Decorating your house is something that can make or break your home. Different colour schemes, carpets, furniture and materials are all essential to get right when figuring out how you want your home to look. In this article, we’ll be taking a look at common interior design mistakes which make your home look cheaper, so you can avoid them when planning to decorate your home.
Staying On Trend With Colours
The colour scheme you choose has a big impact on the atmosphere of your home. Darker colours can make your rooms look smaller, whereas lighter colours like white or light grey can open up your space and make it look larger.
Something to avoid, however, is a shabby paint job. Though it might take a bit more time to neaten up the edges, a crisp paint application can really elevate the finished result of your home. Another thing to avoid is clashing colours. Even natural light can't hide mistakes you make this way.
One common mistake is using shades that oppose each other can make the colours look different to how they actually are, such as cream and white being used close to one another. Pick colours that complement each other, or a neutral pallet to avoid possible conflict.
Choosing The Right Furniture
Choosing the furniture pieces you want to fill your home should be fun and a way to express your creativity. Finding pieces that fit together and use the space to your advantage is important to making your home feel comfortable and enjoyable to be in.
Using mismatched furniture or different materials, such as a dark wood and a lighter one, can look great when executed properly, but could also look cluttered and disorganised. Try to keep to one theme, such as all oak cabinets or sofas and chairs made out of the same fabrics.
Carpets can make a great addition to your living room or bedroom, making them feel warmer and cosier than a hardwood floor. If the latter option does appeal to you more though, using rugs to break up the floor space is a good idea. Make sure though that they’re the right size; too big or too small they can make your space look untidy. The proportions and scale of the items you choose to put in your home are one of the most important things.
The Temptation of Over-decorating
If you’re wanting to keep your home looking as neat as possible, a more minimalistic approach to decorating is the way to go. Filling your house with lots of patterns or an array of different decorations can be appealing to some, but may look tacky when done to an extreme. Lots of art or collectable items can be overwhelming to look at or be around. Too much pattern can be distracting or look too busy; sometimes too much is just too much.
Maybe try a ‘less is more’ approach to the overall attitude of your home, with a mainly uniformed background with some patterned accents and decoration to keep it from being uninteresting or dull. Another thing to keep in mind is themes.
If you want to show your love for cities or the seaside, making those themes the main focus of your house could make it look cheap or tacky. Instead, you could keep small reminders of your favourite things around the house, such as little trinkets, hanging art or other things which use your interests within the house, without it becoming the main focus of your decoration.
Light is also important. Ambient lighting in particular can brighten a small space. A rule of thumb is to use light to highlight a focal point in your living space. Have floor lamps to provide a softer, more relaxing light or make sure you have light sources in the day that show off everything with natural light.
However you decide to decorate your house, always remember it’s your home, to be decorated however you want, and with whatever makes you feel happy. Your home should be a place you feel safe and comfortable, so make sure your décor reflects that as much as possible!
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