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1- Trendy colour fabrics for long term furniture
Draperies, headboards, chairs and custom sofas should last many years. Choosing trendy colours will quickly make these pieces look and feel outdated. Choose colours that are a shade lighter or darker than your wall colour. This way your furnishings work well together and maintain their timeless appeal.
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2- Creating a Monochromatic tone
Often people play it safe and create beige on beige interiors that lack excitement. Using one colour for fabric and walls doesn’t have to be boring. Create some drama and choose lighter and darker hues of the same colour.
3- Collecting too many ‘things’
Many of us have a habit of collecting too much stuff. Learning to edit a room is a huge lesson. Pull your like collections together and remember that odd numbers work better. If you have a large amount of accessories then put some away and rotate them every once in a while. This way you will get to enjoy all of your treasures and change the look of your room at the same time.
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4- Mixing too many different wood types
Introduce no more than three different wood stains in one room. That goes for flooring, tables, furnishings and cabinetry. If you have blended pieces consider restaining some of them in order to attain a cohesive look.
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5- Hanging artwork too high
The bottom of the artwork should be six to eight inches above the piece of furniture. In a hallway or stairwell a general rule is to hang the art so that the middle is approx 66 inches from the floor or steps. If you are hanging a collection together map it out on some brown craft paper on the floor first. Trace the artwork on the paper and then hold the paper on the wall to make sure the artwork is where you would like it.
6- Decorating around something you don’t love
Don’t continue to invest in something that doesn’t make you feel good. If you don’t like it now chances are you won’t like it down the road either. Get rid of it.
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7- Purchasing Area Rugs that are too small
An area rug should have a 12 to 16 inch border of flooring around a room’s perimeter. Anything smaller and the rug will look too small. It is a good idea to put the front legs of your furniture on the area rug - this stops the appearance of the rug ‘floating’ in the middle of the room.
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8- Wall colours that are too pale
The larger the space the more depth your wall colour needs to have. If you have an open concept feature select a colour that’s slightly darker than you would normally choose for a small room.
9- Not making the Front Door the focus
The front door is the first thing people should see when they drive by your house. The garage door should be the last. Paint the garage door a similar color to your house and paint the front door a complimentary color so it really stands out.
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10- Placing the furnishings along the edges of the room
Try to pull your furnishings out from the wall approx 6 inches; this will create the illusion of space. Try using 2/3 of the room for the main seating area and use the remaining 1/3 for a desk, piano or a reading chair with a lamp.
Posted by Nicole as Decorating Tips at 7:02 PM MST