Decorating our homes is a lot of fun, but it's not without its challenges, and sometimes we get so caught up in the excitement of it all that we make a classic mistake. There's certainly no shame in these common errors, even the professionals make them, but they also know exactly how to fix them, and today we're going to show you how. Whether you're designing your new home or simply redecorating, you're going to want to be aware of these traps, as they can completely undo all of your good work in no time at all.
These 25 common errors can be anything from the way you arrange your furniture, to the colour palette you use, to the way you choose accessories, in fact there's decorating traps everywhere, but with a little bit of know-how you can be certain you'll never fall into one again. So let's get into it, and arm ourselves with the knowledge of our fantastic homify professionals!
Fake flowers attract dust, and get grimy quickly, while fresh flowers will purify the air, and keep your home smelling fresh.
While we certainly love pillows, and it can feel luxurious to have a few more than you need, ultimately they are just going to get thrown on the floor every night, so don't go too overboard!
Packing your living room with ornaments will make it feel cluttered and musty rather than giving it the quaint and comfortable look you may have been going for, so keep it tasteful.
Monochromatic colour palettes can look trendy and modern, but don't be afraid to inject the decor with a little bit of colour, it looks great, and will really liven things up.
Windows need to be dressed up a little, so remember to include some nice curtains or blinds, and give them the attention they deserve!
We tend to position all of our furniture in corners or against walls, but try experimenting with layouts, you'd be surprised at how effective an unorthodox arrangement can be.
You're going to spend a lot of time lazing about on your sofa, which also means it's probably going to see some spills and stains. Make sure that your sofa is easy to clean, or invest in a cover that you can throw in the washing machine.
People tend not to look above eye level, so if you've carefully chosen some artwork or photos to display, don't hang them too high.
Choose bright sparkling lights that will really illuminate the room to keep your home warm and inviting.
It's always a good idea to anchor rugs beneath some furniture rather than leaving them floating aimlessly in the middle of the room.
Fun exotic patterns can look great, but they can also overwhelm a room, so if in doubt err on the side of simplicity.
Be careful about the size of the furniture you choose, if it is out of proportion with the room it will make it feel cramped and claustrophobic.
It can be tempting to blow your budget on large pieces of furniture, but it's far more tasteful to keep the more lavish purchases to accessories and ornaments.
Too much matching furniture will make your home feel like a showroom or brand catalogue, so remember to mix things up a little!
Guests at your dinner parties shouldn't be distracted by their uncomfortable chairs, so make sure you try out all of your dining room furniture before you buy it.
You want to feel comfortable in your own home, so don't go too formal with your decor or you'll feel like you live in an office.
It can be a difficult task, but sometimes it's important to go through your home and discard all the ornaments and accessories that you don't feel personally attached too. You're the one who decides what works in your home, so don't feel pressured into displaying ornaments you don't like!
You don't have to keep all of your furniture in its original state, and anyway, refurbishing old pieces is a really fun project for the whole family.
Your decor should be elegant and impactful, anything too over the top will be a short lived novelty you're sure to get over.
The hallway is generally the first thing you encounter when you walk into your house, so decorate it with the same dedication as you would the rest of your home!
Exposed cables are one of those little details that can have a huge impact and cheapen the aesthetic of your home. If you're not sure how to go about it get an expert in to make sure all cables are tucked away and out of sight.
Here at homify we love a good gallery wall, but if you're cramming them in you'll ruin the overall effect. Choose only your absolute favourites, and make sure that each picture has enough space to be properly appreciated.
Unfortunately pedestal rugs have not aged well, so if you want a rug in the bathroom opt for a normal one.
Don't assume that you're working with a flat surface, you'd be surprised at how many floors aren't quite level, so if you notice anything rocking or off balance it may need some adjusting.
It's important that you can actually get around your home, and that guests aren't climbing over furniture. Measure up your room, and the furniture you intend to put in it, and then plan the arrangement with plenty of space between every item for foot traffic.
We're sure everyone's fallen into at least one of these traps, but those days are officially over! For more great home tips check out this article on making small rooms feel bigger.