5 Decorating Mistakes You Never Want to Make

Image Source | Casa.com

Did you catch my last blog on How to Best Spend Your Renovation Budget? Once you’ve nailed down how much you have to spend, it’s time to consider what decor you’re going for in your house. Here are 5 decorating mistakes you never want to make, and how to go about avoiding them.

1. Succumbing to Trend Fever

Image Source | Lindsey Brooke Designs

Everyone likes the feeling of having something shiny and new, which is why it can be alluring to go all-out on the trendiest new home decor during a major renovation. The problem with trends is that they date quickly (and often, poorly).

Image Source | Leclair Decor

My tip is to utilise trends sparingly, and be wise about how and where to use them. Avoid trends on large investment pieces that you’ll have for a long time and opt for fads in smaller accessories instead. A good rule of thumb is the 80/20 rule - 80% of your budget should go to timeless design and furnishings, 20% can go on trends.

2. Identical Timber Finishes

Image Source | Brian Paquette

When it comes to timber, you don't want to have the same species and finish throughout your home. That's boring! Choose instead to mix it up with variations of timber in different rooms of the house.

Image Source | Pinterest

Keep in mind that formal timbers like walnuts, cherries and mahogany pair better together than with informal timbers like maple, birch and pine, while oak does well with all. You’ll be able to make a real impact by mixing different finishes with formal timbers throughout your home and adding in stand alone oak pieces along the way.

3. Focal Point Confusion

Image Source | At Home In Love

Every room has a focal point. If you don't define it properly, one will emerge without your assistance, and it likely won't be very pleasing to the eye. Some rooms will already have a natural focal point, such as a fireplace or large open view. If this is the case, try to compliment the sides of the fireplace or window to create balance and not competition.

Interior Designer : Cortney Bishop | Photography: Katie Charlotte

If you don't have a fireplace or a beautiful outdoor view, then you get to create the focal point yourself. This could be lovely artwork or a sculptural mirror hanging above a sumptuous sofa, or gorgeous floor to ceiling drapes. Either way the focus is in your hands so be sure to make the most of it.

4. Being Afraid to Upscale

Image Source | Camila Spinelli

A common decorating mistake I come across is going too small with art, sofas and rugs. While erring on the side of caution may work in other situations, having pieces that look too small for your space will always end up looking like a fail.

Image Source | Amelie Gillier

If you measure and plan properly, you should be quite confident about what will fit in your space, and try to go as big as you can. By going larger, you're sure to make an impact. The same goes for accessories - you’re sure to garner more wow with a single large sculptural bowl than lots of tiny pieces that can come across as knick knacks or clutter.

And speaking of planning, that leads us to Number Five…

5. Measure, Measure, Measure!

Image Source | Grand Traditions Fine Homes

As the saying goes, measure twice, cut once. But just because you've measured the space, and measured the piece, it doesn't mean that you're covered. You need to be sure to measure any doors a large piece needs to fit through, and spaces around corners, hallways and elevators if you live in a building.

Interior Designer: Elizabeth Stanley | Photography: Ryan Ford

Don't be discouraged if a piece seems like it won’t fit around a corner or through a door - sometimes it can make it in through a window! In my first apartment, my sofa didn't fit around a tight little corner leading past the kitchen into the lounge. Fortunately we had a large cutout in the wall between the two spaces, and with the disassembly of a pair of hanging pendants over the bench, we were able to lift the sofa safely through the cut out and into the lounge room.

So, what decorating mistakes have you made in the past? Keep a lookout for the final blog in our 3 part August series - we’re going furniture shopping!