10 Decorating Do’s and Don’ts

While I do believe you should decorate your house however makes you happy, I still want to share a few decorating do’s and don’ts to help you avoid making some common mistakes I see often.  A few simple tweaks can seriously change the look of your room.  All of these are quick and easy, and mostly inexpensive!

 

1.  Don’t have everything the same height.

      Do vary heights for interest. Whether styling a bookshelf or and end table, keep this in mind.

Amber Interiors

 

2.  Don’t hang your artwork to low or too high.

Do hang it at eye level.  I know eye level is different based on your height.  My husband is 6’4″ and my youngest daughter is 5’1″.  Go with a height of 60″, which is average.

Home Decorators

 

3.  Don’t forget to measure your space before buying furniture.   Don’t learn this the hard way like I did years ago.

Do keep a list of measurements with you when you go shopping.

how to measure

 

4. Don’t buy matched sets or have anything too matchy-matchy.  Some may not agree with me on this one.  I am definitely a mix and match kind of girl.

Do mix it up.  Already have a matched set?  Try switching out a piece or two into another room.  Or refinishing one.

 BHG

 

5.  Don’t get carried away with a theme.   I love (coastal) and farmhouse decor the best.  But if there were seashells and starfish everywhere you look in my house it would get old fast.

Do keep it subtle with a few favorite pieces.

Summer Mantel

 

6. Don’t buy something if it’s the wrong scale.  If you have a large, overstuffed sofa on one side of the room you need to balance it with furniture that has a similar visual weight on the opposite side.

Do keep the furniture balanced.

Living Room Makeover

 

7.  Don’t have bad lighting!

Do invest in dimmer switches, task lighting, mood lighting and the correct light bulbs.

 via Homedit

 

8.  Don’t try to save money by buying a rug that is too small.

Do have the rug dimensions fit the room, this diagram sums it up at a glance.

rugshopatschneider

 

9.  Don’t hag your curtains too low or too close together.

Do hang them high and wide to give the illusion of bigger windows.

Homegoods

 

 

10.  Don’t hold onto clutter.  Ok, I might be guilty of this one myself!

Do go through a room often and relentlessly declutter.  You don’t have to fill up a room completely with stuff.   Open space is a good thing.

If you keep these 10 decorating do’s and don’t in mind when decorating, you will avoid some of the most common decorating mistakes!