How to Correct Common Home Décor Mistakes

According to the experts, there are some home décor mistakes that are just plain unforgivable. Many of these simple mistakes can be easily corrected with a few alterations. While the décor in your home should reflect your personality, it should also be pleasing to the eye. Here are some common home decorating mistakes that you may want to remedy in your home.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Bath rug
• Scotch guard
• Fabric furniture covers
• Fresh flowers
• Living plants
• Paint
• Accent pillows

1. One of the worst home decorating mistakes is toilet rugs. These circular rugs surround the bottom of your toilet and they are a sitting germ festival. Toilet rugs are outdated and simply disgusting. Instead of a toilet rug try using a bath rug, it will serve the purpose of protecting your feet from cold tile without attracting various germs from the toilet area. Make sure the rug is a foot or two away from the front of the toilet. Keep the toilet area open will allow you to clean and disinfect the floor easily.

2. A big pet peeve for most interior decorators is clear plastic furniture covers. These are not only ugly but extremely uninviting. Although they serve as a great protector, they are uncomfortable and noisy. Try using updated products like Scotchguard which makes it easy to wipe off stains from fabrics or you can cover the furniture with decorative fabric furniture covers. Scotchguard is the best alternative for creating a home-like comfortable atmosphere.

3. Fake flowers and plants are another home décor travesty. Plastic or silk flowers may look flawless, but they are a dust magnet. Most interior designers will tell you that the fake flower/plant idea give your home a lifeless feeling. If you want flowers and plants, then go with the real thing. Living plants and real flowers will give your house “life” and you can enjoy a warm inviting feeling in your home.

4. If you are using area rugs in your house, then stay away from the floating area rugs dilemma. Area rugs should not be placed in the middle of the room by themselves. This not only poses a danger to people walking across the room who might trip on the edge of the rug, but it also looks out of place. Area rugs are designed to bring furniture together. You furniture should be placed along the edges of the rug. This not only helps hold the rug in place but it gives the room a look of unity and ties everything together making it look complete.

5. One more common home decorating mistake is too many patterns and colors. While color and patterns are a welcome compliment in any room of your home, it is important to pick a color combination using two or three color shades with one or two patterns at most. Once you have decided on your color scheme, then pick a pattern or two to compliment your furniture. For example if you are using burgundy, forest green and beige then you might want to paint three walls and the ceiling beige and add a burgundy color to one accent wall. The furniture could be a solid color with a few patterned accent pillows--maybe one polka dot and one striped pattern that ties in the entire color scheme.

6. By correcting these simple home décor mistakes, you can easily update your home and keep it looking new, warm and inviting for your family, friends and guests to enjoy.

Tips & Warnings

• For DIY home décor tips you can refer to magazines, home-decorating shows or consult and expert at your local home improvement store.
• Choose colors and patterns that reflect your taste and personality. Don’t be afraid to add your own personal touch to every area of your home.
• You don’t have to follow every trend that comes along. Keep your home up-to-date by choosing pieces that are timeless and interchangeable. A few trendy pieces can add some flair to a room, but don’t spend a lot of money on items that will become out-dated.