When moving into a new home, there are lots of things to consider. After the maintenance and closing checklists are out of the way, homeowners are graced with the task of bringing in furniture and decor to complete their home. In a previous post, we talked about helpful decorating ideas, but it is also important to note that there are decorating mistakes to avoid when making your house a home. Below we'll cover the 10 home decor mistakes you want to avoid.
It's easy to get lost in the paint swatch section at your local hardware store. With the endless color options it can be daunting, especially if you have no idea what color you're looking for. Oftentimes people end up buying a color that they like in store and get home to paint it, realizing that it doesn't suit the room. If you've already invested in a full room's worth of color and are halfway through painting, it can be discouraging to stop and find another option to use. Buy a few test colors and paint them on your wall, letting them sit for at least a few days. That way you'll be able to see how each reacts with the lighting of the room.
Many people think that painting a room should be the first thing that needs to be done, however this isn't always the best option. When styling a room, take the time to assess what pieces are most important to you for the space. Starting with one piece of furniture or even something small such as your favorite painting that you know belongs in the room is the easiest place to begin. Once you have an item that you know is going to for within the space, you can work your paint color choices, furniture, and accents around that.
When we move into a new place, we want to automatically start filling our space with furniture and get rooms finished as soon as possible. However, rushing into decorating your home can be overwhelming, and lead you to purchase things you don't actually want, just to fulfill a goal. It's better to start with an empty room and slowly add decor and items that you feel fit the space. Decorating homes can be tricky, and certainly won't come together overnight.
When transitioning homes, clean out the things you know won't be useful for your new house. If you find that you still have items that you can't part ways with, but not exactly sure where they'll fit yet, store them away in some handy storage containers until you find a use for them. This way you'll be able to revisit your stored items at a later date and decide if you want to utilize them once you're more settled into your home, or part ways.
Your new home is a fresh challenge, the layout and size of rooms will be totally different. Your decor taste has probably changed along the way as well, and may not cater to the furniture you still have. It's understandable to keep your old furniture around while you're still getting adjusted to your new space! However, when you're decorating for your dream home, know when it's time to invest in a new couch that's more suited to your needs. It probably took months of planning and looking for your new house, why should you decide what decor you need in a day? You'll want to toss the old furniture out and bring in the new!
Buying a home is one of the biggest investments you'll make in your lifetime. Unless you're building from scratch, there are probably going to be elements of the space that you're not a huge fan of. While it's understandable wanting to jump into completing your home and making the necessary adjustments, hold off. According to a 2017 report from Houzz, buyers who recently purchased homes spent an average of $25,000 on renovations alone. Many end up going over budget due to unexpected costs and issues.
While renovating your home can be exciting, settling in for a while and seeing what you really want to change is recommended. Something that you originally thought needed an overhaul may be able to be worked out with simple, inexpensive adjustments. Taking the time to get a feel for your home and playing around with simple DIY projects can help you figure out where you want to spend more money on hefty renovations in the future. Patience is key!
If you find yourself committing these decorating mistakes, try to limit the accessories to items that you find truly significant. As the saying goes, less is more, and the way you decorate your home is no exception.
It’s normal to want to hold on to every piece of memorabilia that you have, but it’s important to remember that there’s a place for everything. Not everything has to sit on your shelf space. Every interior designer will tell you to be thoughtful as to which items you fill your shelf with. Keeping your shelf free from clutter will help bring out the furniture in your room and keep it from looking like chaotic mess. If you need help decluttering, look no further! We've got the perfect decluttering guide to help you keep those shelves looking friendly and inviting rather than messy and an eyesore.
We’ve talked about the importance of measuring your furniture and briefly mentioned rugs, however, we feel this is one of the most common decorating mistakes that can occur. When selecting a rug for your home, think about which room it’ll be used for. A common home decor mistake is undersizing and oversizing the rug you get for your room.
Dining room rugs should be able to fit under the dining table and its chairs. In the living room it should comfortably fit the seating area, like a couch, and a coffee table. For your bedroom, it should be just enough to fit the bed, but not so much to the nightstands.
If your goal is to have a brightly lit room throughout the day, then you shouldn’t rely solely on overhead lighting. To keep your room lit nicely, you’ll need to look towards accent lighting and ambient lighting. Invest in some floor and table lamps to create a room with layered lighting rather than flat lighting. The proper lighting will make your room feel spacious and comfortable.
When you start arranging the furniture in your home, it’s important to know the measurements of every piece. Likewise, it’s equally important to know the measurements of each room so that you know exactly which items you have will fit in which room. This is especially important when bringing new pieces of furniture into your home.
Some of the things you need to consider are doorways, halls, stairs, and corners of the home. The last thing you want to do is purchase a large new rug that doesn’t seem to fit in any of the rooms in your home.
Using paintings and artwork on the walls is a fantastic way to decorate your home. A common home decor mistake is hanging your artwork too high, too low or in a space hidden away. When deciding where to hang your artwork, consider placing it in an area of the room that is well lit, not overcrowded and at eye level. Hanging your artwork at around eye level makes for a more natural feel when you or your guests walk into the room. This can be different for everyone, so use your discretion with that one.
Probably the biggest home decor mistake you can make is opting for style over comfort. You shouldn’t try to recreate the latest home décor trend you see on social media if it means living in a space that looks great by feels awkward to live in. The space you decorate should be first and foremost a comfortable space for your and your family. When purchasing furniture pieces for your home, one thing you need to do is decide how you would use it and if it would be comfortable for your home.
Being a new homeowner is exciting, and also a lot of work. While there are things that need to be figured out sooner rather than later, giving you and your partner time to establish yourselves in your new pad will lead to ideas that will create a happier space long term. If you avoid these 10 home decor mistakes, you'll find decorating your home will an easier and stress-free process.
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