Whether you’re purchasing your first home or you’re moving into a dorm for your first days of college, your living space reflects who you are. You can create a space that is relaxing and peaceful… or a space that makes you want to spend time away from home.
It all depends on how you maximize your decorating efforts. If you are able to avoid these common mistakes, you’ll find that decorating can be a lot of fun.
Mistake #1: Ignoring Flow and Scale
Draw out your room to scale. Make sure you know the exact measurements along each wall. That will make it easier to know if a sofa or a sectional will fit into the space. You will want enough room to allow for movement without obstruction. Restricting the flow of a room can even lead to safety issues.
Mistake #2: Neutral Colors
White and neutral colors might be versatile, but they are also quite boring. You won’t remember rooms that are bathed in gray or beige. If you are able to paint your walls, consider an accent wall in a bold color. Choose a dark red, a bright green, or even a turquoise to give the space a statement.
Mistake #3: Eyeballing It
You must use a palette when selecting the colors you want to have in your room. If you don’t have a plan for your colors, the room may begin to feel awkward and disjointed over time. Choose a palette that is flexible and loose to give yourself enough variety without going overboard.
Mistake #4: Hanging Problems
There are all sorts of hanging problems that you can create within a room if you’re not careful. Maybe your light fixtures are hanging too low. Perhaps your artwork is hanging too high. You’ll want to create some variety by hanging items at multiple heights, but you don’t want too much variety. You’ll also want to remember that a light fixture which hangs down too low could be a safety hazard.
Mistake #5: The One-Note Wonder
A room needs to be cohesive. It doesn’t need to be all the same color. If you walk into a bedroom with white walls, a white bedspread, a white hardboard, and a couple of wooden tables, you’re not creating a memorable space. When everything is of the same color tone or note, it becomes aesthetically boring. Add some color to the bedspread. Give yourself a couple of throw pillows. Put a colorful lamp into the room. These options will give that space some pop without a huge cost commitment.
Mistake #6: Small Rugs
If you have hardwood floors, you don’t need to have an area rug. Let’s just get that straight right now. For those who do like the idea of rugs, then make sure you’re purchasing the correct size. To choose the correct size for a rug, most rooms will need at least an 8’x10’ rug to accommodate your furniture.
Any space can look and feel like home. Avoid these mistakes and you’ll be able to create some amazing rooms!