Shopping the whole room / house from one store – Whenever I enter a room and the first impression that I get is the name of the store from where the homeowners do their shopping. Its a strict no-no for me. We want our space to be our own and to reflect our style, not that of a showroom. Shopping from different places (sticking to your style of course)not only brings layers and depths to a space but also makes it look more interesting and lived-in. It also makes sure that everything in the room is not matchy-matchy, which takes me to the second point.
Too much matchy-matchy – Remaining within ones design style i important to give the space a cohesive look but that doesn’t mean we have to buy all matchy-matchy items. Bringing in varieties through texture, style and pattern makes the space look like it’s designed by an expert. So instead of buying say a bedroom set, pick different items (like bed, dresser, bedside tables) from different places keeping your style in mind and giving your room a well curated look.
Too small rug – The size of a rug can make or break a space. The right sized rug makes a room feel bigger.
When selecting a rug for a living room, try to put all the furniture (couch, coffee table, chairs etc.) on the rug and if it’s not possible then at least try to put the front legs of the couch and chairs on it. Don’t push the rug all the way to the wall but keep at least 12 inch of floor border.
In a bedroom the rug should be big enough either to accommodate the bed, bedside table everything or the bottom two-third of the bed.
In the dining room the rug should at least be the size so that when the chairs are pulled back, they are still on the rug.
Artwork too low or high / wrong size – As a rule of thumb, the middle of the artwork should be at the eye level that is around 5 feet from the floor. If it’s a gallery wall consider all the artwork as a single piece and determine the middle of it which should be at the eye-level.
Regarding the size of the artwork, try to go for a size that is two-third or three-fourths of the wall area. In other words if it is above a furniture then aim for 75 percent of the furniture width.
Not enough lighting – There is nothing like lack of lighting that breaks a space. Lighting can be of three types – Ambient, Task and Accent. Ambient lighting is the overall lighting of a room. It can be recessed lighting, floor lamp etc. task lighting is used for a specific function like a desk area, kitchen area. Accent lightings are the ones that are used to highlight a special area of the room like an artwork, book case, sculpture and so on, example is picture light.
When all three types of lighting comes together, it creates a cozy and warm atmosphere in the room.
And not to forget creating layers of light from different directions and heights. Its always a good idea to use a dimmer.
Height of curtains – Curtains look good when hung at most 4-6 inches above the top of window. Mounting the curtain rod close to the ceiling makes it look like the room has high ceiling. The curtains in my opinion look best touches the floor or sometimes a puddle effect also look beautiful. It gives the room a luxurious feel.
Not enough negative space – Negative or while space is as important as the space that is occupied by something (furniture or a décor piece).
Now what is negative space? It is the blank space were we don’t put anything. For example not all walls have to have some wall art on it or every inch of a console does not need to filled-up with décor pieces.
Keeping a wall or two bare gives our eyes a little rest and most importantly helps focus on the other art works. Same with console table, coffee table or a sideboard. Filling up every noticeable space with décor item doesn’t allow the eyes to see and enjoy any particular thing.
The key is to not clutter every nook and cranny of a house with furniture, décor pieces or artwork but to deliberately give the rom some breathing space.
Smell – No matter how well designed a room is with all expensive furniture and décor, if it doesn’t smell good it’s a disaster. When people come to a place, subconsciously they notice the smell before they notice anything else.
There are lots of ways to make a room smell nice. The first is by cleaning out garbage bins and disposals, you can use some essential oil diffusers, potpourri, light up some natural candles. Cleaning carpets and rugs is a good way to get rid off the lingering odor. Baking soda is a good natural deodorizing agent without any harmful chemicals. Installing an air purifier is also effective.
