Guest Blogger: 5 Decorating Mistakes to Avoid in your Home

Guest Blog Entry #38, Entry #377,  January 5, 2011

It seems that home decor ideas and inspiration are all around – from magazines, and television, to the internet. Still it seems when we decorate our homes there are common mistakes that are made. Often times we look at inspiration photos, but don’t take into account: how large our space is, the scale of our current furniture, or how high our ceilings are! Remember when using home inspiration, first assess the space you are working with and pick ideas, not necessarily the entire room.

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Image courtesy of Green & Company via Design Shuffle

Today I welcome Design Shuffle as today’s guest blogger. Design Shuffle is a social networking site for interior designers, architects, home decorators, or enthusiasts that just love interior design. It’s filled with tons of interior design ideas from top tier design talent around the world.

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We’ve all had those moments of “oh no” when it comes to interior decorating. Some are not easily fixed; some are easily fixed by spending a lot more money. While there are definitely more than five mistakes that are commonly made, these are ones that can be avoided with a little know-how from the interior design ideas and tips below.

Hanging draperies too low:

What good is a 10’ ceiling if everything is hung at 7’? It’s like wearing high water pants –you immediately know that something was skimped. Mount the rods or valances as high as possible, putting them right under the crown molding or up to the ceiling. Valances should cover the top of the window trim or the head rail of anything inside mounted, like a blind. By the same token, drapery panels that are not made full enough are a big faux pas. If custom made draperies are out of your price range, consider purchasing more than one ready-made panel and sew them together. You’ll love the lush look the fuller fabric provides.

The Noah’s Ark effect:

Using too many pairs of pairs in a room or adjoining spaces. A pair of sofas, a pair of lamps, a pair of chairs, a pair of tables…you get the picture. Use no more than three pairs and then step back. Mixing it up visually adds so much more panache.

Rugs that are too small are another common mistake:

They disconnect the furnishings and make everything look like it is floating. Rugs should be large enough that either all of the pieces sit atop, or all of the furniture should frame the rug and sit just off of it. You don’t want it to look too crowded either, as the purpose is to unify the space. Measure the room first and consider the space plan – rugs can be a costly mistake.

Artwork that is too high:

This one is a judgment call depending on the artwork and the ceiling height, but typically the horizontal center line should be comfortable to look at without having to bend down or look up. The average person is 5’7” and their eye should level at the top third or top half of the piece of art.

Furniture that is too short or too small for the space:

Ceiling heights are rising, and they call for taller pieces. Older sofas or chairs measure only about 28” to 30” tall and look wimpy in a room over 8’ tall. Plus, the backs are now too low for most to lounge in. Look for upholstery pieces that are 34” to 36” tall at a minimum. The back heights should also vary in order to add overall proportion – a 42” tall wing chair will offset a high mantle, for example.

Sometimes the most obvious mistakes are not apparent until after the project is done, but knowing the basic pitfalls can help you avoid them. Look at magazines, design books or sites for interior design ideas to see how the pros use scale and proportion to make a room sing.

Perfect carpet proportion (Living Room Design Idea Credit)

Content provided by Design Shuffle which is a social media site filled with interior design ideas from top tier design talent around the world. Best of all, registration is completely free.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.