It has happened to everyone who has decorated a room. You put in tons of sweat, tears, and blood (not to mention cash) to create a room with the perfect color scheme, furniture, and window coverings - only to find that it lacks that certain something.
A Common Design Flaw Could Be The Culprit.
But don't give up hope. For every design flaw, there is a lesson to be learned and an even better home design to be achieved. That's why we've rounded up some of the
worst home design mistakes and creative ways to fix them.
Design Mistake # 1: Poor Lighting
Let's face it - it doesn't matter how trendy your color scheme is, how modern your furniture is, if you can't see it (or if the lighting is so bad it changes the look), you can't appreciate it.
How to fix it:
First, make sure your most valuable light fixture (sun) gets through. Efficient window coverings that combine fashion and functionality are of utmost importance to this solution. This is where any shades or blinds you can use to control incoming light help: sheer shades with adjustable horizontal or vertical vanes are a solution. Plantation shutters also provide a classic look with the ability to regulate the light passing through them.
Never try to limit a room to a single light source. Add floor lamps and table lamps, even if there is a ceiling light. Not only does this give you more resources to light up the room, it also gives you more options for changing the mood as you can play around with the number of lights you have on at the same time.
Design mistake # 2: Looking Up to Your Art
For some reasons, a lot of people try to balance a room by placing their wall art on top of their furniture. Rather than leveling the space, the pieces appear to “float” creating an unorganized effect rather than a “connected” effect.
How to fix it:
Wall decors should relate to the furniture underneath them. Some designers suggest that there should be 66"-72" from the floor to the top of the artwork or pictures hanging on the wall. Of course, there are exceptions for larger rooms, but it's a good rule of thumb to keep your wall decor from floating away.
Design Mistake # 3: Everything Matches!
While we don't suggest conflicting colors and furnishings, too much of a match can actually be a design nightmare. If everything is exactly the same, the viewer's attention will not be drawn to anything in particular, and that can make the room look dull. Since nothing is standing out to break up the monotony, a completely matching room can actually look cluttered.
How to fix it:
Coordinate, do not duplicate. When choosing accessories, furniture, and colors, choose items that fit well but are not repetitive. Objects of the same color family, but not exactly the same color or pattern, work best.
No plans to replace that matching set of furniture? No problem! You can neutralize extreme matching by changing the colors! You can make the patterns softer or more uniform by choosing a different wall color.
Design Mistake # 4: Picking Quantity over Quality
This is, by far, one of the worst home design mistakes and often leads to over-decorating, too many accessories, and too many ornaments. It works for against a room's uniform look, as each room is overcrowded with small accessories and picture frames. In moderation, these accessories accent a room, but their overuse can make the space feel narrow, cramped, and secluded.
How to fix it:
Buy what you like and buy just because you like it, not because it's on sale. (Admit it, we've all done it) And if you can't afford that gorgeous tall wall art just yet, don't buy small candle holders and photo frames instead. Wait and save! Your room decor will thank you for it.
Suppose you have a collection of ornaments and small items that you like. They really capture your personal style. You can always have the quantity and the quality. Organize your favorite home decor outfits by grouping smaller items for a more uniform look. And remember: you don't have to see all the accessories you own at the same time. Show one group at a time and you'll have plenty of options to refresh your decor anytime of the year!
Design Mistake # 5: I Just Want to Get it Done!
Home design takes time, exploration, and research, but all too often people make decisions too quickly without testing the possibilities or exploring different options. This can result in paint colors that don't look good (they can often look different in your home's natural lighting) or worse, ignoring your personal style to get it done.
How to fix it:
Test, research and explore! And when you've done all of that, listen to your gut! Home decor websites are a great place to start your research. Several online tools can help you, such as
theeditof.com,to get the best home design décor advice.
Ultimately, your home decorating choices is up to you. These guidelines can help you achieve the look you are going for, but remember to trust your instincts - there truly is an interior designer within all of us.