10 home decorating mistakes that ruin designs

When decorating your home, there are so many options for styling and decor, it can be all too easy to go overboard. Creating the aesthetic you want and making the most of the space you have involves numerous decisions, from choosing individual pieces of furniture to overall themes.

It can be hard to get the balance right, and there are some common mistakes to avoid when styling your home.

Rushing to style your home

Getting your home exactly as you want it takes time. It’s important to carefully think through the style you’re after and the items you want to bring into your home before you go shopping.

Never be in a rush to decorate your home. You’ll more likely end up with pieces you don’t love.

Take the time to find the perfect piece. A designer rug or couch is an investment that you’ll have for years, so make sure you take the time to find a style you love and will continue to love for years to come.

Following every trend

Don’t follow every trend. Worrying about keeping up with the latest trends will have you constantly updating your home. This could result in having things in your home that you don’t actually like, or that don’t suit the space and design of your home.

Exploring trends can be a quick and easy way to inject different style elements into your home, but it’s important to be selective. Identify colours, fabrics and styles that appeal to you.

Following every trend can quickly become expensive and wasteful. Looking at more timeless pieces, from Persian rugs to well-made wooden furniture, that will last and look good, no matter what’s in style.

Follow your preferences to ensure your home is filled with things you love. While you may want your home to be stylish, it should also reflect your personality.

Not considering the overall style

While it can be tempting to pick up bits and pieces for your home as you see them, it’s important to consider how each addition fits with your overall style. Ask yourself what room they’ll go in, what decor is already in that room and how will this new item fit in.

Choosing bigger pieces such as couches, coffee tables and rugs first can help set the tone of the overall space, and then anything you pick up along the way can be influenced by the existing decor style you’ve chosen.

Having a clear theme in mind when decorating a room can help create a more stylish space.

Too much stuff

While of course, you want to have the essential pieces of furniture and decor in your home, you don’t want to overdo it with too much clutter.

There is such a thing as too much furniture or too many accent pieces. It can result in the space looking rushed. By incorporating some white space, you will be able to better appreciate the individual pieces in your home.

Maintain balance by having one centrepiece to start with and having all your other pieces work around it. If you get to a point where you can’t distinguish your centrepiece, you’ve likely got too much going on in the room.

Too much stuff can disrupt the overall flow of a room, so carefully consider each item you bring into your home, and donate anything that no longer serves its purpose or no longer fits in with your home.

Not working with the layout

Every home is different, so even if you find some decorating inspiration, you need to take into account the layout of your home and how certain furniture and decor will work within your home.

You don’t want to waste money by buying furniture that doesn’t fit. Measure each room before you start looking at furniture and decor to ensure it will fit nicely in the space.

Consider your floor plan and what type of furniture will work within the layout, without blocking doorways or walkthroughs. You don’t want to feel like you’re going through an obstacle course every time you enter a room. It should feel easy to walk into the space. There should be no need for manoeuvring.

Making everything match

There’s nothing wrong with having a theme, it’s generally recommended, but that doesn’t mean everything in your home has to match. Having everything in your home match perfectly can make a space feel too styled and lacking in personality.

Try not to buy all your furniture and decor from the same place, to avoid your home looking like something out of a catalogue. If you’re on a tight budget it can be tempting to buy matching furniture sets, but mixing colours, textures and styles will make your home feel unique and add character.

Dhurrie rugs and soft furnishings can be a great way to add a variety of colours and textures, while still complementing the existing decor.

The wrong size rug

A rug can have a significant impact on the style of a room, whether it’s to tie everything together, create separate areas or to act as the focal point.

Area rugs are an important element of home design. There are almost endless options for colours, patterns and styles, but choosing the right size rug is crucial.

If you’ve got a large space to cover, the bigger the rug the better. Choosing a rug that is too small can make a room feel empty and unfinished.

When choosing a designer rug make sure you have accurate measurements first, so you know what will fit in the space you have. The right size rug will make your floor space look more stylish and complete.

Not having enough lighting

Lighting can have a great impact on the mood of a room. Don’t rely solely on one source of lighting, as overhead lights especially, can be quite harsh.

Some people only consider the functional use of lighting but it can be used as a decorating method as well. Layering lighting using floor lamps and table lamps adds style and additional lighting while creating softer lighting than overhead lights or lighten up an otherwise dark space.

While it’s always best to make the most of your natural lighting, use stylish lamps to help create a welcoming atmosphere.

All your furniture sitting against a wall

It may seem like the obvious solution to having all your large furniture sitting against the walls, but don’t be afraid to play around with the positioning of your furniture.

Pick one focal point in the room and then arrange everything else to work around that, whether it’s a fireplace or the TV.

If you have a large room, placing everything against the walls can make the space feel empty. Using a couch to act as a boundary can break up a room and create visual interest in an otherwise empty space. Rather than hiding them in the corner, use armchairs and side tables to create cosy spaces that feel more intimate and inviting. You can then use an area rug to tie everything together.

Holding onto heirlooms you don’t love

Family heirlooms often hold significant sentimental value and can be a great way to add unique elements to your home.

However, there’s no reason to have things in your home you don’t love, and that includes heirlooms.

While it can be hard to part with these special items, having something in your home that you don’t love or doesn’t fit with your chosen decor style will bother you every time your eye is drawn to it.

Don’t feel obligated to hold onto heirlooms if you don’t want them, but don’t throw them away. Ask other family members if they would like to have it or safely store it away to pass down to someone else who may one day cherish it. If you don’t want to give the item away, you could also look into getting it refinished to better suit your decor style.