Last updated on May 20th, 2022
No matter how many hours you invest in browsing the internet and magazines to arrive at the right design for your home, bringing it to life isn’t as simple as it may appear. So, whether it’s the wrong height of the artwork, or the wonky-looking curtains, or even the all-too-small rug, it’s not rare for a room to have a ‘whoopsy-daisy’ element. But don’t you worry, we’ve got your back! With the help of our decor experts, you will be able to identify the common decor mistakes that you are making, and get your home in tip-top shape! Here are the 5 most common decor mistakes and a few thoughts on how to fix them.
1. The rug is too big or way too small
We all swear by this decor rule: Add a colorful rug to a dull room, and your problem is solved! While a rug is a go-to decor essential for any room, a wrong-sized rug can ruin your room, making the space appear somewhat off.
The Fix
Consider the size of your couch and plan for the rug accordingly. While choosing a rug, ensure that it reaches under all the key furniture pieces in the room. For instance, in a living room, most of the furniture pieces should rest over the rug. In case this isn’t possible, it’s alright to have the front legs of the major upholstered pieces on the rug even if the back legs aren’t.
2. The furniture placement is off
We totally get it: furniture placement is an overwhelming task! What goes where, what should be the distance between the pieces, so on and so forth.
The Fix
The distance between the sofa and the coffee table should be between 8-10 inches. The distance between a pair of chairs should ideally be between 4-12 inches. The amount of walkable space should fall between 24-36 inches. The sofas and chair should be at arm’s length from the side table or the coffee table.
3. There’s not enough lighting
We cannot overemphasize the importance of good lighting in your home. A beautifully lit room with layers of light feels warm and comfortable as opposed to a room with just one overhead task light.
The Fix
Don’t rely on one primary source of light. It will just make the room appear flat and boring! Instead, introduce layers of light, like table lamps, sconces, and floor lamps to create an environment that is soothing to the eyes.
4. The height of the curtains is just off
Curtains complete a room. Nothing makes a room feel sharp like carefully picked and hung curtains. However, many rooms are let down by their window dressing: hung too low or not low enough – the pitfalls are real.
The Fix
Hang curtains close to the ceiling line. This will help create the illusion of height and make a tiny window appear huge. In terms of the width, extend the curtains 5 inches past the outer edge of the window trim. This way you can see most of the windows when the curtains are open.
5. The furniture pieces are out of scale
So, you just bought a sofa only to realize that it doesn’t fit your space. Or worse, it can’t get past even the door. And, it goes both ways – even too small a piece can leave the space with an incomplete feeling.
The Fix
There’s no better way to decide on the scale of a particular piece than measuring the area, you intend to keep it in.
Happy fixing!
