6 Amateur Design Mistakes to Take Your Rooms from Chic to Eek!

Professional vs Amateur Design

Despite the best intentions, small design mistakes may creep into the most beautifully appointed home. These mistakes can be a clear sign that a room was planned by an amateur, adding a general feeling of uneasiness perhaps not easily pinpointed. To safeguard your home against these design mistakes, follow our lead and avoid these common design slips. Trust us, your guests will thank you for your thoughtful, tasteful decoration.

1. Using the Wrong Size Rug

A correctly sized rug can add sophistication to any room. An incorrectly sized rug makes a room’s scale feel out of proportion and has a tendency to cheapen the entire design scheme, regardless of how much money has been invested in the rest of the space. A rug should be anchored by the furniture feet in the central seating or walking area – or at least by the front feet of each piece. If you are torn between two options, size up.

If a rug is too small for a space, but you still want to use it, you can layer it on top of a larger, neutral rug, like a sisal or jute rug.

2. Most Accent Walls

Accent walls come in and out of fashion, like bold and minimal design schemes. Accent walls may make a room feel dated if not carefully considered. The way to avoid this is to avoid accenting any one particular wall altogether. Show confidence in your design scheme, commit to that bold color or pattern, and use neutral accents and lighting options to tone done or draw attention to various points of interest in the room.

3. Keeping Generic Light Fixtures

We’ve all been guilty of ignoring the effect lighting has on our design scheme. Especially in new construction or newly renovated homes, generic lighting – like standard recessed pot lights or that ONE kitchen light fixture that’s sold at every home improvement store and makes its way into every basic remodel.

Consider lighting the jewelry of your home and select fixtures that instantly elevate and add elegance and emotion to the space. A carefully curated lighting plan should include lighting for all potential uses in the room – a large chandelier or ceiling fixture, various sconces, art lights, floor lamps, table lamps, pendants, flush mount lighting, and backlighting. Layering lighting creates a collected space and invites visitors to stay awhile. Thoughtfully chosen lighting can also give a room various personalities if it has shared functions.