We all want our homes to give off a warm, welcoming, and stylish vibe. However, redecorating doesn’t always go as planned because even the best ideas can result in frustrating mistakes. The color you ordered may not resemble the one you saw online. Or the trendy furniture you picked isn’t just complementing the other pieces in your space.
While decorating your home is exciting, it’s easy for the result to disappoint without a clear plan in place. Small decisions, such as choosing a color, selecting lighting options, and determining where to place your pieces, can significantly impact the look and feel of your rooms.
This article breaks down the most common decorating mistakes people make and explores innovative ways to avoid them. Whether you’re moving into a new home or redecorating your current space, making informed decisions can help you create a home that suits your style and lifestyle.
5 common mistakes when redecorating your home (and what to do instead)
1. Rushing without a plan
When inspiration strikes, it’s easy to head out and get new pieces or a color palette for your room. More often than not, jumping into the redecorating bandwagon without a clear plan leads to clashing or uninspiring colors, mismatched furniture, and regretful purchases that take away more than they add.
For example, decorating experts have seen homeowners buy sofas or beds that are too big (or too small) for a room. Others buy excellent pieces and choose regal colors or wallpapers without considering the overall aesthetic. The result? A room that looks disjointed, crowded, or just feels “off.”
Planning is the most essential step in decorating. Start with a mood board or folder with images that reflect your ideas. Measure your space and sketch a simple layout. Lastly, plan your room according to its function: is it a space for entertainment, relaxation, or work? This helps you stay focused, avoid impulse buying, and create a space that fits its intended purpose.
2. Ignoring lighting
Lighting fixtures can add a pleasant ambiance to your space, but they’re often overlooked. Many people choose furniture and color without considering how artificial and natural lighting will affect their home. Colors that appear soft and cozy in a store or magazine may seem dull at home, depending on your lighting fixtures.
Another common lighting mistake is relying on just one overhead light. Poor lighting creates dark corners and increases eye strain, especially in rooms intended for reading, working, or cooking.
To avoid these interior design mistakes, pay attention to how much natural light your room gets at different times. If possible, choose fabrics and colors in the actual room (or a similar one) to avoid surprises. As for lighting fixtures, experts recommend layering them for optimal effect. Instead of having a single overhead light, you can combine it with table lamps, floor lamps, chandeliers in the kitchen, and even wall sconces. There are different ways to incorporate lighting fixtures, and don’t forget to use warm bulbs and dimmers for flexibility and mood.
3. Getting scale wrong
You’ve probably entered a room and immediately thought something was wrong, even if you can’t point it out. Sometimes, it’s because someone has furniture and other pieces that don’t match the room’s scale. Tiny or oversized rugs under the table, massive sofas in a small living room, or bulky pieces that cramp the room or throw it out of balance.
You may be tempted to push your furniture against the walls to create more space, but this may also make the space empty in the middle. Even conversations feel distant with such interior design.
You can get the scale right by thinking of your room in terms of proportions. The furniture you choose should fit your room and allow enough space to walk around comfortably. For instance, in smaller rooms, go for slimmer profiles or multipurpose pieces. Also, use area rugs to define seating areas and “float” furniture slightly away from the walls to create the illusion of space. A balanced layout looks more welcoming than an overcrowded one.
4. Choosing style over comfort
One of the biggest regrets most expert decorators have heard is from people who fell for the latest decorating fad only to be discontented a few months down the line when its novelty faded. It’s easy to fall in love with something that looks amazing online or fits the latest trend. But many people have ended up with beautiful rooms that nobody wants to spend time in. It could be a seat that’s too stiff to endure for more than five minutes or a crowded mix of trendy pieces that feel claustrophobic. Trendy things, when not thought through, can become an expensive regret.
According to Margarita Bravo, when buying major pieces, consider their functionality. Try the furniture out in person or check out its reviews online. Choose materials that suit your lifestyle; for example, washable fabrics are ideal for families with pets. Ultimately, it’s essential to blend form and function so that the room feels as good as it looks.
Also, if you’ve noticed a notable trend, consider buying the cheaper pieces first to get a feel for it before moving on to the more expensive ones.
5. Forgetting personal touches
This is closely related to choosing style over comfort because a room without a personalized touch can feel cold and incomplete. This happens when you copy layouts from showrooms or decor inspiration websites without adding elements that showcase your style. The result? A copy-and-paste stylish place that doesn’t feel like home.
Your home shouldn’t feel generic or staged. So, blend in pieces that reflect your personality, such as family photos, travel mementos, personal artwork, or favorite books. Even a vintage piece that has been passed down through generations can bring character and warmth. Remember, DIY home decor doesn’t need to be shouting; it just needs to be real.
Conclusion: Redecorate with intent
Redecorating your home doesn’t have to be perfect to feel right. Even seasoned interior designers and decorators make mistakes. However, it’s easy to make these home styling mistakes worse when trying to keep up with trends or struggling to stretch a budget. To avoid common decorating pitfalls, you need a little planning, attention to scale and proportions, and a focus on comfort and personality.
Whether you’re working with a small budget or a small room, the main decorating goal is to make your place feel like home. Redecorating doesn’t have to cost a fortune, and some of the best decorating ideas are the simplest ones, like rearranging furniture, adding soft lighting, or framing a favorite memory. When you decorate with intent, you’ll love the results even more.
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