1. Stop being afraid of color
Neutral palettes have been a trend for quite some time, and that has led to quite a bite of boring decor. By playing safe and sticking with neutral furnishings, walls and accessories, homeowners have created a wide range of uninteresting spaces. This doesn’t mean that you have to paint all the walls a vivid color and upholster everything in bright prints. Adding a single wall of an accent color can add a real punch to room, even when the rest of the decor is neutral. Don’t be afraid of adding color to a room — it adds punch. Incorporating color can take many forms: a colorful rug, a vibrant array of accessories, bold artwork or saturated textiles. Pick your favorite color and let it brighten a space in your home.
Credit: Studio McGee
Credit: Summer Thornton Design
2. Don’t Hang Pictures at the Wrong Height
Nothing bothers me more than to walk into a space where pictures are hung inappropriately. The majority of the time they are hung too high, leaving a big disconnect between what they are being hung atop and the picture itself. It seems so trivial, but even a piece of art hung a few inches too high can make a whole room feel “off.”
Credit: Apartment Therapy
If you drew an invisible line across the top third of your art, that should fall about 65-72” from the floor. That is roughly the average eye height of a small man or taller woman. I also look for another horizontal line to “follow” in the room. If a window height is similar to placement of the top of the art I will use that consistently throughout the room for continuity.
3. Adding Area Rugs that are too Small
An area rug that is too small is going to throw the design of an entire room off, and it can also make the room appear smaller than it is. A larger rug will anchor the space and offer unity for all the pieces within the space.
Credit: Marie Flanigan Design
4. Hanging Drapes too Low
Most people tend to hang curtains just above the window frame, which doesn’t do much to a home’s overall interior design. Instead, hang your curtains right up to the ceiling to heighten the space and make the windows appear larger. Make sure your curtains kiss the floor too, regardless of how wide and tall your windows are.
Another common mistake is not having the rod wide enough, on both sides of the window, so that your curtains are forced to be hanging partially in your window, blocking light and making the window look smaller (thus making your room feel smaller). Extend the rod at least 6-10″ on either side of the window frame (if you have the space) so that when the curtains are pushed totally open you can see almost all of the window.
5. Choosing the Paint Color Before Anything Else
Most interior designers agree that the paint color should not be the first thing you pick and settle on. Before you choose the color you want on your walls, get an idea of the color furniture and accent pieces you want. When you choose the paint color before you have the accents like area rugs, window treatments and upholstery picked, you’ll have a much harder time finding those things to complete the project. We recommend picking at least one inspiration piece, like an area rug or wallpaper pattern, and working around that.
