Redecorating your home can feel exciting, but it can also feel overwhelming if you’re unsure where to start, especially since it’s such a big project. With numerous furniture styles, lighting fixtures, and wall art options to choose from, it can be challenging to determine what truly works in your space and what doesn’t. To help, we put together a list of 5 common interior design red flags and simple ways to fix them if they’re present in your home.
Too Many Competing Colours
Incorporating too many colours in one room can make your home feel chaotic and visually unbalanced. It can also make it harder to relax in certain rooms, since too much contrast can feel overwhelming and noisy. A brown couch, bright purple curtains, white tables, and green walls don’t work well together because they do not share a cohesive palette.
To fix this, start with three colours that complement each other, such as pale blue, creamy white, and light oak. From there, you can add small accents of other shades if you like, but it’s best to keep everything within the same overall theme.
All White Furniture and Decor
White itself is a great colour; it works beautifully on its own and pairs well with almost any other colour. However, an all-white home can feel sterile and lack warmth. White counters, tables, and cabinets can almost make your home feel more like a doctor’s office, leaving you feeling uncomfortable and unwelcome in your own home.
A simple fix is to incorporate other colours into your home gradually. Start small, like adding a piece of colourful wall art, swapping out white coffee table decor for vibrant items, or introducing colour with pillows and throw blankets. Once you feel ready, you can expand to larger elements, such as curtains, rugs, or even accent furniture, to bring warmth and personality to your space.
Overly Dark Rooms
Poor lighting not only looks unappealing, but it can also reduce productivity and increase fatigue. Working in dimly lit spaces can cause eye strain and make you feel stressed or uncomfortable. Overall, it doesn’t help create a space that feels warm and inviting.
Instead of solely relying on a dim overhead light, which can make a room feel smaller and dull. Try adding two or three additional small light sources or changing the bulb colour to brighten the space and make it feel more welcoming. Floor lamps, table lamps, sconces, and even candles can instantly transform a room’s atmosphere, making it feel warmer and cozier.
Following Every Trend
It can be tempting to follow every trend you see online to stay up-to-date, but doing so can make your home feel busy, chaotic, and lacking cohesion. Another downside is that you might incorporate trends you don’t even like, which can make your space feel less personal and cluttered as trends quickly come and go.
It’s better to reflect on what you truly like and the style you want in your home, rather than trying to follow what everyone else is doing. To start, stick to one main design theme as your foundation, then incorporate trending elements sparingly as accents to maintain a timeless and cohesive look throughout your home.
Wrong Rug Size and Placement
Choosing the wrong rug size or placement can really disrupt your space, making the rug look out of place or causing the room to feel smaller. One of the most common mistakes is choosing a rug that is too small for the room, which can make it seem like it’s floating in the space without any purpose or intention. It’s also important to remember that even if a rug is the perfect size, how you position it in relation to your furniture and decor matters too. Placing it in an awkward spot can make your room feel unbalanced.
When placed correctly, a rug can be a great way to bring colour and texture to your space while also providing comfort. You can place rugs fully under main pieces of furniture, like a couch or dining table, making sure a good portion peeks out on all sides. Alternatively, you can place it just under the front left of a bed or couch to anchor the area and help define the room.
Design with Intention
Decorating your home can be simple, with a little planning and attention to colour, lighting, and layout, your space can have both character and timeless charm. Whether you’re settling into a new home or just refreshing your current space, focusing on thoughtful design choices and decorating with intention will definitely help you create a home that feels welcoming and comfortable.
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