Top 5 cringe worthy No-No’s worth avoiding:
1- When the art is hung too high
The marvel of floating art drives anyone with an eye for proportions crazy, and it is a sure-fire way to throw off any room. Artwork should be hung 6 to 8 inches above a sofa, or 60 inches from the floor, which places it at eye level. A collection should be treated as a work of art, and should start and stop where it makes most senses, as though it was one uniform piece.
As a side note, always engage as much wall as possible. It looks sad to see a small lonely work on a vast sea of wall. Remember, the piece of art or the collection should be in the same shape and orientation of the wall that it is trying to fill. For hanging tips check out this article hot to decorate.com
Left: too small/high, Centre: too high, Right: bad composition.
2- When the rug is too small
Sometimes it takes all our strength not to start moving furniture all over the room. A rug should create a conversation-inticing seating area, not a random room space that look as though you are about to play musical chairs. A too small rug makes a space disjointed.
Check out this blog post from Homes to Love for a step by step guide to selecting the right rug for you room.
3- When the lighting is bad
When people think a single source of light is all you need, it often leads to overly bright rooms with the allure of a waiting room. Overhead lighting is great, but should be complemented with floor, table, task and accent lights. To create an inviting space, choose a variety of lighting and make sure some of it is diffused. Swap out your bulbs for low-watt ones, layer in lamps for reading, and always put overheads on a dimmer.
Left: a kitchen with no task lighting is no place to work, Right: this living room is in dire need of some lamps..
4- When the curtains are too short
Here’s the low down on hanging drapes: for a high-traffic area like a living room leading to a patio door, leave a finger-length space between the curtains and the floor so you can easily pull the drapes apart. In a bedroom, let them graze the floor ever so softly. Also, whatever you do hang your curtain rods as close to the ceiling as you can to give the illusion of a much larger window.
Here is a great guide from West Elm (great store) on choosing the right Curtains
5- When the plants are dead
Ok, you tried, you did your best. Your mother-in law gave you a fichus and a week later it’s dead. At this point in time it is ok. Cast it into the compost and replenish your home with healthy blooms. Withered plants are depressing, unsightly and unnecessary.
In your home, plants should make a statement, otherwise they should be left outdoors! So if you are up for the challenge, one large tree in a pot gives a modern fresh look to any room.
Now that you’ll know what to avoid, its time to get back on the track to successful decorating!
Here are a few more no no’s that didn’t make the top 5…
– When furniture is pushed up against the walls it almost always feels weird, crowded or far too open. Give pieces a little bit of breathing room.
– Obnoxious paint colours, an accent wall is one thing, but no-one needs to feel like they are in an alternate dimension of florescent green.
– When everything is Matchy Matchy… avoid the “catalog look” that occurs when everything comes in a set, and instead mix wood pieces with other finishes like mirrored, glass or painted items.
– Too Many Pillows! If it takes you 20 minutes to make your bed, you have WAY too many. Placing just a few toss pillows is a good way to add a pop of color and texture to your room.
– Toilet Rugs!
– FAKE FLOWERS… a controversial topic, but fake flowers (and plants) are a mistake. They gather dust and don’t bring life into your home like real flowers, which look and smell better.
– Oh yeah, and then there is always an issue with CLUTTER, the fastest way to shrink any room.