5 Interior Design Mistakes Almost Everyone Makes

Let’s be honest, when it comes to decorating there’s a lot more than placing a picture here and a plant there. From the colors to the furniture, to even the little accents you choose to finish your dream space. Knowing what not to do can be as useful or even more useful as knowing what you should be doing. Here are some helpful tips to avoid when taking on an interior design project. 

1. Do Not Choose a Small Area Rug

Postage stamp-size rugs are one of the most common decorating mistakes. A rug should be the focal point of the room, and a rug that’s too small makes it feel disjointed and can cheapen your entire look. On the other hand, the right-sized area rug will bring warmth and balance to the room, creating the perfect finishing touch. Here are a few helpful tips when adding your furniture next to the perfect sized rug: 

•  All of the furniture should be sitting on the rug

• If this isn't possible, the front legs of more solid pieces can be on the rug with the back two needn't be. 

• All four legs of smaller pieces should be on the rug.

  
  

2. Do Not Choose the Paint Color First 

This might sound a little crazy but never choose the paint color first. Choose your most expensive pieces first, then decorate around them. The great thing about paint is that it can be easily changed and it comes in literally thousands of colors! Why waste your time repainting and picking new colors when you can have your future picked out and ready for you! All you have to do is compliment the paint color to the furniture. 

3. Do Not Hang the Chandelier Too High

Hanging the chandelier at the right height is important for a multitude of reasons. If a chandelier is too low, you may bump into it, and if a chandelier is too high, it may not emit enough light. The point is to light up the room, not the ceiling. If it is hanging too low then you will be limiting the spread of light and creating your room to appear darker. The standard ceiling is eight feet tall. If a ceiling is taller, the rule of thumb is to increase the height of the chandelier by three inches for every extra foot.

4. Do not Push All the Furniture Against the Walls

It can be tempting to push all of your furniture up against the walls, but this can create dead space in the center of the room. Sometimes the room size can make this difficult, but try to pull furniture away from the walls to create more intimate conversation areas. There is nothing wrong with showing the backs of furniture pieces, as long as they're finished.  Pull your sofa or furniture pieces out at least 12 inches from the wall. This will make the space seem more inviting and cozy. 

5. Do Not Use too Many or Tiny Accident Pillows

While throw pillows are a great way to add decoration and pops of color to any room, there are some things to avoid. Do not use so many pillows that you have to move them all off of the couch, chair, or bed before you sit down. The simple way to remember this is that one is enough. Sometimes even having two throw pillows can crowd a chair, making them harder and less comfortable to sit on. It is also important that the throw pillows you use should relate to the pieces of furniture you've selected. A small pillow on a large chair looks busy and lost.

As you have read, there are a lot of common mistakes that can be easily made when it comes to interior design.

Fortunately, there are plenty of simple fixes to these mistakes—sometimes it's as simple as getting rid of a hand-me-down that you despise but feel forced to keep, while other times you may need to enlist the help and keen eye of a friend.

If all else fails and you are too frustrated with all of the decorating decisions and challenges, contact a professional interior designer—they are skilled and can help you accomplish your dream home—without all of the blunders.