Design 101: Common Design Mistakes

It's Game Time! Try and pick out which photo demonstrates the do's and which the don'ts

#1 Picture Perfect

Don’t get me wrong, we all want a Living Room that is picture ready and beautiful all around! But please do not make the mistake of buying a complete look from any store. Spice it up and make it your own! Try to save and purchase that one must have item that you’re in love with. Mix in personal accents or vintage items that you love, to make it more timeless. Otherwise, you will fall tragically to trendy design which will be “out of style” in no time!

#2 We’re All Friends Here

Please do not push your furniture all up against the walls. People commonly forget about the “big picture”. Make sure all of your pieces work together, for example if you have an accent chair floating away from a sofa put a little accent table next to it to put a book or drink down on. Same thing goes for area rugs, the rule is to have at least the front legs of the sofa on the rug to make it look more cohesive.

#3 Good Lighting

Nothing is worse than a beautiful space with one overly bright overhead fixture washing light straight down on everything. This not only creates lots of shadows between the furniture which dull the space, but imagine what your face looks like in that type of lighting? Break the room into 3 sections and fill each “imaginary” level with light. If you have a small room with one large overhead light, try to add a floor lamp, and a small accent lamp to help spread the light around the room and better illuminate everything. Combine task lighting with ambient lighting, and even some accent lighting.

#4 Lost Artwork

Keep reminding yourself that everything in the room needs to work together, kind of like a team. For example if you want to hang 3 pictures over your sofa do not hang them so high that your neck hurts trying to look at them. If they are big enough hang them no more than 10” from the top of the sofa. If they are smaller hang them centered at eye height level. Unless you and all of your family are basketball players there is no reason to hang your artwork that close to the ceiling.

#5 Trust your Gut

I’m sure you won’t be shopping alone when picking out new furniture because it’s a big purchase. I get that, and totally understand, but please don’t let your girlfriend Becky pick out everything and talk you out of things YOU love. It’s good to get a second opinion, but remember who’s house you are buying the furniture for. Take friends and families advice with a grain of salt. If you are absolutely in love with that bright green velvet sofa and can’t imagine living without it. Ignore everyone and hash out the details of designing around the piece later!