a paint color. Ideally get a poster board and paint it using a sample size of the paint and then stick it to the wall. Also put it next to white, not the current color of your walls. Better yet, hire someone to get this right for you the first time. Most designers have favorite colors they work with already and know which spaces they work best in.
2. Purchasing curtains that are too short or hanging your curtain rod too low to avoid buying longer curtains.
There are actually two problems in this photo. First of all, the curtain rod should be hung higher by a few inches actually making these curtains even shorter than they are in this photo. You should measure from where your curtain rod should be hung to the floor and then add a few more inches. It’s always better to buy them too long and hem them than too short.
Honestly, this is like highwaters for your windows. They deserve better.
This is how your curtains should hang. Again, a professional decorator will know exactly what will look perfect in your space. They know ways to make your windows appear larger and your ceilings appear taller. Window treatments not only serve the purpose of providing privacy and control lighting, they also add warmth, drama and character. It’s important to get it right.
3. Putting a rug that is too small in a room.
When in doubt, buy a larger rug than you think you might need in your space. If you are putting a rug in a living room, the front legs of all furniture should be on the rug. If the only thing that fits on top of your rug is your coffee table, your rug is way too small. That doesn’t mean you have to get rid of your rug though.
You can purchase another textured rug to layer it with. This could be a less expensive rug that is a solid color or a textured rug like seagrass and then a patterned rug layered on top.
A larger rug gives the space a cohesive look. This room with the too small rug would probably look better without a rug at all.
A rug in a bedroom is slightly different. It doesn’t need to go under all furniture, only at least half of the bed.
Enter…the boob light.
4. Putting a boob light in a room.
Ugh. I hate these. They are hideous, however it never fails builders use them all the time. Replace them. It’s not even a question. Your lighting is so important. People notice it and so do you. You are actually better off not having an overhead light at all rather than having this kind of light. It’s better to just use lamps to illuminate your space using a soft white bulb of course and a dimmer.
Lighting is like jewelry for your room. Replace that thing with one of these beauties!
5. Not adding patterns to your space.
This room with no patterns is minimalist and calming, but it’s also boring. It can be as simple as adding some patterned pillows, a patterned rug, a throw, or some artwork, but give it some life with pattern.
What else is wrong with this photo?
Yep, the rug is too small. Just seeing if you were paying attention!
The patterns in this room make it interesting and unique which is how you get the designer’s look. It’s the pattern on the headboard, the blanket on the bed, and the contrasting color of the lamp on the nightstand that makes your eye move around the room. It’s interesting. That’s what you want to create, however it can be really difficult to pull off if you don’t have the proper training or instinct on how to do this right.
I hope you learned some good things not to do when decorating. If you feel overwhelmed with decorating your home, contact us. We can help!