It happens to the best of us. Often, we get excited about decorating our homes and making it as personal as possible, buying things thinking they will look great and then discovering that they just wouldn’t work out. Even the simplest things can have an impact on the overall look of a room, and elements of design like color, scale, lighting and placement should be taken into consideration when decorating any space. Here are a few common design mistakes people make and some tips on how you can avoid them.

 

Bad Lighting

This aspect is most often the one overlooked during the decoration process. Lighting is critical to make your room more pleasing, and people tend to just have one light source for a room. While this may not seem like a bad thing, having just one overhead light source for a space may not be sufficient. Different types of lighting would have different purposes, and apart from a ceiling light a room also needs mid-level lighting for warmth and tasks like reading. 

 

Create ambience by layering light sources. Dimmers can go a long way towards helping to set the tone. Choosing soft white bulbs or warm lighting will also make the room feel more intimate versus harsh fluorescents or white lights.

 

Having Clutter

In decorating any room, it is much better to go by the rule that “less is more”. Having too much furniture, excessive accessories, or even furniture that’s the wrong size for any space would make any area look unpleasant. Conquering clutter is more than just staying organized. It is also about making sure that you strike a balance between your décor and the spatial needs of your room.

 

Start to conquer clutter by editing and auditing your current collections. It doesn’t mean you need to get rid of your favorite things. You can place them in storage and rotate the décor every now and then to reduce the chaos.

 

Not Taking Measurements

In any given time, you can’t just buy furniture and décor willy nilly. Before making any purchase, it is highly important to gather the dimensions of both your room and the pieces you’re planning to buy. This is especially true for large ones like tables, cabinets or even rugs.

 

Don’t rely on your eyes to take measurements. Take the time to measure all dimensions in the room, and use a blue painter’s tape to map out the initial layout. This is a good way to have a visual representation of the actual space you have to work with.

 

Following Trends

There’s nothing wrong with following design trends, and having a source of inspiration can be a good thing especially when you run out of ideas. But your home should speak to who you are! Simply copying design trends will just give you a room that might look pleasant, but would not have any personality or feeling whatsoever.

 

Ask yourself what you admire about the trend you like. Is it the colors, the style? Then adapt and adjust it to suit your personality and your needs.

 

No Focal Point

Every room needs a focal point: it offers a place for the eye to rest and defines the function of a room. A very common mistake is forgetting to give each room a purpose or point to focus on. Place furniture strategically to face your room’s focal point.

 

Don’t just scatter your furniture around. Find a focus or purpose for your room, like a piece of art, and place furnishings around it. Not only will it make a good conversation starter, it will also define the look of your room better.

 

Placing Furniture Against the Wall

This simple styling trap is one that designers often observe and one that people make the most frequently. However, this tends to make the room look more awkward and doesn’t really help to create more space.

 

A good way to arrange furniture is to try a conversational placement.  Create groupings where people can have intimate conversations and gatherings.