It doesn’t matter if you’re moving into a new place, some of your old furniture looks used or you’re simply bored with the current decor of your surroundings – most people love to decorate. Where we live and whether we like it, it actually affects our general well-being, so if you feel the need, it’s good and healthy to freshen it up a little bit from time to time. However, in order to achieve satisfaction and not to regret anything, there are certain things that you have to bear in mind. These are some of the most common
mistakes that you should avoid while decorating:
- Choosing appliances at the very end. It’s much easier to choose cabinets, countertops, and shelves to fit your appliances than the other way around, especially that when it comes to things like refrigerator, you have to put usability and features first. So get a Gas Safe engineer to install a stove, pick a fridge, get a dishwasher – and then start decorating.
- Painting without testing the color first. It probably seems tiring, but it will save you time, money and disappointment. Sometimes the color may look nice in the store, but then, it appears to be completely different on your walls because of the light, space, lights, furniture, different time of the day, etc. For
example, greys very often look bluer on the wall than they did in the store so if you want a real grey, try various shades. - Choosing the paint first. Paints come in a variety of colors and shades and there’s no trouble in changing it, so it’s better to start with more expensive things- like furniture and appliances – and decorate around them.
- Forgetting about the hallway. People don’t really think about it, mostly because you don’t spend any time in there – you’re only passing through. But it’s the first thing everybody sees when they come to you. Try to make it welcoming so that your guests feel comfortable and at ease. And make sure it fits the style of
the rest of the house. - Pushing the furniture up against the wall. It never looks good when all of the pieces are by the walls and there’s an empty space in the center of the room. What’s more – it’s not really working in daily life either. In a living room, for example, try putting the table in the middle, then place the couch and armchairs around it to create a cozy gathering spot.
- Hanging artwork too high. Whether it’s a big drawing that your son, niece or godson gave you, a piece of art by a famous painter or a simple decorative picture, you ought to always follow the rule of the thumb – it means that they should always be hung at the eye level (with the centre of it at the eye level, to be precise). You should be able to look at it comfortably.
- Forgetting about the light. The most important thing is to rely on the natural light as much as you can – it’s the best kind. So don’t cover your windows with blinds and heavy curtains; make use of the sun that’s coming through them instead. Apart from that, plan your lighting carefully. Don’t stop at this one overhead light in your living room – the light is your friend so experiment with smaller lamps around the place. Make sure there’s no situation when you feel like you lack it. And hang your chandelier properly – if it’s too low, it will overwhelm the whole space, but if it’s too high, you will light up your ceiling instead of the room.
- Cluttering. It’s one of the biggest decorating sins. Don’t buy absolutely anything that you like; don’t even buy rarely unless you really thought it through. Make sure that everything fits. You don’t have to suddenly become a minimalist, but stay reasonable. You don’t want your house to look messy and disorganized after you’ve just cleaned it. Be consistent and don’t buy a thing only because you like it- think if it matches your decor first.
Now that you know what to avoid, you can start decorating. Make sure you don’t listen to any third parties and don’t try following too many trends – the most important thing is for you to actually like your home. It’s you who will spend days and nights in there so you should feel comfortable. And remember to put usability first – pretty things aren’t so pretty anymore when you struggle with them all the time. Comfort over style. Always.
