Let’s talk about 5 big decorating mistakes and ways to fix them! We all make them but the magic lies in how to correct them or how to avoid making mistakes in the first place. Here are 5 of the most common decorating mistakes we make and ways to fix them.
Undoing some decorating mistakes are easy but some are hard to correct without costing a good deal of money! Let’s just face that fact head on and move on! Right?
Today, I’m calling on both the StoneGable home and the Tanglewood home to give you examples! Both homes are “StoneGable-ed” as a friend recently said but they are unique in the colors I chose for each! I love that I can show examples using both of our most recent homes!
Ready to talk about 5 common but BIG decorating mistakes that you can avoid making? And if like me, you already have made these mistakes so I’ll show you how can fix them.
THE NUMBER ONE DECORATING MISTAKE… THE WRONG PAINT COLOR
Choosing the perfect paint color is not an easy task. But most of us know rather quickly if the paint color we have chosen is all wrong for a room.
THE MISTAKE…
I think choosing the wrong paint color is probably the most common mistake home decorators make. UGH!
And it can be both costly and
Here are my quick tips for avoiding this mistake…
- choose a color from inspiration you find in your room
lean about the anatomy of a paint strip- discover the importance of the tone, tint, and shade of a color
- know if the color you choose is warm or cool
- paint lots of strips of different paint on a wall you are thinking about painting
- note how the color strips on your wall react to sunlight and artificial lighting
- if the color on your wall is very dark or a bright color, paint the wall white before adding paint strips to the wall
THE EASY FIX…
Go see 6 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE PERFECT PAINT COLOR. This post expands on the tips above and guarantees paint color perfection! And you can see the colors I used at our StoneGable home.
For our Tanglewood home, we chose Benjamin Moore Simply White. Look for a post about why we chose this beautiful white soon!
CLOSE COUSIN OF THE BIGGEST DECORATING MISTAKE: TOO MANY COLORS
The rooms in a home should flow together and make a beautiful and seamless transition! And one of the biggest ways to do that is to keep the
THE MISTAKE…
Painting rooms in your home too many colors!
This decorating mistake can make an entire home look disjointed and confusing. No matter how much you might try to make a home look cohesive it won’t!
THE EASY FIX…
Choose a paint color that will work in most of your home. And get to it!
Also, you can choose a few paint colors, but build a color palette for your home around them and stick to those few colors.
Here are my best tips concerning painting rooms in your home…
- always pick out paint color with all the other colors of a room in mind
- keep is simple! It’s hard to choose paint colors that work with a whole house
- if you paint other rooms in your home other colors make sure they all work together and are a shade (black paint added) or tint (white paint added) of one main color
- all the trim of a home should be painted the same color, period!
And again, read and reread 6 TIPS FOR CHOOSING THE PERFECT PAINT COLOR
CHOOSING A RUG THAT IS TOO SMALL
I cringe when I see a small rug that is too small trying to pass as a great way to bring a room together. NEVER use a rug too small for a room. It screams “I’m a decorating mistake“!
THE MISTAKE…
Using a rug that is too small for a space.
Oh, goodness! I’ve made this decorating mistake a few times! So learn from me!
Just recently I chose a gorgeous chetah inspired rug for the living room but when it came it was too narrow! UGH! And I know better!
But my easy fix for this chetah rug was to use it in our Master Bedroom!
Many rugs in magazines and on blogs are really too small! They look lovely because the design around them is perfect. And they are shown in a “beauty shot” that does not show the entire room. If a wide shot was taken of the room the rug would show up as a glaring mistake!
A rug should fill a good deal of the floor space in a room. Don’t be fooled into thinking a rug looks fine only under a coffee table or a little bigger than a dining room table. And please make sure a rug sticks out on all sides of the bed it sits on and has lots of rug showing!
THE EASY FIX…
A great way to fix a rug that is too small for the area is to put a larger very neutral rug under it. Like sisal or another natural fiber rug that fills
Here’s a very informative post about HOW TO LAYER A RUG LIKE A PRO.
And always, always, always know the return policy of any online rug you buy! So, if it is not perfect you can send it back.
CURTAINS THAT AREN’T HUNG HIGH ENOUGH AND DON’T FALL TO THE FLOOR
You might take a second look at the curtains in your home. If your curtains are not hung as high as they can go on a normal height window and room then they aren’t creating beauty in a room!
And on the other side of the decorating coin are curtains that do not touch or trouser crease or puddle a bit on the floor!
THE MISTAKE…
Low hanging and high water curtains
This is a big decorating mistake and the beauty of a room will be hurt by this, big time!
THE EASY FIX…
Repeat my curtain mantra…
HANG EM HIGH AND SWING EM LOW!
You don’t need expensive and heavy drapery anymore! They are very very dating. Go for a simple straight curtain that hangs as high up to the ceiling as possible and
Or think about getting rid of curtains all together! I just did!
I love the look of a “bare” window! And a quick word about blinds. Get quality blinds with large slates and show them off!
ANOTHER BIG DECORATING MISTAKE… TOO MATCHY MATCHY
Okay, don’t get mad at me for this… especially if you are over 50. But I can’t stand matchy-matchy furniture. It screams, “I bought the entire set all at once at the store because I am not creative enough to do it myself”!
I know you are not like that my friend. But that’s not what your furniture is telling everyone! Shame on it!
Way back when it was the style but not anymore. Actually, it’s not been the style for a couple decades or so.
I was a matchy-matchy buyer once too! My dining room table and chairs and buffet all matched and so did my bedroom suite ( OR set). When you see or hear the word “suite” (or set) it is a dead giveaway!
At the Tanglewood house, we don’t have a formal dining room but we are match-less here too! And very minimal. How freeing!
THE MISTAKE…
Furniture bought for a whole room that matches!
THE QUICK FIX…
Buy individual furniture pieces you love for a room and coordinate them! A little difference adds interest and life to a room!
I had a beautiful and way too expensive mahogany dining room set. Over 7 years I broke up the set to create a more contemporary mix and match look.
First I repaint and reupholstered the chairs and then I purchased new neutral head chairs. Next, the buffet was painted. After that, I replaced my oriental carpet with a pretty indoor/outdoor rug in a big geometric pattern. The mahogany table was finally replaced with a concrete-topped table with classic legs and the painted buffet went and a new white buffet came to live in the dining room.
With every step of the makeover, I liked my dining room more and more. And the key to replacing matchy-matchy furniture are the words “over time”. It took seven years of little changes for the dining room to look as it does today!
If you love the set you have then that is wonderful! But if you have any matchy-matchy furniture you are feeling stuck with begin changing things out a little at a time!
My furniture is no longer matchy-matchy and I love being free of that “all one color wood” look!
By the way, this is not a quick fix but it is one that won’t ruin your budget!
And on another note, here is where the white buffet from our dining room made a home at Tanglewood!
ONLY ONE SOURCE OF LIGHTING
Oh goodness, this is a no no! Most overhead lighting is ghastly on its own!!!!
Even if you have the prettiest chandelier you should still have some great table or floor lamps.
THE MISTAKE…
Only using overhead lighting is a decorating faux pas!
Overhead lighting is hard on the eyes and throws off harsh shadows. It is not a light becoming to humans!!!!!
THE EASY FIX…
We don’t necessarily have to get rid of overhead, but do add more lighting to work with it!
Think of light zones in a room. You want to overlap pools of light given off by lamps. Make sure there are no dark areas or corners.
And remember you don’t need to use the same wattage in every lighting fixture in a room. Put lamps on dimmers so you have pools of soft overlapping light in a room.
If you have made any of these decorating mistakes you are in good company!!! And if any of these mistakes are living in your home, now you know how to fix them.
Decorating is not a contest or a race. You don’t get a blue ribbon or trophy. It is individual and personal and a big wonderful learning adventure!!!!! Embrace it! Embrace all your wins and decorating mistakes because they have helped to make your house the home you love!!!!
You might also like…
- RULES FOR MIXING DECOR STYLES
- ELEMENTS OF DESIGN- COLOR
- WHAT IS TRANSITIONAL STYLE
- LIVING ROOM LIGHTING IDEAS
I have repainted our family room and will soon need to rehang wall pictures. The hardest area, in my opinion, is behind the couch. I tried to get ideas from your house, but see yours is not against a wall. Our room layout doesn’t make that possible. Any tips, rules, suggestions, mistakes for hanging things on the walls ( especially behind the couch). Sometimes I feel like leaving it empty because I have no idea what looks good.
You are right, Barb! Knowing what to put behind the sofa on a wall is not easy! If you have the room have you thought of putting a sofa table behind the sofa with lamps and decor? Here is a great post by Ballard Designs for you :https://www.ballarddesigns.com/howtodecorate/2016/07/10-ways-to-fill-the-blank-space-over-your-sofa/
I love the coffee table in the living room. Any chance you can tell me where it was purchased?
Hi Jennifer, I found the coffee table in the living room almost a decade ago at Ethan Allen. Hope this helps.
I’am from Montreal and I’ve been following you for many years.. With the quarantine, I am taking time to read older posts.. and I have a question.. I was reading this post and other “lamp” posts you wrote.. But none spoke about place in the room.. What I mean is that I remember reading few years back that you had to put lamps in a “triangle” manner and 2 lamps could not be on the same wall (ex same wall but 2 different corners).. What is your opinion about that? Thanks for your precious advices!
Hi Michele, I think lamps should be placed for ambiance, task and food lighting. I’m not one to say two lamps should not be on the same wall. I don’t think that was me. However, I do say the pool of light given off by lamps in a room should overlap one another. Hope this helps.
Thank you! Thank you! and Thank you! for these excellent ideas that I will be using again, and again. Thanks to you, for sharing.
Hi Ivory! you are so welcome!
Ah oh, while this post had some good information, it could have used some proof reading or an edit.
Love the new Tanglewood house – gorgeous! My 1980s home has baseboard electric heaters under most windows so all my window treatments are on the no-no list…
I’ve put myself in the time-out chair!!!
Yvonne, your new home is just beautiful! Do you mind sharing the source for the two pieces of artwork above your mantel?
Hi Kaille, the artwork came from a local shop. Check here:https://cocalicocreek.com/shop. I don’t see it on their website but you could give them all call.
Simply beautiful! Can I ask where you purchased the rug in your family room? Many Thanks!
Hi Susan, which rug. Email me with an image of it or describe it. There are a few.
Great post Yvonne! No matter how confident or experienced we become, we still make decor mistakes. The fix is using our imaginations! Also, I really like the new organic leaf artwork above the fireplace. Do you mind sharing your source?
Char
Hi Charlotte, it came from a local shop. I’m trying to source it but right now I’m not sure where you can get it. Sorry!
Can you provide insight into what finish for wall paint? Flat, eggshell, satin? I usually go with eggshell because it’s easier to clean. What do you use?
Hi Julie, Great question. I’ll be doing a post soon about just that! But for now, go flat! You can touch up a flat wall and no brushstrokes will be left. Any other paint the entire wall needs to be painted over.
I have a 25 year old, but beautiful Henredon dining room “set” that includes a serving table/cabinet, & huge hutch filled with Waterford crystal goblets, bowls, Lenox china….very traditional, very formal stuff. 3 years ago until now we remodeled & updated our entire home with transitional decor with neutral taupes, grays, beiges…but my husband will not let go of the dining room set. Its cherry wood, w/ a little contemporary element of black trim on the chair & the table. I did update the traditional area rug with a Pottery Barn beige/gray cream rug, painted the walls to tie in with the rest of house, but the room just looks so out of place.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Here’s what I say… HAPPY HUBBY HAPPY LIFE! For now, let the dining room go! It sounds beautiful. Maybe compromise and get new head chairs. I know it’s hard to let go of costly and beautiful things!
I am curious….did you keep the concrete-topped dining table?
Hi Sandy, I sold it. Of all the things I let go of the concrete dining room table was the VERY HARDEST! I had a few tears over that one!!!
I believe the biggest and most expensive design mistake is…scale!
And it isn’t easy to fix, and you can make the same mistake over and over and not know what you did wrong! I’ve certainly done this.
I would LOVE to see you address this issue, because I go into people’s houses all the time and the problem is glaring, but in my house I never see it until it’s too late!
Yes, I’m going to discuss all the design elements at some point. YOU are right! Scale, like balance and color etc is very important!
One thing my Mom taught me about decorating was “skimpy curtains/draperies look cheap”. How true. I had the problem of a matchy bedroom set – we have a light cherry sleigh bed, dresser with mirror, a gentlemen’s armoire and a night stand. I decided to add a rubbed brass side table on one side, large lamps with hints of gold, and more contemporary artwork of photos my husband took from our travels and had them printed on canvas. The walls and lightly lined sheer draperies are a very light cream color. I think it looks good as the first thing you notice is the big picture and not just the matchy furniture. We plan a move soon, and I am thinking of buying a new bed – perhaps an upholstered headboard to break it up a bit.
Sue your mamma was right! And your solution to matchy-matchy furniture is spot on! YOU GO GIRL!
Hello Yvonne, your new home is beautiful! Where did you get those gorgeous chunky wooden candlestick holders on your mantle? Thx! 🙂
Hi Sheryl, you can find them here:https://rstyle.me/+HE8mVw0MOctrt6kZzgGa9Q
I love everything that you do. You are so elegant and sweet. Wish you could come to Connecticut and redo my home. I love, love your style. I also love neutrals. Thank you for all you share with your readers…Judi
Thank you for sharing the 5 mistakes of decorating. I am guilty of a few of them but am also taking steps to remedy too. I am visiting from Home Style Saturdays and Southern Hospitality. Come see me over on my lifestyle blog sometime.
I’m heading over now Dana!
Love this blog!! I love your colors. When I click on your link for colors in your house though, it takes me to an Alibris website. Would you mind at least sharing this den/living room color above?
Hi Beth, I think you might like this post:https://www.stonegableblog.com/new-color-palette-for-the-family-room/
Oh, how we have made mistakes over the years. Even though I know better, I didn’t live with the paint swatches on my wall long enough and ended up with WAY too light of blue paint in my house, it actually photographs white. Ah, well, paint is easy, it will be changed…eventually.
I agree with Catherine and Karen. Paint is not cheap and there is nothing easy about it. I, too, am tired of hearing “it’s just paint, if you don’t like it, change it.”
Great fix’um ideas! I try to use the rugs that end up too small in another location of my house. That is an advantage of a neutral pallet. The most costly mistake I made was buying the wrong lights that hang over my bar. Paid the electrician to hang them and then realized I had a big OOPS. Since they were custom ordered, no return! So I painted them! I loved them when I ordered them but not the darkness. Paint heals many mistakes.
Oh no! but we all make mistakes
I love the harmony the neutral colors produces. The style combines coziness with elegance seamlessly. My fiancee is going to love it.
Many thanks
Felix
So sweet!
I remember when you were able to buy the whole set of matching furniture you really felt like you made it in the big leagues!!!
Before you hang a washable curtain, wash them.
I found out the hard way… they pooled 4 inches on my floor prior to washing them according to directions. Now they are 2 inches above the floor. These were pricey cotton curtains from W.E. I need to live w them for now and when I repaint in fall I will lower the rods.
Thanks so so much!
Yvonne, note comment below! Any ideas would help?
I’ve checked the box on every one of these. I always hang my side panels high and make sure they break or touch the floor. My rugs are big enough, my walls are all painted the same colour throughout ( a soft cream), my furniture is mixed and I have several light sources. The only room that needs addressing is my bedroom. I replaced my bed with an upholstered one and love the fresh look. But, my night tables, tallboy and bureau match. I love the lines of the pieces and it is high quality. What would you suggest I do? Paint the night tables? How do I break up the set without replacing all?
Joanna, I had the same challenge! So I swapped the dresser from another bedroom. I painted it and my end tables with a whitewash to soften them. Just an idea!
Thank you Cecilia! I think I’ll paint my night tables and see if that makes a difference.
I always struggle with paint colors.Even going with neutrals, the paint gives off a green cast due to natural lighting and tinted glass on my sliding doors.I am going to paint my front door and am trying to pick a color, charcoal grey or black, both have many shades !
What really gets me on my soapbox is when I read ‘paint is a cheap and easy fix’ or ‘if you don’t like it, it’s just paint, redo it!’ Like magic painting elves will drag their tiny tushies up/down that ladder for hours and wielding that roller overhead like so many Flying Wallendas… good paint is NOT cheap, and painting is HARD especially when done well. Yes, I hired out my last painting job but it was really, really expensive and in the end not as exacting as I would have liked it. Read: drips I’m still finding in really odd places.
I’d better get off this soapbox before I fall down!
Two thumbs up, Catherine. You and I seem to live in the
“real world.” I wish you the best.